natacha

This may be uncomfortable for some of you to read, so don't feel like you have to.

At 48 years old, my husband was passing blood and had been for 3+ months. He went to the Dr. who eventully got around to reqesting a colonoscopy. The eventual diagnosis was stage 3 rectal cancer - not colorectal that would have been easier treatment wise. Radiation, chemo and surgery followed and all the changes these tx include. He has worked out 3 days a week since we was 16 yo, non-smoker, not a heavy drinker - he was healthy. From this event he is now incontinant, can't hold his bowels, impotent, and will be having another surgery to have a permanent colostomy bag installed in two weeks.

I ask you this favor: get a colonoscopy. It begs to be made fun of and we have too. A camera up your ass for a short time (they do knock you out for the procedure), or wetting the bed. The discomfort of having to drink the 'GoLytely' to clean your pipes out, or impotence. It's not a hard choice. Get the damned test so you won't have to use accessories to do things you used to do without thought. For you ladies: we get mammograms and paps, this isn't any worse.

There are so many really good medics out there and we need to stay healthy. If you have any blood in your stool - get checked. If your insurance will pay for a colonoscopy prior to age 50 get one done. The military health system here is more flexible with the age thing. Please encourage anyone close to 45 yo to get it done. A hour with a camera up your butt is easier than the alternative.

Thank you for this.

I wish that your husband will recover very soon. I know how it feels like since I had to deal with cancer in my family.

I am sure everything is going to be just fine.

Take care.

I just thought I would introduce myself. I'm new here but I like reading all the different posts and hearing what its like for others in ems. I'm 17 and a senior in highschool. I'm a new emt and I enjoy learning how to do different stuff and I plan to pursue a career in ems after I graduate.

Welcome!!!

Everybody is nice here and there is always something interesting to read or discuss.

Gongratulations, he is beautiful... you already gave a lot of names choices! How about Legacy...

Hi folks,

a colleague/friend (German EMT-I) of mine is going to have an two month internship(pre-study internship for med school as required in Germany) in an hospital in Jacksonville,FL.

She asked me if I could imagine a chance of visiting a rescue station or even get a chance to accompany a team for a few shifts.

So I thought about asking you:

Anyone from that area?

Anyone with idea's about it?

Thx so long,

Phil

Hello,

I live in Jacksonville but unfortunatly, I am only going to enroll for the EMT program for the summer class so I cannot help her.

But, if she wants to talk or meet, I will be glad. I am French and I own a breakfast-Lunch bakery in Downtown so if she ever gets hungry...my husband speaks German too. I hope she can find something and meanwhile, I will ask around.

Good luck to her.

Hello Donavan. Welcome!!! I am new here too. Everybody here is nice and there is always an interesting topic to discuss and very helpfull advices.

Hello everyone;

I'll be starting my EMT training at Edison College. Has anyone taken the EMT basic at Edison? What was your experience like?

Hi,

I am about to take the course at the FCCJ in Jacksonville. How have you been since the course? Are you certified yet?

It just aggravates the heck out of me that people do not understand that we are a hands and eyes on Medical Profession, not a taxi service. To many people seem to just want to load and go w/o any kind of a proper exam.

So do you guys all expose and look and listen? Do you ignore your own bashfulness and do the job as a true medical professional?

Yes absolutely. At least, that's what I have been taught to do.

I am really sorry to hear that. Florida (mostly south) could be a very dangerous "paradise"!!!

I bring this up because I see so many Parmedics and especially basics that do not at least move clothes to do lung and heart sounds. Surprisingly I see many that just feel over the clothes for trauma. If you do not put your stethoscope on skin you fail as a provider. If you do not at least expose the area of complaint for a trauma patient you need to get out this profession now or get your money back from the school that failed to give you any training or education.

really? ! I agree, this is the least to do when using the stethoscope or looking for trauma or injury... well, this is concerning!!!

Welcome! I don't think any of your concerns are going to amount to anything. Few people have problems with foreign accents. It is regional accents that we dislike. Nobody wants to work with someone with a New Jersey accent. And in Floridia, you will very quickly learn what a New Jersey accent sounds like.

What will be a problem for you is simply getting a job in your chosen field. Thousands of people apply for every opening in the paid fire service. Competition is fierce. It's an easy, no-brainer job with security that you can relax and retire from, so everybody wants it. Good luck getting in, but don't put all your eggs in one basket. You'd better have a plan B.

Thank you for the advice.

Ok ok people. That's wonderful you can speak another language and you are trying to make her feel welcomed. Not everyone speaks French though and it is unfair to others reading the thread when you speak in another language.

Sorry.

I was jut replying in French since the message was in French.

You're right.

Non, je ne suis pas pompier. Je suis infirmier graduee en Pays-Bas. Ici, la service d'urgences medicaux est charger des infirmieres, pas de paramedics. Nous n'avons pas aussi les medicins, comme La France.

M'èpouse ne sera pas s´advis comme elle est une femme! Desolée, cést une blague!!

Bon chance avec la formation, vous réussira!

WM

Ah ok. It's nice.

Thanks.

Bonjour! Enchanté. Je suis Ashley et je vis dans le Wisconsin. Bienvenue. Vous ferez bien ici. J'espère que vous apprécierez! Son agréable de voir des gens d'ici international. Si vous avez des questions, n'hésitez pas à demander! Bonne chance!

Hello Ash,

I will sure appreciate some advices later on since I did not start the training yet. In which field are you working ?

Thank you. Really nice to meet you.

Natacha.

Natacha,

Félicitations! Vouz avez suivi vos reves. Je voudrais aussi l'habiter en Etats-Unis dÁmérique, mais ma femme ne veut pas émigrer. Bienvenue aussi ici, on peut apprendre beaucoup. Les membres sont sympa!

Vos reves n'arret pas avec les pompiers-sapeurs, n'est pas? Nous essaierons changer votre avis, soins medicaux n'appartient pas avec les pompiers! Etudiez les postes ici, c'est une révélation.

Bon Chance!

WM

(sorry for my terrible french, but I tried!)

Hello,

Merci pour ce gentil message! Vous etes pompier ? Depuis que je vis aux Etats-Unis, etre pompier/paramedic me manque beaucoup donc j'ai decide de le faire ici. C'est complique, il faut que je refasse la formation mais je suis tres motivee.

J'espere que votre epouse changera d'avis.

a bientot.

I'm not from Jacksonville, but welcome aboard, anyway. (Belle Harbor, NYC, NY.)

What is/are FCCJ?

Thank you.

FCCJ is the Florida Community College of Jacksonville. I have friends and my brother in law in NYC.

I've worked with New York State EMTs and Paramedics from Haiti, China, Vietnam, Canada, Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Ireland, and known strong accented folks from Puerto Rico and Brooklyn (both USA)! As long as they knew their EMT skills, all that I needed was to acclimate myself to their regional accents, and them to mine.

Thanks.

Yes, I agree with you.

you're welcome. just be yourself, don't try too hard to fit in. generally I get annoyed by people who try too hard. but then again, you have the accent, soooo there wouldn't be a problem there

Thanks!!!

Try not to be cocky or a "know it all". Regardless of your accent, people will get annoyed if you come across as a know it all.

YES. I will certainly not do that.

It doesn't matter where you are from?!? Just make sure you know what you're talking about when you start work.

yes that's what I think too, but sometimes you are not always appreciated when you have an accent, even if you know what you are talking about... It makes things more difficult but you're right, as long as you know your work...

Thanks.

French accents are awesome! You will fit in

thank you so much, this is so sweet.

You will be ok, We have a girl working around here who is going to EMT school who is from Russia....

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. I feel reassured.

Hello,

My name is Natacha.

Is anyone taking or about to enroll to the EMT-B program at FCCJ Jacksonville?

I would love to chat with someone living in the Jacksonville area.

Hello,

My name is Natacha. I am French and I live in Jacksonville, FL. I am about to enroll at the FCCJ to become EMT. I was a firefighter/emt in France for 5 years.

I love this job so much I could not live without doing it. I am a little concern about how my future colleague will react to the fact that I am not american but I really want to give the best of me and try.

I would love to discuss with other persons.

See you soon...

Natacha.