uglymedic

AZCEP, call it "gestalt" or a gut feeling. It just don't look like v-tach to me. Also the rate doesn't suggest v-tach. At least that's what I weer taut in paremedik skool. I'm definitely not claiming to be right and there's not much info here to go on but I'd almost expect to see a little bump about the size of a stopwatch under the pt's chest and see pacer spikes. For those of you sharpening up your razors getting ready to electronically slit my throat (Rid, paramedicmike, etc.) me, stop. I'm not calling it a paced rhythm. Let's just say I'm calling in not v-tach. I'm not claiming to be right. Peace OK? ug

I am by no means knocking anyone who is extremly enthusiastic about this career but relationships are a give and take thing, two way street, etc. EMS was not the sole reason for my divorce, but it sure was a contributor. I understand your mate's dedication to the job but, just as we take care of perfect strangers, we must take care of ourselves and our loved ones as well. Sometimes this means telling the shift sup. "No, I can't work extra tonight." or, "No, I can't work Friday, I'm going on a date with my wife/daughter/son/friend". You don't even owe them an excuse. "No" should suffice. I showed my family then that my love for them was me working my *ss off and "bringing home the bacon" so they could have a nice house, car, food, etc. Well, it did nothing more than make me not at home to see my kids first steps, hear their first word, miss their Christmas plays, and their parent teacher conferences. I pored my heart and soul into this job and got nothing but an ex-wife and every other week custody and child support. Oh, and my employer didn't give a rat's *ss about how much I worked either. Now, with my new wife, I turn down some of the extra shifts so I can be home with my family. So I can take out the garbage instead of my wife having to do it because I'm not home. I've seen my new daughter roll over, take her first steps, and can understand her speaking because I'm around her enough. And, I'm there for my wife so she doesn't feel alone all the time. Yes, I love my profession. I love the people I work with. I like the patients I care for. I also love my family and don't want to lose them and hate my career because I blame it for my loss. I've been told by my very beautiful and loving wife on occasion to take a day off or turn down an extra shift because her and the kids miss me. I didn't get mad. It makes me feel good to know that I'm missed and needed. Yes, EMS is a career, and I'm very lucky that I love it. Your JOB is NOT your life. You will not die if you don't take that shift. Any (decent) employer won't fire you for not holding over for a few hours. The shift will get covered, people will respond to calls and you don't have to be there. It takes a lot to be married to an EMS worker, a firefighter, or a police officer. Think about what they go through too. Especially after 9/11, cop killers, random shootings, watching Ladder 49, or the latest Nickleback video (which made my wife cry and hate the fact that I'm a firefighter). Would I do it all again? Well, I'd still dump the ex, but I'd be there more for my kids. Peace and love, ug

I'm probably wrong, but I just can't agree with the V-tach. I'll guess A-fib with RVR. ug

Dispatched to local residence priority 1 for 57 y/o female choking, unable to breathe. Husband on scene has medical problems and cannot help, neighbor on scene too small and cannot help. A fast paced walk inside and we come to the husband pointing down the hallway (it's an old single wide trailer) saying, "she's in the bathroom." Enter bathroom expecting the worst and find a lady standing 6'3" and 250 lbs. (no wonder they couldn't help) standing in front of the toilet gagging, coughing, and spitting. She is PWD and moving air well. I ask her what's going on. "I took a drink of my pop and didn't notice there were ants in it and swallowed them and one is stuck in my throat." Yeah, OK... So, I look with a flashlight and sure enough! There's a black ant clamped onto her left tonsil. Attempts to remove with a q-tip aren't successful. Laryngoscope with #3 miller and Magill forceps are used to extricate the ant. Pt. is very thankful and feeling much better. We clear the scene and advise central that the ant was successfully extricated from the patient's throat and we were available. The dispatcher tried unsuccessfully to not laugh as well as her colleagues in the background. On the way back to the station, I questioned how one could drink ants in soda. My partner says while they were standing there, he noticed about fifteen ants on their bed. My partner, myself, and our ride along all caught a good case of "the creepy itchies" for awhile. On a side note, one of the dispatchers knew "her". Apparently she wasn't a large woman, she was a former man. God I love my job! ug

This my friend is known as the "Kobeyashi Maru" scenario. If you are not a Star Trek fan, this is a scenario that a starship captain is put in and no matter what happens, he loses. It is to test your character and resolve as well as how you react to losing. I participated in a BTLS course where I was a victim that had multiple GSW, multiple stab wounds, and a CHI due to a baseball bat. No matter what any crew did, I died. I'll add to your scenario. You forgot your boots, your partner is 40 wks pregnant and contractions are two minutes apart (her water broke on the way to the call), one of the vehicles is overturned, glowing, with a "live radioactive material" placard on it, your partner flushed the toilet while you were showering and scalded you, and it burns when you urinate. That should put you in a better spot! :headbang: ug

Ruff, it takes a great person to admit when they're wrong! Rock on baby! Hope the others can say it too! ug

It's incredible how many excuses I read about why James was called, in essence, a liar. It's also amazing that there's not one apology from the people who were accusing him of lying. Not one, "Sorry for calling you a liar", "Sorry I accused your story of being full of sh*t." There's a lot of "callous up", and such, but still not one, "I'm sorry". Much to their dismay, old dogs make mistakes just like rookies. Some just tend to try and overlook their mistakes and try and talk about something else. I could actually see the group of hyenas gathering, and watch the attack on James slowly get worse until it was almost a feeding frenzy. This is a community, not "the good ol' boys club". Just because someone is not a VIP member or a sponsor doesn't mean that they should be attacked. Skepticism is one thing, but flat out saying someone's story is B.S. is another. ug

Mrs. Smith is teaching her third graders about science. In part of her lesson she tells the children that humans are the only species that stutter. Little Bobby raises his hand and says, "Mrs. Smith, I had a cat that would stutter!" Mrs. Smith, loving the cute little stories that children tell, asked him to proceed. "Well, one time we were in the back yard. The neighbor's rottweiler got a running start and jumped the fence! He headed straight for my cat. Well, my cat starts going, 'Fffff', 'Ffffff", and before he could say "F*ck, the rott ate him!" ug

Smart *ss. So I'm not up on my internet lingo. I have other things to try and pack into my "geezer" brain. I'm also having a hard time with the quote things so some of my stuff is mixed in with NBSP's. I apologize for making anyone think that I was being hostile about this or for making "non-believers" or atheists feel that I thought they were idiots. That was not my intent. Peace NBSP. You made me think. I hope you're taking philosophy classes. You'll do well. ug

Paroxysmal flickets? With FLB's? Was the patient feeling woogity? Could be terminal. :wav: ug

This is honestly the first time using the "quote" things, so I'm hoping this will work. NNDB, I was particularly amused by the fact that 1.) it made your head hurt, and 2.) "I am going to call you an idiot and a jerk in a pretentious manner, ignoring the fact that this will get me nowhere in a manner still practiced only by third-graders and congressmen. I will now use a cliche but rather cool method to make my next argument seem more valid." Ahhh, yeah. Have you read any of your pretentious e-mails? You're going to assume that persons of faith are nothing more than morons yourself? The part about this thread that I don't like is those people such as NNDB and Ace who talk down to people of faith and treat them as idiots for believing in something they can't see or comprehend. There is no way to prove to an atheist that God exists just as there is no way for an atheist to prove that God doesn't exist. I also agree with the person (forgive me I can't remember who - and I'm paraphrasing here) said that evolution can be part of God's work. The average human height alone has increased by what? Six inches over a hundred years? Why can't other things change? NNDB, I'm going to try and not put you down because honestly, from reading your threads, you appear to be a pretty intelligent person. That's based solely on your writings. I don't condemn anyone for their beliefs because that's not my place. I work with a Wiccan and we have very spirited discussions about higher powers. Also, please enlighten me as to the difference between atheists and agnostics. I forget. I will agree with others that I'd like to see you after a few hundred thousand miles on them tires to see if you have the same cynical opinions you have now. Puppy. Lastly, and I've said it before, the only ca-ca that will be stirred is from people treating other people like idiots. Yes, I am passionate and may have reacted rather harshly but Jesus wasn't afraid to open a can of whup-*ss when he kicked the money changers and the vendors out of the temple either. Oh, and yes, God is in a rose. Let's put it another way, I just can't see something like glycogenesis just happening. Let alone all the other mysterious and wonderful things that exist in our world. Peace out! ug

An immature *sshole like me would probably say something like, "Sexual Intercourse"! But I promise, I'm not going to! ug

I have done what urbanmedic said about rubbing your partner's leg on a call. Perhaps a good, "Good Game!" slap on the tush too. Also, try blowing in their ear. You can actually watch goosebumps form! Works for hot ER nurses as well. At least the ones with a sense of humor. Yes, I've had all these done to me by male and female partners/coworkers and laughed about it! ug

Yes Windsong! I especially loved the part about, "...you can keep the $100 if I get to see the K-9 officer using your arm as a chew toy!" I also like the part about running toward the crazed gunman. This is good, I think I'll share this with the cops I know. ug

Normal bumps and bruises for me. My biggest injury is usually from hitting my head on the grab rails due to not enough headroom. Best way to train a new driver is to treat them to a cup of coffee, have them put it between their legs while full, take the cap off and have them drive with it there. Then inform them that's how they should drive with a patient in back. As far as the b*tch that threw you into the bulkhead and into the well, normally I don't advocate violence against women, but I do encourage revenge. She needs to get a proverbial *ss whoopin'! Also, if your AMI pt is sick enough to warrant lights and siren, generally they don't care because they're too busy trying, or trying not, to die. Don't forget: Time is muscle. ug