I slept until 11:10 today…I love being a fire fighter.
I am currently enjoying my first set of days off. My first tour went pretty well. 2 days and 2 nights. I got about 10 ambulance calls, and by the first night shift I was leading the calls, or “attending”. The other guys pretty much let me run the show until I either don’t know what to do, or miss something, then they step in. I haven’t seen anything really cool yet. Not big trauma’s, or anyone in need of CPR. Just a bunch of pretty sick people. One stroke, one status eclipticus (series of seizures without a return to consciousness). A few chest pains…that sort of thing.
I also got to go on the engine twice. It was pretty much like living my dream when I got to go one the truck. Just like I imagined it…tones go off – “Engine 1-1, engine 1-1…”, everyone runs and gets in their gear and hops on the tuck, lights and sirens to the fire, or in this case to the gas leak. Both calls ended up being not a gig deal. The first was a gas leak after someone didn’t call before they dug. We just had to be there incase while the gas company took care of things. We went to some of the houses to tell people to make sure their windows were closed and to stay inside. Really fancy neighborhood. The 2nd call was a car fire, but when we showed up on scene the bus that was allegedly on fire had driven away…not sure what happened there.
I think I am jinxed in a way that is good for the victims or patients. I have spent approximately 66 hours working or riding along on ambulance/fire truck- including an 18 hours night shift, I still haven’t seen anyone bleeding profusely, not breathing, dead, or even severely injured. I don’t wish any harm on anyone, but if they are going to be hurt, I wouldn’t mind being there. The other night we responded to some dude with abdominal pain, the engine got called out to a vehicle fire, with possible victims trapped inside. The day crew before my night shift got 3 MVC’s (car crash), we got none during the night.
After I get see something ugly I will probably regret looking for it, but I figure I might as well just see if and get it over with. Then I will know if I can take it or not.
But overall it is just awesome being at the fire hall. As a student I don’t really matter, or have an opinion, or any right of any kind, but its all part of earning the respect and earning your place. There are endless little “traditions” that one must be aware off…don’t sit on the leather couches as a student of probie, be the first up in the morning, be at work an hour early, probies are supposed to be the first one to answer the phone…etc, etc.
They have a pole. It actually isn’t that easy to go down- at least in a way that doesn’t make you the focus of jokes and jeers. But I think I finally figured it out during my last shift. I am happy to report that I managed to get a couple hours sleep during the nights. We got one call at 4am, and I managed to get up, get my boots and shirt on, and get down the poll before anyone else. (note-I slept with my pants on so as to save time) It can be pretty hard to wake up, get dressed, get stuff you need, and get in the unit in about 60 seconds at 4 in the morning. The ol’mind had a little trouble keeping up with what is going on.
The other thing I have realized is that hospital wait times are ridiculous even for ems. I will get into this more some other time, but it is scary how long we can wait, even with someone who is somewhat serious.
Be safe.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Life Update
The stress level was about an 8 out of 10 earlier today...down to about a 5-10 now, but there is much to much happening right now.
On the good news front I got a call from the fire dept I applied to and will be moving on to the aptitude testing taking place next week. Certainly a move in the right direction.
I go to day 1 of 3 of my hospital practicum tomorrow. It is surgery day so i will be starting IV's and controlling airways....aren't you all glad your not at the Vermilion hospital for a vasectomy tomorrow. Apparently those are quite popular here.
Only 3 weeks left of school. In fact I only have 10 days of actual class left. Exciting. It's been fun but I am ready to be done. Have my med final next Tuesday, but after that it will be a coast to the finish. I somehow ended up as MC for our graduation ceremonies. i could have passed it off to a teacher I'm sure, but it will be easier to do it myself than try and explain to them how I - I mean WE want the day to go.
I didn't vote today. Hope that doesn't come back to bite me in the ass. Mrs. Brody did vote, so that makes me feel a little better.
later folks.
On the good news front I got a call from the fire dept I applied to and will be moving on to the aptitude testing taking place next week. Certainly a move in the right direction.
I go to day 1 of 3 of my hospital practicum tomorrow. It is surgery day so i will be starting IV's and controlling airways....aren't you all glad your not at the Vermilion hospital for a vasectomy tomorrow. Apparently those are quite popular here.
Only 3 weeks left of school. In fact I only have 10 days of actual class left. Exciting. It's been fun but I am ready to be done. Have my med final next Tuesday, but after that it will be a coast to the finish. I somehow ended up as MC for our graduation ceremonies. i could have passed it off to a teacher I'm sure, but it will be easier to do it myself than try and explain to them how I - I mean WE want the day to go.
I didn't vote today. Hope that doesn't come back to bite me in the ass. Mrs. Brody did vote, so that makes me feel a little better.
later folks.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
New Post?
I am sitting here, watching the news about yet another snow bird crash and I was thinking that I should write a blog about something. But I also want to have a nap. It has been a very busy and fairly stressful week.
I vote for nap.
Take ca....zzzzzzz
I vote for nap.
Take ca....zzzzzzz
Monday, September 29, 2008
On a need to know basis
Inspired by DM’s blog on getting his car fixed, here is a list of things that I really should learn/know more about. I see myself as a fairly intelligent person and as such don’t know why I can’t figure these things out. Some of them are a problem just because they are popular things that I can’t keep up with in the conversation, others really are things I need to figure out to make life easier.
- cars – Besides the basics, I know shit about cars. I don’t know what any car made before 1999 looks like, beyond the basic principles I don’t know how an engine works. I don’t really even like talking about cars. Two things I look for in a car-comfort and no break downs. I also don’t like doing any maintenance on them, I can’t even be bother to check the tire pressure or oil on a regualar basis.
- Politics- I don’t really know the difference between “right” and “left”. I get the impression that the “Conservatives” are not conservative at all, and “New Democrats” aren’t new, so why are they called new. I want to care, I want to think that voting matters, but in the back of my head I always think that it doesn’t matter who is in power, they can only do so much and it is all pretty much going to shake out the same way anyway. Plus the elections truly annoy me. I suspect the some of the leaders might actually have good ideas that could make a difference, but because of the “politics” involved they can’t really state what is one their mind because the other parties will be all over it.
- Music/music videos – I seem to be border line retarded (can I say retarded? Hope so) when it comes to music. I can’t seem to understand words of the songs, I can’t remember the names of bands or songs, and I think I just generally miss the point. I seem to advertise the fact that I don’t get music, and I think I do that to avoid embarrassing situation when someone tries to make music talk with me and I have to B.S. my way through it. Last night I drove home from Vermilion and I listened to my audio book the entire way. The only time I shut it off was to see what was on News Talk radio. Not one song. What is wrong with me?
- Soccer – at least I am not alone in this one here in North America. The worlds most popular sport and I feel a little left out that I don’t like it. It would be great to be able to get so into a sport that I want to start a riot at every game. Now that is fun in anyone’s books. Have you seen the movie “Green Street Hooligans”? It is a great show about soccer hooligans – staring Frodo no less.
- NCAA sports- the whole US seems obsessed with their college sports. Again here I feel left out that I don’t get the same enjoyment. I feel like a am missing out on something great. March madness makes sense, but I hate basketball, and I like football, but I have no idea how the hell the determine who the best team is, or who plays in what bowls.
- Food network- seems like more and more of you, my friends, are watching the food network. Now this is something I have never even given a shot, but I still don’t see the appeal. I must be missing something. What is it? It just makes me want to eat, and I can’t cook like they can, so it just seems frustrating.
- UFC- another sport that is very popular and gaining popularity every day. I can appreciate the intensity, but I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I don’t really like watching it. Two grown, very sweaty men rolling around on a blood covered mat. It’s kind of disgusting to me.
- cars – Besides the basics, I know shit about cars. I don’t know what any car made before 1999 looks like, beyond the basic principles I don’t know how an engine works. I don’t really even like talking about cars. Two things I look for in a car-comfort and no break downs. I also don’t like doing any maintenance on them, I can’t even be bother to check the tire pressure or oil on a regualar basis.
- Politics- I don’t really know the difference between “right” and “left”. I get the impression that the “Conservatives” are not conservative at all, and “New Democrats” aren’t new, so why are they called new. I want to care, I want to think that voting matters, but in the back of my head I always think that it doesn’t matter who is in power, they can only do so much and it is all pretty much going to shake out the same way anyway. Plus the elections truly annoy me. I suspect the some of the leaders might actually have good ideas that could make a difference, but because of the “politics” involved they can’t really state what is one their mind because the other parties will be all over it.
- Music/music videos – I seem to be border line retarded (can I say retarded? Hope so) when it comes to music. I can’t seem to understand words of the songs, I can’t remember the names of bands or songs, and I think I just generally miss the point. I seem to advertise the fact that I don’t get music, and I think I do that to avoid embarrassing situation when someone tries to make music talk with me and I have to B.S. my way through it. Last night I drove home from Vermilion and I listened to my audio book the entire way. The only time I shut it off was to see what was on News Talk radio. Not one song. What is wrong with me?
- Soccer – at least I am not alone in this one here in North America. The worlds most popular sport and I feel a little left out that I don’t like it. It would be great to be able to get so into a sport that I want to start a riot at every game. Now that is fun in anyone’s books. Have you seen the movie “Green Street Hooligans”? It is a great show about soccer hooligans – staring Frodo no less.
- NCAA sports- the whole US seems obsessed with their college sports. Again here I feel left out that I don’t get the same enjoyment. I feel like a am missing out on something great. March madness makes sense, but I hate basketball, and I like football, but I have no idea how the hell the determine who the best team is, or who plays in what bowls.
- Food network- seems like more and more of you, my friends, are watching the food network. Now this is something I have never even given a shot, but I still don’t see the appeal. I must be missing something. What is it? It just makes me want to eat, and I can’t cook like they can, so it just seems frustrating.
- UFC- another sport that is very popular and gaining popularity every day. I can appreciate the intensity, but I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I don’t really like watching it. Two grown, very sweaty men rolling around on a blood covered mat. It’s kind of disgusting to me.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Congrate JAM!
Welcome to both Sweet and Salty - two great looking babies.
Congrats for all of us at Show Some Respect blog co. Way Happy for the jambabies!
The Fafours!
(I was going to post pictures but didn't want to be the first to put there images on the world wide web)
Congrats for all of us at Show Some Respect blog co. Way Happy for the jambabies!
The Fafours!
(I was going to post pictures but didn't want to be the first to put there images on the world wide web)
Guess who?
Well guess who came out to play Friday night? You guessed it, Taylor Brody. It all started out innocently enough, I went over to a buddies place for steak, planned on driving home after. The problem was that I grabbed a bottle of whiskey on my way over there. I have talked to several people who have pieced the night together for me, since I remember only about half of it.
Highlights of the night include:
- when approached by a girl who asked him to dance, Talylor told her "Fuck off, I am 37"
- While getting a drink with a guy from my class he complained that the booze seemed watered down. Taylor reached into the tip jar and took out some change and threw it in is cup, saying " There, that should make up for it". The bartender did NOT like that.
-While smoking on the deck, Taylor turned around to a group of guys who were apparently minding here own business and told them to shut up, then got back to his conversation.
-Taylor phoned one of the girls in our class to give him a ride home, then when she showed up he was amazed and said "how did she know we needed a ride"
-Stood on the street outside the bar and yelled "where the fuck are we!" (we were in vermilion on campus)
Those are only a few of the stories I heard the next day. None of it was REAL bad, but in the end I am embarrassed by the night, but my classmates have told me they prefer that version on me more than the sober one. They even said that we should give that personality a separate name. I told them he already has one…It’s TAYLOR!
Highlights of the night include:
- when approached by a girl who asked him to dance, Talylor told her "Fuck off, I am 37"
- While getting a drink with a guy from my class he complained that the booze seemed watered down. Taylor reached into the tip jar and took out some change and threw it in is cup, saying " There, that should make up for it". The bartender did NOT like that.
-While smoking on the deck, Taylor turned around to a group of guys who were apparently minding here own business and told them to shut up, then got back to his conversation.
-Taylor phoned one of the girls in our class to give him a ride home, then when she showed up he was amazed and said "how did she know we needed a ride"
-Stood on the street outside the bar and yelled "where the fuck are we!" (we were in vermilion on campus)
Those are only a few of the stories I heard the next day. None of it was REAL bad, but in the end I am embarrassed by the night, but my classmates have told me they prefer that version on me more than the sober one. They even said that we should give that personality a separate name. I told them he already has one…It’s TAYLOR!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
What to blog about...
I don't friggin know, so I will just let my mind wander.
- the NFL is great. Did anyone see or hear about the Bronco's going for the two point convert for the win with 24 seconds left rather than kicking the extra point to force OT. Wow, very exciting stuff. I was not so excited about the Vikings loss to the Colts. Tough one.
- I met my niece Bria on the weekend. She as a little cutie. I even held her and she didn't break. Uncle Brody...has a nice ring to it.
- I am supposed to be studying but I have spend about an hour surfing the net. Damn facebook, normally it has little to offer me, but tonight I got in deep.
- i also didn't go to the gym tonight, which is pretty brutal. Can't start slipping now. Need to stay focused here these last couple months.
- anybody know anyone who lives in Sherwood park. I need a place to stay for 6 weeks.
- I got into the show "Rescue Me" It's pretty outstanding. Maybe just for a fire fighter wanna be like me, but I think that is some quality entertainment.
- Good story for you. My roommate tried buying some sort of kitchen appliance on Used Regina for $50. She got back a message that said" i would rather throw it in the garbage then sell it to you for 50 bucks" She showed it to me and we replied "Wow, that is rational thinking. If I offer you $1000 for you car will you drive it off a cliff? hmmm." I thought it was frickin hilarious.
- the NFL is great. Did anyone see or hear about the Bronco's going for the two point convert for the win with 24 seconds left rather than kicking the extra point to force OT. Wow, very exciting stuff. I was not so excited about the Vikings loss to the Colts. Tough one.
- I met my niece Bria on the weekend. She as a little cutie. I even held her and she didn't break. Uncle Brody...has a nice ring to it.
- I am supposed to be studying but I have spend about an hour surfing the net. Damn facebook, normally it has little to offer me, but tonight I got in deep.
- i also didn't go to the gym tonight, which is pretty brutal. Can't start slipping now. Need to stay focused here these last couple months.
- anybody know anyone who lives in Sherwood park. I need a place to stay for 6 weeks.
- I got into the show "Rescue Me" It's pretty outstanding. Maybe just for a fire fighter wanna be like me, but I think that is some quality entertainment.
- Good story for you. My roommate tried buying some sort of kitchen appliance on Used Regina for $50. She got back a message that said" i would rather throw it in the garbage then sell it to you for 50 bucks" She showed it to me and we replied "Wow, that is rational thinking. If I offer you $1000 for you car will you drive it off a cliff? hmmm." I thought it was frickin hilarious.
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