I'm Back, Yet Again

I'm back. Had to go on a job hunt. landed a job at the Cleveland Clinic in the Surgical ICU. My son (the one pictured) just signed up for medic school. My daughter still wants to be a Doc, honor roll kid. Geeks rule the world. my nephew just graduated as an EMT-B. 96% average.

Quick one today. Good to be back.

I'm Back

Hey boys and girls, I see in my absence, I had a few visitors. I have been studying my brains out for my Paramedic reinstatement exam. I let the damn thing lapse. After being out of the medical field for a number of years, I decided to get back into it.
The test itself scared the crap out of me. It was the first test I took and had no idea how I did. One of those computer based tests, National Registry. I answered a little over 100 questions and had 75 minutes left and a screen popped up. you are done. Alot of strange questions too. I had nightmares of pharmokinetics for days. I'm happy to say I passed. One of these days I will write why I was out of the field, could help some first responder to seek help before you let things spin out of control.
Study hard out there and be safe.

P.S. I will also be writing about study tips.

Public Education;911 Calls

I worked for a while in a large county answering cellular 911 calls. If you ever worked in a dispatch center you would know that you get a ton of goofy calls. It has always been a personal mission of mine to educate people on making a 911 call. Some people argue, some do not listen and some are just plain goofs. Read this article and pass it along.

This article will address what to expect when calling 911, more specifically what to expect when calling 911 from your cell phone. I myself worked for a large public entity serving 2.1 million people answering cell 911 calls. Most callers trusted that we were professional and had their best interest at heart and would be able to handle their situation efficiently. But there was that small minority of callers that either did not understand, did not want to understand or did not care how the system works. Read more...

Its Electric!

Nah, not the electric slide, heard that one more times than any human should. Hazards of being a wedding photographer. Another thing I have done both part-time and full-time is electrical work. Got many a shock myself, we usually laugh it off. Electrical shock is really no laughing matter though. Here is an article I wrote on first aid for electrical shocks:

Electricity surrounds us as we go about our daily lives. From our morning toast and coffee, to work and school settings, there is a potential for electric shock. These shocks can range from a small nuisance to a lethal encounter with electricity. A little knowledge of electricity and some know how of basic first aid for electric shock can keep you safe and may even save a life. Electrical shock occurs when a person comes in contact with a live electrical source. Energy [electricity] will find a path through the body, sometimes causing no damage or sometimes causing burns, internal damage or even death. Many factors are the determining factor on what injuries may occur. These factors include amount of voltage,whether the current is AC or DC and the pathway the electrical current takes through the body. Small children, because of their need to explore, are particularly susceptible to electric shock. Read more...

While there read this article on upgrading a two prong outlet to a grounded outlet, especially if you have little ones at home:

Replacing a two prong outlet with a three prong outlet is a moderately difficult task for the do-it yourselfer. It is not just unscrewing the wires from the old two prong outlet and putting in the new three pronged. You have to first make sure you have the proper wiring to make that third prong, the grounding connection, effective. Read more...

Birthday

Yesterday was the birthday of my daughter Alison and today is the birthday of my wife Bessie. Go review childbirth, I ain't gonna do it for you.

Stroke Care

Stroke is such a time sensitive emergency. As responders, we should know what to do in the case of a suspected stroke. I think that as professionals, we need to educate the public on how deadly and debilitating a stroke can be. here is a good article to share with your friends and loved ones.

Let's go right to the most important point in stroke treatment. If you suspect anyone is having a stroke call 911 immediately. Even if the individual objects, call anyway. Treatment for stroke is very time sensitive. Definitive care by qualified medical professionals can mean the difference in a satisfactory outcome or one with far reaching or even dire lasting affects to the individual. Read more...

Fire Safety

One of my most treasured memories is when my kids were little. I would go to their school during Fire Safety Week. The look in the kids eyes as I donned my gear was cool. The way my son and daughter looked at me was priceless. But I was no match for the pumper. The crew that came would always charge the booster line and let the kids play with it. Here is a good article on fire safety. Feel free to share it.

If you awoke in the middle of the night and your house was on fire, would you know how to get out? How about your children? We remember all those fire drills from our school days, but have you ever had a home fire drill? If asked, can your children recite your family's fire safety plan? If you answered no to any of these questions, read on. Your life may depend on it.Read more...

Online CEU's

Hey folks,

If anyone out there knows of anyplace that online CEU's can be found, drop me a line. Of course, we are talking free, if it's free, it's for me. I am working on a post on this subject. I have gone through Google and today, I am scouring state EMS websites. I have found a few things but I would like to find more. If you know of anything, let me know. EMT, Paramedic or nursing.

Ray

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

We all learn about Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome while in Paramedic school. This is one of those ECG rhythms that usually cause a trip up on tests. While in of itself, it is usually not fatal, it can cause complications including PSVT. Proper management of this condition in the field can mean the difference between life and death. Go back to your books to brush up on what WPW Syndrome looks like on an ECG. In the mean time read this short article on the cause of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW) is, at its most basic, a congenital abnormality involving the heart's electrical function. Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome can also occur at random. Men generally are more prone to WPW than women and in men there is a higher incidence of multiple pathways as the cause of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Read more...

Great Website for Firefighters:Firefighter Hourly

Today, I want to direct you to a great site I found, Firefighter Hourly. There is a ton of great information here for firefighters. Check out especially "Probie Rules: The Golden Rules For New Firefighters " by Jay Lowery. It is a well written list of rules for probies. Make sure you read the comments also. This blog is well worth the time spent reading.

http://www.firefighterhourly.com/firefighter_hourly/about-the-author.html

http://www.firefighterhourly.com/firefighter_hourly/2008/07/probie-rules-th.html#comment-124832954

Home First Aid, Where Do You Begin

Most responders would know what to do in an emergency situation. How about our loved ones? Would they know what to do? A little training can go a long way in bringing presence of mind to an emergency situation. Here are some ideas on where to begin.

A loved one suffers a massive heart attack. You child is stung by a bee and is now having an allergic reaction. Your husband, while working on his "honey-do" list falls off the ladder. Would you know what to do in any of these situations? A first aid or CPR training course will give you the confidence and ability to handle these situations in a calm manner. Read more...

PTSD

PTSD is a job hazard for emergency responders. It can kill. Responders and medical personnel see more than any human should. We are not made of Kevlar. Sometimes the wounds go very deep. I have seen the effects of stress in my job as a firefighter. It is sad to see a collegue go down the tubes. Awarenes of how stress affects a responder, be it police, firefighter, EMT or even soldier, is well known. Recognition of this stress, especially if you are a boss or loved one can mean, at the very least, saving of a career, or at the most the saving of a life. Please read the following story of Pfc. Joseph Dwyer and then go to the websites suggested at the end of the article to learn more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.


Army Pfc. Dwyer was found dead in his North Carolina home, apparently of an overdose. He gained the attention of the world through a photograph of him carrying an injured Iraqi boy to safety amidst the flying bullets of a firefight. The image, taken in March of 2003 by Warren Zinn of the Army Times, was very poignant. A man risking his own life for an unknown innocent. A shining example of American heroism. It reminded me of police and firefighters. One thing we seem to forget is under that tough exterior, in Dwyer's case, covered in body armor, was a man with emotions and feelings. Soldiers, like there brethren police and firefighters, sometimes have difficulty adjusting to the reality of normal life. Alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, bizarre behavior and sometimes, as in Dwyer's case suicide. These are all symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Read more...

Shooting Scenes

I came across this great article on how a Police Officer should handle a shooting scene if he is the first to get there. Great stuff. Paramedics and Firefighters should read this so they can be aware of what the Police need to do. A good awareness of other emergency responders jobs can go along way.

Preliminary investigation and intelligence-gathering Paul Laska 2008 Jul 7 It's a sad fact of police life that investigators and technical specialists are often not available for response to "routine" or "mundane" incidents. Shrinking budgets, reallocations of resources, and growing rates of more serious offenses far too often relegate shootings without injuries to, at best, follow-up investigations, if any investigation at all. However, all is not lost; the patrol officer, armed with the knowledge of shooting reconstruction, can often piece together enough facts to allow follow-up from the patrol level, possibly taking a shooter off the street and making the beat a safer place for all. Read more...

Allergies

Man, can it be that i'm allergic to work. Maybe so, but in the mean time, check out this article on allergies. Big stuff this time of year.

An allergy is basically an exaggerated immune response to foreign substances introduced into the body system of sensitive people. Allergies of some type affect 2 out of every 10 [40 to 50 million] Americans. Allergies can develop at any time in life. Allergies can be to certain foods, pollen, pet dander, molds, latex, insect venom or chemicals. Read more...

Cyanide Poisoning

Cyanide poisoning is extremely rare. Would you know what to do in that situation? Start with this article for a quick brush up. Read article here...

Bust Stress With This Great Vacation Idea

We all know how stressful life in the medical field can be. Heck, real life is stressful. You may be here looking for first aid information right now. If you or your loved one's condition is not life threatening, check out this vacation idea. Leave the present behind and explore America's past.

Historic Sites of Interest Along Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario, America's north coast. Canada's south coast. Whichever side of this Great Lake you're on, there is plenty to see and do.Buffalo, New York and the Erie CanalA good start for your tour of Lake Ontario historical destinations is the city of Buffalo, New York. At one time Buffalo was the northern terminus of the Erie Canal. Read more...

Cystic Fibrosis; An Overview

Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects breathing and digestion. Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator resulting in poorly hydrated and thickened mucous secretions in the lungs. Cystic Fibrosis also causes serious digestive problems because of thickening of the mucous linings of the digestive track. Cystic Fibrosis can also affect the sweat glands and the male reproductive tract. Read more...

New Blog

Hi folks,

This blog is intended to educate and maybe make you a little more aware of what to do in medical situations. In no way is it intended to give advice or training. Your doctor is there for advice. As far as training goes, see your local community college or the American Heart Association or the Red Cross. Some of the things you see on here will be written by my training and experience as a Paramedic. Other things will be written through research. No opinions from me (for right now). I will also provide links to interesting things that I find.

Enjoy

Ray