911lady

Thank you sevenball, for your input. I have learned my lesson well. I guess, I was just caught off-guard by the replies. Thats okay, I got my snap back. I may fall on my knees, but I always get back up and brush them off, and hold my head high, and proceed on.

Thanks for the come back guys. I do understand the questions and the inquisituve nature of those of you out there. I do want to say that I did have the child on the cot and did repositioned him. I believe this made a big difference in bringing the child back around to us. As far as the monitor; the child had stopped twitching and I only wanted to get a READING FOR THE DOCTOR. We are allowed to print but not read the strips on our service. And I do welcome the help. I think we are all here to do the same kind of job for our communities. Pardon me for not putting in all the details at first. I was merely trying to make a short post. Didnt think it would turn out like it has. No hard feelings taken, just didnt expect the immediate come backs as I had interpreted them at first. I put my heart and soul into my volunteer work, with both the EMS and the Fire Department. Both of whom I am a volunteer. I have learned that when I make another post of this nature in the future; I need to state details, details, details for all to try and understand. Thanks again for the input.

It looks as though some things need to be cleared up on my post. I got into this field because I wanted to be able to help those that cant help themselves in the time of need. I lost my husband because, I didnt know how to help him if at all. Now my experience is not as lengthy as some would like; but I give it my best shot to do the best care with the training I have. Now for some of the issues at hand. First of all, there were no ALS available that night. And I never meant to say I undermined the seriousness of the call. As always I take all our calls very serious, this is not a game to me. As far as the pats on the back; my partners knew how hard I worked on this call, and they knew how scared I was for that child, thats why they patted me on my back. Back at the station, they knew how new I was at this, and never let me forget what the big picture is, and gave me a few pointers afterwards. Although I understood the reply posts, were not meant to beat me up, they sounded harsh. And yes, I did have the patient on O2 with a NRB. Now for the monitor, I merely wanted to get a strip for the ER. And no, I am not a medic, but have aspirations to become one. But after reading these posts, maybe I need to rethink this.

I can certainly understand your frustration there. Although I am only a basic, I think our agency should be allowed more agressive actions in all our levels we have on the service. We too are a rural agency and self supported through grants and donations and fund raisers. Hope you guys get the backing you need to provide the best possible pre-hospital care.

At our service, we are able to respond from home, if we live in the city. (We are a small town.) Night had come, so I went home to listen up for our calls. Then we got a seizure call with a 3 yr boy. My partner and I are both basics, the call seemed to be a basic call. We had a first responder show up on scene with us. I am thankful my partner asked him to drive for us. The father of the child sat in the front and we allowed the mother to sit on the side seat next to the child. The child was unresponsive. He was just twitching. As I was attempting to get vitals, he started frothing at the mouth, the mother started to panic somewhat. My partner trying to keep the father calm and helping with mother. I started suctioning. Then attempted to get blood pressure and other vitals. His Glascoe was a 3. I became very concerned at this point. The mother noticed the frothing again, so I suctioned again. At this point, I was wishing the mother wasnt in the back with us, too late for that now. Then I noticed my patient had become cyanotic, then I asked my partner for the pedi BVM and get him hooked up on the heart monitor. I started using the BVM, the mother is in a panic, partner is trying to get information for me. and told the driver to go code 3 and radio in for us. I was scared to death at this point, but I never lost my focus on the child. He started getting his color back and I thanked God. Then we arrived at the hospital. After releasing the patient to them, I went outside and just lost it. I thank God for helping me keep it together enroute. My partners gave me a pat on the back and said it was a good save. After returning to our EMS office, we were congratulated on the call. I was still a little shaky and nervous from it. Although this call was not the worst call I had been on; it was certainly the most satisfying at the time. I had only been a Basic about 3 months after being an ECA.