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Archive for October, 2010
As I mentioned in my last post, the blog will soon be moving! I just wanted to let you know that the finishing touches are being done on the new site and we should be up and running soon. I’ll post a link here when it’s live!
Since I’m here I’ll give a little update about school. Today we talked a bit more about airway management and the various conditions, breath sounds, ways of managing the various emergencies that can arise and the “tools of the trade.” I’m amazed at how much of it all goes back to what I learned in Basic. It really hammered home “BLS before ALS.” We’ll have a test on airway on Tuesday as well as a check off on intubation. Today we did a dry run and I did ok, except that I accidently let go of the ET tube before I had it secured (thankfully I noticed it and was allowed to “correct” it). Otherwise, my instructor said I did well. Hopefully the real deal will go as smoothly (minus letting go of an unsecured tube).
Tomorrow I’ll be doing a clinical rotation in an ICU at a fairly busy medical center. I’m looking forward to taking care of some patients with intesting patho… well, at least that’s what I’m hoping for. 
On another note, I want to brag on my wife for a moment. She’s simply amazing. She puts up with all of the craziness that is my life right now and I’m thankful for her support, love and even butt kicking when I need it. She can also decorate a beautiful cake! She’s taking a Grey’s break for the moment (and I’m about to join her!) but she’s working on a cake that is in the form of a long flowing dress for a Barbie doll. It’s beautiful. She’s also a wonderful teacher at a “Star” rated high school. She also picked up her endorsement in physics over the Summer, which gives her every science endorsement that the state recognizes. I can’t say enough how proud of her I am and how much I love her for all that she does for me and for others.
I love you, Jessica.
Jonathan
Those that know me tend to think I’m negative about my home state of Mississippi. Truly, I don’t enjoy that but I’m also sick and tired of the citizens of my state being satisfied with the way things are (which aren’t good). I also want, in some way, to encourage my fellow Mississippians to better themselves by actually using the brains that God gave them.
I was a radio personality and programmer for 8 years before I joined EMS and I’m familiar with (and have participated in) the many stunts a station will do in order to bring attention to itself or an event it’s sponsoring, etc. A radio station in Biloxi has been airing an on-air countdown, which the station management state is a countdown to a new format. I’m not sure why but some of the citizens down there apparently thought it meant a terror attack was about to be launched on coastal plants for industrial companies such as Chevron. How they assumed this is anyones’ guess but I think it’s pretty sad that people are really that stupid. I also realize that there’s stupid everywhere the grass is green (and even where there is sand, etc.) but this is just plain nuts.
You can read the story here.
Wow.
Jonathan
First, I want to apologize for my last of posting over the last couple of weeks. As those of you who have been through medic school know, life gets pretty crazy when you’re trying to balance school, work, home and everything else in between without going completely insane (although some might argue that I went insane long before I entered EMS!). The aforementioned school and work stuff has been crazy busy but also issues with my phone about did me in! Oh, and I’ve been going to some clinicals too.
Are you dizzy yet?
School’s going a little better. I’m still not thrilled with my average in lecture but that will take care of itself. Thankfully our last test for Pre-Hospital Care was a take home test so that will help. Lab is still going well too. Since getting checked off on IVs, I’ve since gotten checked off on IO and we’ve started practicing intubation. Clinicals are going well. I’m still somewhat shaky on my assessments. I guess what I mean by that is I just don’t feel extremely confidant on that just yet. I know I’m getting better; I know I’ve already come miles from where I was when I started medic school. I know it’ll come with practice and I’m thankful that I’m getting that practice in clinicals, at work and on the rare occasion that I run a medical call with the fire department. I’m also continuing to work on my IVs and such. All in all, it’s like McDonald’s: I’m lovin’ it!
I am very thankful for all the new things I’ve been learning. Even though school has honestly had its ups and downs I’ve overall enjoyed it. I have to be honest: I’m looking forward to being finished with school and becoming a paramedic but I plan to enjoy school as much as I can while I can. I have great instructors, great classmates and the clinical sites and their staffs have been wonderful. Around the corner lurks pharmacology and, yes, I’m still a bit nervous about that but I know it’ll be alright.
Heh… Five years ago I never would have imagined that I would be learning how to stick a needle in a person’a vein, put a tube down their throat and give them narcotics. I wonder if any of my friends are scared yet. 
I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this before but I’m also a volunteer firefighter so firefighter issues are also near and dear to my heart. The stink raised about the situation involving the South Fulton (TN) Fire Department watching as a man’s house burn because he didn’t pay his fire protection feel is, quite frankly, smelly. The county that the man lives in does not provide fire protection in the form of county fire departments so they contract with cities and towns within the county to cover the county… for a fee. Since the homeowner didn’t pay his fee, his house was allowed to burn. I couldn’t disagree with this more. I know first hand how much it can cost to fight one fire when you factor in man hours (even when they’re not paid), wear and tear on the truck, hoses and nozzles, the cost of water, diesel, etc. However, think about this: What if someone had been trapped in the house? Would they have refused to enter the house (assuming it was safe for them to do so) to rescue a trapped family member because he didn’t pay his fee? Even if a patient doesn’t pay their ambulance bill we’re bound to provide medical care to them if they call for help. If I refuse to render aid then I’ve not only broken a code of ethics but I’ve also committed a crime. Shouldn’t the fire department be held to the same standard? Morally and ethically I know I couldn’t stand by my department’s truck while a citizen’s home burned to the ground, I’d have to at least try to save it (or at least some part of it and/or its contents). Now, I don’t blame the department itself or the firefighters. I blame the county for allowing a subscription based fire protection scheme.
I thought that’s why we pay taxes.
Now that I’ve thrown my two cents around about that, I can now get on with some good news: The Future Ditch Doctor blog will soon be moving! I’m not going to give all the details right now but keep watching for updates and a new site. I’m very excited at the things coming up here and I just hope that I give you the content that will keep you coming back. Thank you for being here and following my #questforthediscopatch. It’s awesome having you along for the ride.
Until next time…
Jonathan
