My name is John and I am 63.
In just over 3 years time I'm going to be driving through your jurisdiction just as you are sitting down to your first meal in 12 hours. As your order hits the counter I will experience an odd tightness in my chest and dismiss it as gas.
When you take your first bite my wife of 35 years will watch me clutch my chest and stop the car on the side of the road.
Just as you begin to think your bad day is finally slowing down, the worst day of my life, and possibly the last, has just begun.
I've slumped over in the car, releasing the brake pedal and the car drifts into a signpost, discharging the airbags.
My wife is hit by the passenger side airbag as she is leaning over to help me, noticing my unconsciousness just prior to her own.
A passerby has stopped and is now describing a motor vehicle accident to your dispatcher.
Lunch is still warm in your hands when your radio alerts to the accident.
You are tired.
You are hungry.
The kids have been keeping you up late.
The rent is past due.
Big deal. I'm about to die. While you're cursing me walking to your rig, my MI is moving and my wife's head injury is complicating what is already going to be a difficult airway judging by the amount of teeth on the floorboards.
As your rig negotiates traffic, my respirations are rapid and shallow, my wife's now non-existent.
When you pull up to the scene I need your A game. I need you trained to the point where what you are about to do comes as naturally as breathing, because we're having a bit of trouble in that department.
This is not about you. It's about me. It's about us.
So back to your studies, we'll meet again before you know it.
In just over 3 years time I'm going to be driving through your jurisdiction just as you are sitting down to your first meal in 12 hours. As your order hits the counter I will experience an odd tightness in my chest and dismiss it as gas.
When you take your first bite my wife of 35 years will watch me clutch my chest and stop the car on the side of the road.
Just as you begin to think your bad day is finally slowing down, the worst day of my life, and possibly the last, has just begun.
I've slumped over in the car, releasing the brake pedal and the car drifts into a signpost, discharging the airbags.
My wife is hit by the passenger side airbag as she is leaning over to help me, noticing my unconsciousness just prior to her own.
A passerby has stopped and is now describing a motor vehicle accident to your dispatcher.
Lunch is still warm in your hands when your radio alerts to the accident.
You are tired.
You are hungry.
The kids have been keeping you up late.
The rent is past due.
Big deal. I'm about to die. While you're cursing me walking to your rig, my MI is moving and my wife's head injury is complicating what is already going to be a difficult airway judging by the amount of teeth on the floorboards.
As your rig negotiates traffic, my respirations are rapid and shallow, my wife's now non-existent.
When you pull up to the scene I need your A game. I need you trained to the point where what you are about to do comes as naturally as breathing, because we're having a bit of trouble in that department.
This is not about you. It's about me. It's about us.
So back to your studies, we'll meet again before you know it.
Comments
This post was mentioned on Twitter by theHappyMedic: Latest from HMHQ: For the Paramedic Students... http://happymedic.com/2010/02/03/for-the-paramedic-students/...
Even Sandra went 'wow'.
This post will be getting printed off and put on the station board when I get back to work on Saturday.
Gotta have a significant force to blow those suckers...otherwise every fender bender would have more deployed airbags.
Someone has to keep you honest, famous boy! :-)
By the by...expect more razzing on the 12th. Although vastly outnumbered, I will (hopefully) be the only one to carry a gun. Just so we're all on the same page.
"4x4 wooden highway post down the offramp" is distracting. I took little note of where they started from or their speed, I wasn't there for that part. I was at the Blake's enjoying a green chile bacon cheeseburger but indeed, they don't deploy for just anything.
Not a challenge to your specialties, Sir, I'm sure this accident investigation was complicated since neither Pt seemed to have a presentation matching the car.
PS - Love the new video feature at http://motorcop.blogspot.com
Having been in an accident, it seemed like things moved in slow motion (or at least they did for me) and every SECOND felt like minutes, every minute felt like hours up until the point where my car stopped moving after impact. I know the Police and EMS response time to the accident I had was under 5 minutes (probably 2 or 3 minutes), and I was grateful to the men and women who responded and took the time to help me when I needed it most.
Even Sandra went 'wow'.
This post will be getting printed off and put on the station board when I get back to work on Saturday.
Gotta have a significant force to blow those suckers...otherwise every fender bender would have more deployed airbags.
Someone has to keep you honest, famous boy! :-)
By the by...expect more razzing on the 12th. Although vastly outnumbered, I will (hopefully) be the only one to carry a gun. Just so we're all on the same page.
"4x4 wooden highway post down the offramp" is distracting. I took little note of where they started from or their speed, I wasn't there for that part. I was at the Blake's enjoying a green chile bacon cheeseburger but indeed, they don't deploy for just anything.
Not a challenge to your specialties, Sir, I'm sure this accident investigation was complicated since neither Pt seemed to have a presentation matching the car.
PS - Love the new video feature at http://motorcop.blogspot.com
Having been in an accident, it seemed like things moved in slow motion (or at least they did for me) and every SECOND felt like minutes, every minute felt like hours up until the point where my car stopped moving after impact. I know the Police and EMS response time to the accident I had was under 5 minutes (probably 2 or 3 minutes), and I was grateful to the men and women who responded and took the time to help me when I needed it most.
--Lt James Rosse
South Schodack Fire Dept
How sad is that.
How sad is that.
How sad is that.
(heh, just giving it back at'ya)
(heh, just giving it back at'ya)
Emailed your post to my Tuesday/Thursday EMT-Basic course, it will be the opening act of this Tuesday's quiz.
Powerful stuff. Did a little editing (along the lines of MC's comments) to make it work for the topics we are covering.
Mike
Emailed your post to my Tuesday/Thursday EMT-Basic course, it will be the opening act of this Tuesday's quiz.
Powerful stuff. Did a little editing (along the lines of MC's comments) to make it work for the topics we are covering.
Mike
....having said that, some of the old timers would benefit from reading it too!
....having said that, some of the old timers would benefit from reading it too!
....having said that, some of the old timers would benefit from reading it too!
Day one first thing in Paramedic school the Teacher stood up and said,
"There are 2 rules for Paramedics,
Rule1. Everyone dies.
Rule 2. Paramedics Cannot change Rule 1."
I only hope, if I someday die on some other unfortunate medics shift, that he doesn't blame himself for my mortality....
Day one first thing in Paramedic school the Teacher stood up and said,
"There are 2 rules for Paramedics,
Rule1. Everyone dies.
Rule 2. Paramedics Cannot change Rule 1."
I only hope, if I someday die on some other unfortunate medics shift, that he doesn't blame himself for my mortality....
Day one first thing in Paramedic school the Teacher stood up and said,
"There are 2 rules for Paramedics,
Rule1. Everyone dies.
Rule 2. Paramedics Cannot change Rule 1."
I only hope, if I someday die on some other unfortunate medics shift, that he doesn't blame himself for my mortality....