Drunks

I am getting on the soapbox...... I do not mind people drinking. Everyone is entitled to go out and have a fun time with friends. I don't even care if you get so drunk you can't remember who or what you did! The problem I have is when you decide to do something stupid like drive or others things. When you make the decision to get into your car and drive, do us all a favor and run you dumb*** into a tree!!!! I will not have to waste an ambulance on you. There are others that have medical problems who had no control over that decision that need my help! Besides if you run yourself into a tree, rock wall, or over a cliff (your choice) you will not be endangering other lives. I will not have to worry about the mini van, the kid on the bike or the person just going home after work who you will more then likely hit and severely hurt or kill. You would be the only injured or dead ( if dead... then I would not have to worry about you reproducing and passing this stupidity on to your kids). I also do not want to hear the excuse of, " ...well I only had a beer or just two beers I can normal have 8 or 9 before it effects me....". WRONG!!!! Tell that to the other car you hit ( who will more then likely have medical bills) or your insurance agent ( who will be making you pay for everything) or even the law enforcement officer who be taking you to jail or the jury who will convict you!!. So again with my first statement run your dumb*** into the tree and save the rest of us time, money and heartache dealing with you!
Also, if you decide to get drunk you are responsible for the stuff you do when you are plastered!! If your car gets stole in front of your eyes because you were sooo drunk you handed the thief your keys it is your fault( true story). If you beat someone up because they "nudged" you in a club and you get arrested...you are responsible. If you are so drunk that you overdose on your medication.... you are responsible! Are you getting the picture....... it was your choice to drive, or do some of the other things I listed and more it was still your choice whether you remember or not!!!! YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!

note: it is Saturday at 2:24. just worked a call of a 25 male who was driving home from a party was still so drunk that he did not realize he hit his sister who was playing in the driveway.

You know you have been in Dispatch too long when....

1. You talk back to the scanner.

2. You know what food can be reheated more then two times. ( spagetti is not one of them)

3. You know that caffine is not a drug but a vital part of the day.

4. the real crisis is that there is no more asprin.

5. you know that foamy cleaner kills everything

6. life or death decisions are made within seconds, however ask us to make a decision about what to eat for lunch it will take hours.

7.you know what the crews want before they know they want it.

8. you can watch entire movie with no sound.

9. silence is a blessing not a curse.

10. silly putty can keep you entertained for hours.

11. when you have to find out what the weather is outside by turning the tv to the weather channel

12. when you can complete your partners sentences and not realize you have done it

13. you know what car is going to give you problems just by looking at the board.

14. you know the true meaning a full moon.

15. when you can come up with a better pitch for the magic bullet then the tv.

.......more to come as the situation progress

Backbone

Ok, so I had to pull out my "backbone" today and everyone freaked. In the world of EMS their is two kinds of personality types. You have the "A" and "B".
(Definition: Type A individuals can be described as impatient, excessively time-conscious, insecure about their status, highly competitive, hostile and aggressive, and incapable of relaxation. They are often high achieving workaholics who multi-task, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about the smallest of delays. Because of these characteristics, Type A individuals are often described as "stress junkies." Type B individuals, in contrast, are described as patient, relaxed, and easy-going. There is also a Type AB mixed profile for people who cannot be clearly categorized.)
I would not consider myself an "A" probably a "B or AB". The point I am trying to make is that I am the minority in the company. My partner is an "A" to the letter so I very rarely have to use my "backbone" because she is already all over it. However, back to my original story... I hate be blamed for something I did not do. Don't get me wrong I can get myself into trouble and I will take for responsibility for it, but I will not be miss quoted. The funny part is that I don't think my co-workers new I had one. Imagine this I am sternly and so what heatedly explaining what happen to the mouth who said I didn't do my job. I turn around to see the rest of my co-workers looking at me with their jaws dropped. I walked back in to the com center and asked my partner what was with everyone and received the same look everyone else had on her face. She told me that she didn't know I had it in me. She finishes here statement and in walks my supervisor who gives me a high five and says well done. Later the mouth came in and apologized so all is good. Up until now I did not think being a "B or AB" personality was good in our line of work but I guess I was wrong. Note to self: With new found empowerment.....pick battles wisely. :)

Long Days

There is nothing worse then walking into work knowing it is going to be a long day. My partner and I pulled 18hrs our first and last days on. I am absolutely tired. I have just relieved her from a 6am to midnight shift and I am working the last 6hrs of midnight to 6am. So I am currently trying to figure out what to do be sides watch infomercials and try not to think about sugar. Don't get me wrong I like watching infomercials but there is only so much a person can take. On top of everything I started my diet. yuck! Hence the sugar comment. Working in a communication's center is not the best way to stay healthy and fit. For me, I have 12hrs of sitting in a chair monitoring the radio, scanner, and waiting for 911 to go off. This being the case, you add high stress and high tension to the job description does not help. Also, caffeine becomes a food group because you either have to have something to wake you up, keep you going through day, and/or make sure you stay up through the night. I guess the biggest problem about staying fit is the will to get up and workout. After hearing and dealing with the worst of situations that people put themselves in you really fine you need to desensitize yourself or your to exhausted to do anything but stare at a wall. However, I do find myself excited about the diet and am looking forward to nicer weather. My favorite unwinding exercise in the summer is walking. I apologize for the ramblings but I did waste 30 mins. Yeah!! 5hrs and 30 mins and counting........

Just one of those days.

Well, I have had one of those rotations that no matter what happens nothing will be right or go smoothly. The concept is not hard.........go where I send you. If your pager goes off and then you hear my voice say " tca 18 priority 1, 3316 w state hwy 76 for an mva." and you are tca 18 then I want you to go to 3316 w state hwy 76 for an mva. DO NOT call in and ask where I want to you to go I have already told you. DO NOT continue to call after I have hung up on you because I do not have time to talk and ask where I want you. Also, after you finally get to the scene I need to know when you leave. As the person responsible for knowing where everyone is and what they are doing it is imperative that you give all of this information. YOU after all are the person requiring it of me. I can handle this being just one time but not the WHOLE DAY ON EVERY CALL. Also, as an experienced dispatcher I do not need you to micro manage me or my partner. I do not need to be told when to pee. I am a big girl and can decide that all on my own. The quote that pretty much sums up the day and this person is "You can't fix stupid."

Funny 911 calls

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I have on a blouse and slacks, why?

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich.
Dispatcher: Excuse me?
Caller: I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen table and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher: Was anything else taken?
Caller: No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it!

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!

And the winner is..........
Dispatcher: 9-1-1
Caller: Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath.....I think I'm going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before you started having trouble breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police.

The Rules of EMS.

1. Skin sign tells all.
2. Truly sick people don't complain.
3. Air goes in and out, blood goes round and round; any variation on this is a bad thing.
4. The more equipment you see on an EMT's belt, the newer they are.
5. If you drop the baby, pick it up.
6. When dealing with patients/supervisors/citizens, if it felt good saying it, it was the wrong thing to say.
7. All bleeding stops...eventually.
8. All people will eventually die, no matter what you do.
9. If the child is quiet, be scared.
10. Always follow the rules, but be wise enough to forget them sometimes.
11. If someone dies by chemical hazards/electrical shock/other on-scene danger, it should be the patient, not you.
12. There will be problems.
13. You can't cure stupid.
14. Sometimes it's easier to beg forgiveness than get permission
15. If it's wet and sticky, and not yours, LEAVE IT ALONE!
16. If the patient is sitting up and talking to you, then they are not in V-Fib, no matter what the monitor says.
17. The severity of the injury is directly proportional to the difficulty in accessing, as well as the weight, of the patient.
18. They said, "Smile, things could be worse." So we smiled, and sure enough, things got worse.
19. If a patient vomits, be sure to aim it at the bystanders that wouldn't back up.
20. If you don't have it, don't give up. Improvise, Adapt, Overcome, then call for a 2nd unit.
21. If there are no drunks at an MVA after midnight, keep looking, someone is missing.
22. If it's stupid but it works, then it ain't stupid.
23. The important things are alway simple, and the simple things are always hard.
24. When it comes to needles, 'tis better to give than to receive.
25. Most of your patients are healthier than you.
26. The address is never clearly marked.
27. Asystole is a very stable rhythm.
28. No matter how bad the politics get, the doors go up and the trucks go out.