It appears I have (yet again) Neglected this blog! So here's another quick update as to what I'm doing!
I now work for WMAS as a Student Paramedic, I started my training at the end of May and started on the road in August. Tomorrow I go to training school to have my IHCD Technician portfolio assessed then next month I have my clinical skills assessed by a member of training school staff when they join me out on the road. So hopefully soon I'll be a fully qualified IHCD Ambulance Technician...scary stuff!
There's been loads of interesting jobs recently...too many to write about! Will try to write up some of them soon though.
I'll try and keep you all informed from now on guys! Thanks for looking (if you still are!)
"Callsign" out...
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Update!!
Sorry i haven't been posting recently guys! Have been a busy, busy, bee!
So what's happened in the world of me?
So what's happened in the world of me?
- Have completed my PTA and ETA modules with St John Ambulance, so am now a fully fledged Emergency Transport Attendant
- Become a Level 3 Responder with my local responder group.
- Got a job with EMAS as an ECA which I have turned down because...
- I GOT A PLACE AT UNI!!!! to do Paramedic Science...which I am also turning down because...
- I GOT A JOB WITH WMAS!! as a student paramedic! Just currently awaiting a start date :)
So all in all...been fairly busy recently! Will start posting interesting calls again soon...I promise!
"Callsign" out
Sunday, 21 July 2013
CFR BBQ
SO last night our group held a BBQ to unwind for summer so as many CFR's and "Medics" from the group as were possible were there enjoying the night. I spent most of my evening chatting to a paramedic, that i went on 3rd man shifts with, and his partner when he got an advise text on his phone to a fitting 19yof. I noticed the address...a local camp I'd spent a lot of time at earlier on in my life, because of this he phoned up control and asked if there were any crews booked onto the job...none!
So off we both went, on blues, to the campsite where i recognised basically everyone there!
When we walked into the kitchen, she was laid on the floor, on her side with a sleeping bag draped over her, she'd stopped convulsing but we were informed at this point that she had convulsed around 7 times over the past 45 mins. She could only communicate via squeezing one of the leader's hands which made communication very difficult, she even found it difficult to nod or shake her head.
We managed to get her sat up on a mattress that someone had kindly leant against the wall for us. All the tests came out basically perfect! apart from being slightly tachycardic (fast pulse for those not in the know).
Then it was just a waiting game, chatting to the other guys, trying to cheer her up, and calming her down everytime she had a slight tremor because the AED/ECG recognised if as VF...therefore a shockable rhythm. Fairly sure anyone would get slightly scared at a machine suddenly shouting "SHOCKABLE RHYTHM, ATTACH PADS!"
All in all a good nights work for the pair of us...just goes to show...even when off duty you could end up helping someone. And we managed to get back to the BBQ in time for trifle!
So off we both went, on blues, to the campsite where i recognised basically everyone there!
When we walked into the kitchen, she was laid on the floor, on her side with a sleeping bag draped over her, she'd stopped convulsing but we were informed at this point that she had convulsed around 7 times over the past 45 mins. She could only communicate via squeezing one of the leader's hands which made communication very difficult, she even found it difficult to nod or shake her head.
We managed to get her sat up on a mattress that someone had kindly leant against the wall for us. All the tests came out basically perfect! apart from being slightly tachycardic (fast pulse for those not in the know).
Then it was just a waiting game, chatting to the other guys, trying to cheer her up, and calming her down everytime she had a slight tremor because the AED/ECG recognised if as VF...therefore a shockable rhythm. Fairly sure anyone would get slightly scared at a machine suddenly shouting "SHOCKABLE RHYTHM, ATTACH PADS!"
All in all a good nights work for the pair of us...just goes to show...even when off duty you could end up helping someone. And we managed to get back to the BBQ in time for trifle!
Monday, 8 July 2013
Airshow Season!
Just come back from the biggest International Airshow which I covered for the first time this year! Next Weekend I'm of down south for a Naval Airshow! Summer has arrived.
Spent my time on one of the 3 First Aid posts where we saw around 40 patients each day. Only one particularly interesting case to talk to you about unfortunately guys!
During the Sunday, the 3 of us manning the post (1 nurse had left earlier in the day leaving us with myself as Advanced First Aider, A technician and a nurse) when a member of RAF personnel came in telling us there was a elderly male who "wasn't feeling himself", I grabbed my bag and went for a brisk walk (of course we never run!). On arrival I was presented with a 68yo Male sat in the driver's seat of his car, ready to drive himself and his wife home. He was extremely drowsy, salivating, had a runny nose, his hands were reddened and swollen, his radial pulse was un-locatable. He has dressed, seeping wounds on his legs from chemotherapy. When asking him questions, his responses were very mumbled and at time incomprehensible. I immediately radioed for one of our ambulances to get him to our Casualty Clearance Centre (CCC) for further assessment/treatment.
Now I knew i had a few minutes to gain as much information as I possibly could. I put my pulse Oximeter on his finger, Sats 98% pulse 112...but ignored this due to his shaking and the trace showing it extremely irregular. I then had a feel of his arms and neck, extremely warm to touch so took his temp through my tympanic thermometer...40.4 degrees. Immediately got the RAF member to stand a bit up the road to wave down the ambulance so there was no chance he'd miss us.
He was rushed into the CCC where he was taken through the Decontamination unit (a big shower unit!) and when I heard back his temp had dropped 2 degrees and was a lot more alert!
That's my weekend done! Can't wait for the next one.
Spent my time on one of the 3 First Aid posts where we saw around 40 patients each day. Only one particularly interesting case to talk to you about unfortunately guys!
During the Sunday, the 3 of us manning the post (1 nurse had left earlier in the day leaving us with myself as Advanced First Aider, A technician and a nurse) when a member of RAF personnel came in telling us there was a elderly male who "wasn't feeling himself", I grabbed my bag and went for a brisk walk (of course we never run!). On arrival I was presented with a 68yo Male sat in the driver's seat of his car, ready to drive himself and his wife home. He was extremely drowsy, salivating, had a runny nose, his hands were reddened and swollen, his radial pulse was un-locatable. He has dressed, seeping wounds on his legs from chemotherapy. When asking him questions, his responses were very mumbled and at time incomprehensible. I immediately radioed for one of our ambulances to get him to our Casualty Clearance Centre (CCC) for further assessment/treatment.
Now I knew i had a few minutes to gain as much information as I possibly could. I put my pulse Oximeter on his finger, Sats 98% pulse 112...but ignored this due to his shaking and the trace showing it extremely irregular. I then had a feel of his arms and neck, extremely warm to touch so took his temp through my tympanic thermometer...40.4 degrees. Immediately got the RAF member to stand a bit up the road to wave down the ambulance so there was no chance he'd miss us.
He was rushed into the CCC where he was taken through the Decontamination unit (a big shower unit!) and when I heard back his temp had dropped 2 degrees and was a lot more alert!
That's my weekend done! Can't wait for the next one.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
application
So finally took the plunge and have applied to Yorkshire Ambulance Service as an ECA, now jut waiting to hear back. Fingers crossed, by the end of the year I'll be a step closer to acheiving my dream!
Monday, 1 April 2013
Progression
Was told yeserday that after 20 calls, the boss wants to put me forward for Level 3...considering I already have 9 under my belt...happy Harry!!
Monday, 25 March 2013
Learn something everyday
Had my first 3 call outs 2 weeks ago while co-responding! Happy days, can now respond solo.
Call one, just been asked if I wanted to join the guy I share kit with on call, to which I obviously ripped his arm off! So thought I'd quickly nip to get something to eat before St John's that night. Just about to pull up to the collection window when my phone went off,
"Hiya mate, I've got a cardiac arrest at XX ********** road." So after getting my food and throwing it in the passenger footwell I made my way to the scene arriving within 1 or 2 mins of the call. I got out, made my way to the address and started knocking on the door. No answer. Quick look through the front window, no one there. Her neighbour came out and stared at me for a few secs before informing me, "She wont answer the door mate, She never does." I wasnt particularly expecting her to answer in all honesty...for obvious reasons but i simply thanked her and made my way out of the garden to await the ambulance and other responder to arrive. I could hear the sirens so knew they were close. It was at this point I realised I didnt have anything on me to designate me as a responder. I hadnt had chance to get home and change, hence the staring earlier I guess!
With this a paramedic and my fellow responder turned up. Straight away the Para did as I did and, not surprisingly, came to the same conclusion. He then moved round to the rear of the propety to see if he could find an open door...which he did.
"Guys...ive found her." Followed by the code for Dead...unconfirmed. We made our way round the back, with our kit just in case he decided there was a chance of bringing her round, but as we got to the corner of the building I had to take a step back...There she was, laid on the floor, her arms close to her chest, a deep blue tinge on her skin, it was obvious this wasn't recent, she'd been there at least 6-7 hours at a guess.
Now we all think to ourselves, on that first medical course we did how ever many years agoit may have been, what we would do when we first come across a body. I always thought I'd want to get out as soon as I knew they were confirmed ROLE. But I didnt...I found myself looking around, trying to work out what had happened, why she was wearing so little clothing when it was so cold. I was gibbering in my t shirt and hoody, she had a thin blouse and a cardigan on. These questions will never be answered in my head but they still intrigue me. At least I know now, I can deal with death, it doesnt phase me.
One thing I have learnt from this call...always ensure you have some form of uniform on! Apparently I'd been reported to CID during their investigation as 'suspicious'.
The 2nd call of the night I lead, Severe pain and minor bleeding following a histerectomy. (Never was good at spelling). As First Response there wasnt much we could do unfortunately but take obs and find as much info as we could before the crew arrived to aid them as much as possible. It allowed me to show who I am, the way I work.
What did I learn from this job? Always check the PRF pad is set up properly. My crew mate ended up having to rewrite his prf after not putting the duplicate page behind the main copy!
Final call of the night I didnt get to do anything with, responder, paramedic and crew arrived before me...lesson from that one? Dont follow satnav blindly...
Thats all for now, on call 3 nights this week so standbye for a few more stories hopefully!
And last but by no way least. RIP sweet
Call one, just been asked if I wanted to join the guy I share kit with on call, to which I obviously ripped his arm off! So thought I'd quickly nip to get something to eat before St John's that night. Just about to pull up to the collection window when my phone went off,
"Hiya mate, I've got a cardiac arrest at XX ********** road." So after getting my food and throwing it in the passenger footwell I made my way to the scene arriving within 1 or 2 mins of the call. I got out, made my way to the address and started knocking on the door. No answer. Quick look through the front window, no one there. Her neighbour came out and stared at me for a few secs before informing me, "She wont answer the door mate, She never does." I wasnt particularly expecting her to answer in all honesty...for obvious reasons but i simply thanked her and made my way out of the garden to await the ambulance and other responder to arrive. I could hear the sirens so knew they were close. It was at this point I realised I didnt have anything on me to designate me as a responder. I hadnt had chance to get home and change, hence the staring earlier I guess!
With this a paramedic and my fellow responder turned up. Straight away the Para did as I did and, not surprisingly, came to the same conclusion. He then moved round to the rear of the propety to see if he could find an open door...which he did.
"Guys...ive found her." Followed by the code for Dead...unconfirmed. We made our way round the back, with our kit just in case he decided there was a chance of bringing her round, but as we got to the corner of the building I had to take a step back...There she was, laid on the floor, her arms close to her chest, a deep blue tinge on her skin, it was obvious this wasn't recent, she'd been there at least 6-7 hours at a guess.
Now we all think to ourselves, on that first medical course we did how ever many years agoit may have been, what we would do when we first come across a body. I always thought I'd want to get out as soon as I knew they were confirmed ROLE. But I didnt...I found myself looking around, trying to work out what had happened, why she was wearing so little clothing when it was so cold. I was gibbering in my t shirt and hoody, she had a thin blouse and a cardigan on. These questions will never be answered in my head but they still intrigue me. At least I know now, I can deal with death, it doesnt phase me.
One thing I have learnt from this call...always ensure you have some form of uniform on! Apparently I'd been reported to CID during their investigation as 'suspicious'.
The 2nd call of the night I lead, Severe pain and minor bleeding following a histerectomy. (Never was good at spelling). As First Response there wasnt much we could do unfortunately but take obs and find as much info as we could before the crew arrived to aid them as much as possible. It allowed me to show who I am, the way I work.
What did I learn from this job? Always check the PRF pad is set up properly. My crew mate ended up having to rewrite his prf after not putting the duplicate page behind the main copy!
Final call of the night I didnt get to do anything with, responder, paramedic and crew arrived before me...lesson from that one? Dont follow satnav blindly...
Thats all for now, on call 3 nights this week so standbye for a few more stories hopefully!
And last but by no way least. RIP sweet
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