Freak On A Leash

  Ok, I know the title is technically wrong, but its my blog and I can capitalize whatever letters I want. LOL!

  Interesting week I've had!!!  But as always, lessons to be learned!

  First, this blog's title "Freak On A Leash"  that is so true right now.  I honestly feel like I'm thinking like a Paramedic already, and I'm not even done with EMT school.  I've embraced the EMS world, I want to know MORE MORE MORE, such a hunger for knowledge that I don't have right now which is the Freak part.  Licensure and protocols are my leash right now, but my mind is going crazy.  It saw something it likes, and a new way to learn to help others. It's ON now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRGrNDV2mKc

  So earlier in the week I had a geriatric Pt that was having some major issues.  He was talking to us.  Then he went south IN A HURRY.  Long story short, long history of medical problems and he was laying on the floor for upwards of 14 hours when we found him.  He died two days after I helped him.  I was one of the last people he talked to.  Circumstances didn't permit, but I'm certain he had stories that I would have been enthralled in listening to.

 Rule #1: People die. Rule #2: Firemen can't change rule #1.

  So, I felt bad. Then I decided nothing I did or didn't do would have changed Rule #1.  But what I can change, is LEARN something from this call.  So I shared with my EMT classmates, and we have had a fantastic discussion about it.

  Fast forward to yesterday.  Find out the above Pt has passed. Snow storm, spend the day on duty shoveling snow. Just tired, and one of those "don't want to do this" type of days.  I normally try to go to bed around 10:00, but something in my gut wouldn't let me.  Then it started.  11:40, car wreck we really didn't need to be at. Four "I need a Bambalance" phone calls. No rest for the wicked, up all night.

  6:00 A.M. get a call for a woman that fell out of bed and hit her head.  Send an ambulance.  15 min later the ambulance company calls back, "Crew on scene is requesting assistance. Pt is 512 pounds." REALLY?  I'm an hour from going home!  So I get out of bed, all kinds of pissed off.  Arrive on scene. She's on the floor, BITCHING. Her husband is pissed, Ambulance crew is pissed, I'm pissed!  And she keeps bitching EVERY time we try to move/help her.

  Then it hit me!!!!  I was UBER nice to her!

  "Barby, My name is Bill. I'm with the Fire Department. I KNOW you're in pain. I KNOW you're embarrassed.  There are SEVEN people here to help you.  We would all rather be somewhere else, and I know you would like us to be somewhere other than in your house.  What we need you to do, is help us.  Its going to hurt, its going to be embarrassing, but if you help us it will go much quicker, and you can get on with your life without all these strangers in your house."

 And whaddayaknow? Badda bing, back in bed she went!

It's ALL about the positive attitude!!!!  EVERYONE including the patient was negative when I walked in.  What would me adding more negative have done to the situation?  Nothing good.  But just a LITTLE positive from me, turned that whole situation around for the better.

BE THE ONE!