medik8

Yeah, I have. IO lines are great when you can't get another or need to get fluids moving quickly. It makes me a little squeamish...but it sure does work well. I figured that is what you were talking about. I couldn't think of too many uses for a "drill thing" :shock: unless we're talking lobotomy. LMAO. Or..placing orthopedic screws... At any rate...yeah...it's a neat little deal. xoxo :wink: 8

I faithfully watch ER...but I did NOT see last week's episode. Where did they use the "drill"? Just a stab in the dark...from the way you describe it...it could have been an IO drill for a line into the bone.... Like I said...did not see the show... :roll: xoxo 8

AK!!!! LMFAO! :wink: xoxo 8

Jan...I don't think Rid meant that you couldn't come here or you weren't welcome to ask us our opinion. Correct me if I'm wrong, Rid...and I apologize if I am and I have spoken for you...but I think what he meant was that you could get misleading information. It's impossible to give a firm and accurate diagnosis only by hearing the symptoms. We cannot fully assess you by just hearing your story. We can form opinions...but it's not a true assessment of your body systems. You need to go somewhere and have the full deal done. Imagine this...if we all said we thought you would be fine and to suck it up, and you did...and something happened...well...perfect example. It's impossible to give you an educated answer on here. It may be pretty cut and dried...but it's still a gamble. Please don't be offended by what we are saying. We just want you to be ok. And yes...I know how we all are....don't you know that we are the worst patients.... I'm sure everything will be just fine. Just go get it taken care of... xoxo 8

:wink: Sorry Dear...but I have to agree with Rid and the others on this one. You are going to get a multitude of opinions as to what is going on with you from professionals, non-professionals and just opinion givers in general. It's ok that you asked us...but please don't rely on what you read to guide you. That BP, pulse, and the combo of dizziness, being diaphoretic, feeling faint and being short of breath and having tingling....well...those are all things that are obviously not normal and should be checked. The one thing that we all DO agree on here, is that you should be evaluated including labs, EKG, etc... Please don't ignore your symptoms. They are there for a reason. That's your body's way of telling you something is not right. It may be a panic attack...but it could also be something more serious. I can think of a few things. All treatable. Not trying to scare you...but you DO need to go. Besides...remember that accidents don't always just happen to you. How would you feel if you DID pass out and woke to find you ran into someone else and the outcome was not so good.... Please find out what's going on...k? xoxo 8

*GASP*....NO! Girls don't do THAT!!! :shock: TPBM has ran outside to get their paper, naked...

:shock: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2949508997989707181 LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I hope no one finds mine.... :?) xoxoxo :wink: 8

Actually...it's not bad. First of all, they don't have hair. Secondly...the first kid you stick them on is the one who gets it the worst, and I just peel slowly. Thereafter, just because this is only for fun anyway, I re-use the pads. Therefore, with each kid, they still stick because of the lack of hair, but they don't stick "as well" as if they were new, so they stay on well enough to provide a "picture" for them, but are easy to remove as they lose their stickiness. It works very well... xoxoxo Luv, 8

For every sad ending and tough situation, there is a beautiful birth, life or beginning. You have found yours in the little foal. No, she may not be in human form, but she has become the focal point for your healing. You did a good thing yesterday. It's not corny at all. You have chosen to deal with grief in your own way. Such is the world of EMS. You're going to be fine fire_911 medic. I can tell in the positive way that you are speaking by already stating something along the lines of, "it won't let me forget, but will keep encouraging me to go forward on tough days." It will be a reminder of your sad day, but it will also be a symbolic-sort of reminder of the strength you also found, that day. Glad you felt you could come to us....please know it doesn't stop with this one. Always here for you.... xoxoxo :wink: 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underdog

LMAO! U are such a silly sally...Yeah Dust...sort of...'cept I'm not blonde, and I don't do it in the parking lot. :shock: I just take the kiddies in the back of the truck and they take turns on the cot while I hook them up and print them off. And, of course, you have to leave the sound on the monitor.....beep....beep....beep....beep....beep....beep.... They get a kick out of that... xoxo :wink: 8 PS...Thanks Michael.. :oops: Conscience, huh?

LMFAO!!!! 8) I can see PRPG doing some of this....especially the "spanking" moves during "You Can't Touch This"... Although, the music is a little lame in spots. Now, you put PRPG on the stage and play the Ludicris CD....ohhh YEAH..... THAT would be "worth a million ga-zillion fa-fillion dollars." Word. :rr: xoxoxo Luv, 8

=D> Very well said, Race. I agree....completely... xoxo :wink: 8

Actually....I haven't.....but.....*ahem*....PRP, if I can talk you into possibly going into the kitchen naked again, well...we might be able to work something out. Just a thought... TPBM has tried to fit someone else into their underwear WHILE they had them on. :shock:

Guilty. Hasn't everyone? :dontknow: I mean...seriously.....at some point? TPBM has made chocolate chip cookies naked.....

Well said, Hammer! =D>

Hmmm...I always start my talks with... "Does everyone know the difference between a question and a story?" Clear that up first. Later, when you ask if anyone has questions...it will eliminate all the little ones going, "This one time...my aunt fell down, and we had to call an ambulance...blah blah..." or "When I was little (LMAO), I fell and hit my head and there was blood everywhere and my mommy...blah blah..." You get the picture. These are cute stories, but the little ones love to talk, and they eat up lots and lots of time, and no one learns anything. I LOVE talking to kindergarten or preschool classes. They are usually very attentive, great listeners, interested, and excited. And, they DO love you...because you have the trucks there, the uniform, etc. They like surprises and special treats. I usually try to play a game with them, and we talk about 911 and safety. I tell them about my job and what I do. I show them equipment, and then we go to the ambulance. If the class is not too big, I hook each one of them to the heart monitor and print a strip to show them their heartbeat. They LOVE this!! Then, we all get our picture taken with our strips (and the crew in the middle). It's a great time!!! Don't be intimidated. Have fun!!! :wink: xoxo 8

You are not going "soft". You are just being a human with feelings. We all go through this. Around Christmas, I was a basket case. I had lost a baby, and had several successive deaths...in the days before, ON and after the holiday. My partner wasn't much help because he was in just as bad a shape as me. It was a few here on the City that talked to me and helped me out. That's what we're here for...please don't ever hesitate to talk to me about anything. I also think I can speak for everyone when I say that any of us would help you out. Just say the word... There are tough times, indeed. You WILL get past this and it WILL happen again... You just have to take comfort in the fact that you were there, you care, and you did all you could do. :wink: It will be ok...I promise... Here if you need to talk... xoxoxo Luv, 8

AVVN: In answer to your question... I don't mean to discourage you when I say that most relationships in this business do not make it. Mine didn't. However, I will say that a lot of this can be prevented. As Rid and others have said, counseling is a start. Ignoring it won't help either of you. You both have to be open minded and willing to communicate well with each other. That is the key. Now, I will tell you, restricting her or telling her that she can't do this for a living WILL NOT help your marriage. You will most likely lose. This job almost becomes an addiction to most people. Once it is in your blood...you can't ditch it easily. Being supportive and trying to understand it is a better option, along with working on your relationship and strengthening your relationship. She will love you ten times as much if you support her and work with her instead of working against her. Trust me on this. That way, you can have a great relationship and she is happy all at the same time. Then, everyone wins. If you would ever succeed in getting her to quit, you may feel better, but she will resent it, and you. Hence, you lose anyway... As far as partners go...Imagine this...You are in some of the worst situations that you could ever be in in your life. People dying, bad scenes, trauma, emotional situations, situations needing support, and the only person you have is the person next to you. You go through all of this together. They become (and don't take this the wrong way) almost LIKE a spouse, of sorts. My partner and I are VERY close. Yes, he is a guy. We have each other's backs 24/7. Has anything intimate ever happened between us? No. Would it or could it? I suppose...but I won't go there. I refuse to date people I work with....EVER. You have to try to trust your wife. I'm sure some girls would play on this, and there are many situations where they do, but if you have a strong marriage and/or relationship at home, it's not going to happen. Please don't mistake her being close to these guys as unfaithfulness. It's a world that I cannot explain, but it's as close as you can get to someone, in a lot of cases, without the marriage. That's not meant to upset you....I'm just trying to be honest. It's like working with your best friend. Not for everyone, but in a lot of cases. And, even if you aren't very fond of your partner, you are still close in a lot of ways. Also, the relationship between us and our partner is important for patient care, etc. When you work together on things that serious, you begin to think alike, complete each other's thoughts, etc. In fact, when it's good it's very good. My partner and I rarely talk on a call...I go to grab for something and it's in his hand 2 inches from me. I go to ask him to do something and it's already done or in progress. It's a great thing... As far as the joking...well...that's just part of the firehouse/station atmosphere. It's fun, good camaraderie....just a good time. We play jokes on each other, annoy each other, talk about not-so-pleasant things..you get to know everyone's habits, good and bad, pleasant AND gross...unfortunately. The best way I can describe it is, it's like family. You live and work with these people a good part of your life. Family indeed... Work this out with her, talk to her... The main reason marriages fail is because the spouse fails to try to understand the job and the hours/mentality/etc., then the other spouse resents it and it just goes south from there. You CAN both be happy and have the best of both worlds. It just takes good, strong, old-fashioned love and commitment. You will have a happy marriage and a happy wife. Remember...she married you first. Don't give up. Talk to her, but don't be demanding and overbearing. Explain that you worry about her, but don't try to exercise control and tell her that you won't let her do it. Have a good heart to heart and choose your words carefully. Explain your concerns out of love and not anger and jealousy. Nagging DOES NOT work. If she loves this job and is committed to it like most of us, it will only drive her further away... By asking all these questions, you are showing that you care and want to understand. That is the first step...and I'm proud of you for coming to us to ask for help and advice... Best of luck to you... xoxoxo :wink: Luv, 8

Like I said.....I knew you had a good reason...just as I suspected.... That's why I gave your five points back that they took away! :wink: xoxo luv, 8

Well said, Dust. I feel the same way about this board. If you stay on the non-defensive side of things and just open your heart and mind to all the wisdom and advice here, I have found that sometimes I have a whole new outlook on certain issues. I've learned that by giving everyone a fair chance...well...it's what makes us all important in our own way. We all have something to contribute to life, and to our beloved EMS career. Let's continue to appreciate and learn from each other. And let's not forget to be thankful for the very privilege of being able to express our thoughts and ideas here. Sometimes we take those simple things for granted... Mucho thanks and love to you! I'm very proud of you for going. You will represent our country well. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. :salute: :brave: xoxoxoxo Luv u! 8

Dust...baby....you misspelled capitalization...and recognize...and memorizing! (Unless you have decided you have a thing against z's...I'm sure you have an explanation for why you were consistent with this change.) LMFAO!!! That's your minus 5 I think....but I'm gonna add five (+5) back on for you because as careful as you normally are, I say you are allowed to misspell a word here and there. Anyway...What Dust said....is right on!! I agree 100%, and will add in, prepare yourself for not having much of a life during school. It's important that you understand that this has to come first, ALWAYS. Study, Study, Study....and make sure your family, friends and loved-ones know that you will not be able to give much of yourself to them, and that it's not personal. Explain to them what they should expect, so that when you are scarce, they will not think you have changed or become arrogant and no longer have time for them. Some people will not get this or understand this no matter how much you tell them, but explaining up-front DOES help. Good luck...we're here if you need us!!! xoxo 8

DEFINITELY not enough AC!! My partner always teases me and says that by the time we reach the hospital, I'm half naked. LMAO!! Thank goodness for being able to dress in layers. The clothes usually go flyin....I don't work well when I'm hot... xoxo 8

Well...I dunno if "congrats" is the right word...but you have reached a new level of your career. They never get "easy" so to speak, but it does get better in terms of being able to deal with these situations. I'm glad you vented. That's what we are here for...to help each other learn, to give advice and to provide support (at least that's how I see my role on here)...and most of all to just be a friend who understands your job and what you do, more than most people in our own lives. The hardest thing for me is to remind myself that I can't save them all. It sure would be nice if we could, though. If you should need to talk more...I will listen. Take care.... xoxoxo Luv, :wink: 8

It's my suspicion that most people who say they DO NOT wear the seatbelt in the back have never had an "incident" to make them put it on. I used to roam freely too...until a quick stop (from someone who ran a red light who we were trying to avoid hitting) launched my small body backwards and halfway across the back of the ambulance, scraping/cutting my back along the way and coming to rest by slamming into the back doors and then hitting the floor. I'm thankful that the doors didn't open or it would have been..."Medik8...this is Mr. Asphalt. Mr. Asphalt...meet Medik8." Hmmm...... My mind races at the possibilities of what could have came after that...possibly....meet Mr. Dodge Ram....how about Mr. Goodyear...?? You see where I'm going with this... :shock: You don't realize how fast and forceful objects move around until you see it happen. In a car...we don't think about our bodies continuing to move after the car stops because we don't really see it. As well, there's not enough space in a car to really visualize object flying through the air. In an ambulance, there's much more space, which is more deadly. I've had things whiz past my head before (not to mention what I said above about MYSELF; and the point Dust made about the monitor (for the record...mine is also seat-belted in on a shelf)). It's not worth it. To each his own....you have to do what makes you comfortable. Whatever that is...PLEASE be careful. I don't want to be reading about any of you guys.... xoxoxo Luv, 8