The Happy Medic recently asked his readers if they thought cancelling “Trauma” (my new favourite show [whimper]) was a good thing. You might be able to tell from the tone of my post, but I think the EMS community was largely ignorant in so quickly judging the show. If you only watched the pilot, said that it “sucked” and never tuned in again, you’re a fool and I hope you put more effort into other parts of your life.
An advantage of working in theatre is that you inevitably become very comfortable with working around electricity.
A disadvantage of working in theatre is that you inevitable become very comfortable with working around electricity. How not to change a light bulb: Wait until 2330. 2. Go to WalMart. Marvel at the variety of light bulbs available since the last time you did some serious illumination shopping.
I recently responded to two different patients with the same complaint: shortness of breath.
Patient #1 As soon as we walked in the door she filled our ears with tales about how “I’ve been short of breath for a few days but today was worse and my blood pressure is all over the place when I gain or lose weight and right now I’m heavier so it’s higher and there’s some tightness in my chest and which hospital am I going to and can my significant other come and what about my cat.
Two fun patient encounters today:
Part 1 –
Cute girl: [runs up] can I get a Tylenol?
NA: Sure I just need your number.
CG: Oh! [giggle] 999-555-1212
NA: um, I meant your runner bib number.
CG: [clearly disappointed] oh… um [blush]
Guy standing with girl the entire exchange: [grunt]
Part 2 –
NA: Is there any chance you’re pregnant?
Girl with abdo pain: pfft… I wish.
To: anyone who wants to run a marathon
From: any medically oriented person
Re: marathon training
If you have an existing medical condition and a physician has told you not to run, a marathon counts as running. So don’t do it.
Oh, and before you do 26.2 miles, best you do a few laps around the block – hopefully more than 24 hours in advance.
That is all.
PS nipples are not meant to bleed.
I make a reasonable ammount of money. I used to have a blackberry, but the more I tried to use the internet the more annoyed I got with its limitations. So yesterday I took the plunge and went to the Apple store. I had to wait in line for an hour. I plunked down my $199 and walked out, and I don’t think I’ve put it down much since.
It does so many cool things to help me remain connected, feed my ADD, and just have fun.
People often look at “kids today” and worry about what the world is coming to.
You probably don’t know it, but the image above is an illustration of a statue in Gilwell park, England that depicts “the ideal Boy Scout.” It was the basis for the apperance of young Indian Jones.
This last week I had the opportunity to spend the week watching 120 boys become young men. Every summer I volunteer at a scout camp.
warning: mixed theatre/film and EMS content ahead On Monday I went to the “[Level Zero][2]” premiere. From the trailer, it appears to be a fast paced, for-EMS-by-EMS documentary of work in Alameda County. That wasn’t quite the case.
The film is actually a 20 minute short only loosely associated with doc form. We loosely follow a couple EMTs and Medics through a fictitious busy day. The film consists of interviewing featured EMS providers about why they love EMS, how they got into it, etc.
Last night it was unseasonably cold, so I was wearing my reflective EMS jacket because it’s warm and cozy. I was sitting at Starbucks with a friend talking about health care reform – which she’s actually involved with in her job at the House in DC.
It was an MVA involving 4 cars and as many patients. It happened right in front of me. As soon as it happened, I ran into the intersection and started checking on the occupants of the vehicles.
Tonight I went indoor skydiving – Oh. my. wow.
130mph wind is a lot. You get to fly. For reals. I had to seriously concentrate to keep my posture, and my back is a little sore, but I’ll definitely go again. Nursing Programme Partner insists that we go after her sister’s wedding reception later this summer.
Granted, these are sensations a flight medic/nurse probably never wants to experience outside of a plexi-glass tube.