Do you really know what happened?

    I see alot of people judging what people do in their lives.  We don't know what happens behind closed doors.  People say because you use drugs your no good, your fat so you must be lazy, what about that person just parked in the handicap spot and look there i nothing wrong with them, or they must have an eating disorder they are so skinny.

 Do we ever think that drug addiction is a disease that not everyone wins, someone might large because of a disorder or trying to hide their feeling, thoughts, experiences, the person who parked in the handicapped spot has heart problems or any other disease that you can't see, the smaller person who is battling cancer.

 I am certainly not saying I have not done this myself but trying to look in a positive way.  We all must remember that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The rescue

Many people have many opinions.  As they say opinions are like a@@hole everyone has one and most stink.  Do you believe in God? Do you believe God loves you?  Do you think you were born the way God wanted you?  I do.  I know alot of people think "being Gay" is a choice.  Think about this did you choose to be straight?  I believe I will go to heaven.I don't believe my God would condemn me for loving someone of the same sex.  I mean as a partner in life not as family or a friend.  I have faith that I am loved not only by friends and family but by God.

To judge someone about something that you are not affected by nor is anyone else unless they choose to is completely wrong.  All I have to say is you don't like me for me or don't accept me for what I do in my bedroom, sorry your loss not mine.

To all the citizens who think because I am gay I am evil and Satan follower,  I will bet if I have to respond to your house and save a life of a loved one or yours I will be ok till your fine again.  So if you don't like me please don't like some of me because not my emergency and I can walk away and you can have a straight person save your life

When do I get rescued?

I work full time, have 2 different jobs and still struggle to get by.  I was born and raised in Rhode Island USA.  I pay taxes and volunteer my time.  I am single with no children.  Why is it if your illegal in the country, drug or alcohol addict and have never put one dime into the system, but you get welfare, heating assistance, food stamps, housing and free health care oh and forgot we (USA) give free educations to all of them because you know we have to give them help to make a better life.  Do you know what I get from the system? NOTHING.  US Senators and Representatives, along with the President get a paycheck, healthcare and alot of other perks for what?  NOTHING.  I think we should have the Reps, Senators, President checks be cut as of 8-2-11 and they go on Neighborhood health care.  I bet we could get things solved real quick.  This also goes for state Reps, Senators, and Governors. Income taxes: I pay alot of money in taxes every week from my paycheck and when it comes to income tax time, I get very very little money back.  Because I am single (not my fault you got married why should I suffer) I have no children (not my fault you had children why should I suffer) Don't get to write off paying my rent all year because I make to much... Hahaha show me where I make to much, not in my paycheck. 

Something is definitely screwed up here and I wonder when do I get my rescue? 

Is this really an emergency?

I respond to many calls within the16yrs I have been in Emergency Medical Services and a quarter of the calls are not a true emergency and the patients still wants to go to the hospital.  Do you remember when you were hit in the head when you were young and you got a hug and kiss on the head, you fell down and your parents said get up or just put some ice on it.  Well that is not the case most times anymore.  Here are some examples how do you think is a real emergency and believe me these are true calls, you can't make this stuff up.

                              * I have had diarrhea all day and I can't take it anymore (mind you this is roughly 2am) What do you think I am going to do for you about this situation at 2am. NOTHING
                              * 12 midnight called for unknown medical, we arrive onscene to a gentlemen and his wife. I ask what is the problem this evening?  Husband wife wants me to go to hospital because I can't get an erection.  Really what do you want me to do for it? put sticks on either side and wrap it tight.
                             *  We received a call for unknown problem when we get to residence the patients says well my kids were coming over today to make supper and they didn't come so could you make me something to eat (patient was not handicapped at all just lazy)

People need to think when they are calling 911 is it truly an emergency or something you can handle on your own.  You are taking an ambulance out of service to help with your supper, erection problem, diarrhea and many other things while someone is calling because they are having a heart attack, stroke or other illness or injury and can't get an ambulance to them in timely manner because you have us dealing with other issues.


By no means am I saying don't call 911 if you need us better to be safe than sorry, but please think for a moment and say to yourself if I was having a heart attack and the ambulance took much longer to get to me because they are on a call because Joe down the street couldn't get an erection. Would you think twice about calling for what you believe to be a problem. I know I would not be happy.  Not only are you using up the ambulance resource but the hospital ER staff.

Remember most emergency are preventable let's try that first.

In memory:

It was one year ago today.  Quiet monday morning and my partner on the ambulance just waiting for that call for assistance.  Tones go out and my ambulance crew were dispatch to a Motor Vehicle accident on Rt95 North .  While enroute we always talk about what it could be (bad or good).  When we pulled up on the scene, we turned to each other and said holy shit did a plane crash.  Jump out of the ambulance and started to assist as we were trained.  5 people all thrown from the vehicle all serious injuries.  I called for more help and continued to do what we could do.  Fire trucks, more ambulance, police and bystanders all kicked in to help.  4 Survived and unfortunately 1 passed away.  Why I tell this story and please it is done in all respect for friends and family of the victims.

     The mental attitude you have to have for this type of job is not for everyone.  Yes we go to some calls where I can't believe you called me for this, broken bones, heart attacks, strokes and much more.  To us is all routine most of the time to the person who is having the emergency it can be life changing. Not only is it life changing for  the patient it also for the family and friends of that patient. Us as EMT deal with the stress of the emergency in many different ways.  Some we will never forget.

    When I was in charge on the EMS end of this call I was not only thinking of the patients I had to get to the hospital.  I have to think about my personnel and their needs physically and mentally, knowing which hospital are receiving these patients, what assistance do I have coming in to get this these jobs accomplished.  Do I have other emergencies going on for my ambulance company.  The heaviest thought is can I bring all these patients home to their families.

   I have been master of ceremony for about 10 yrs for the ambulance company I work and volunteer for.  I always set up the schedule of the night and go through the motion, this year this call meant so much to me I stopped in the middle of the program and "talked from the heart"  there is another angel in heaven.  I talked about how you think I am trained in this but what if it really happens can I handle it.  I have never been so proud of myself, my team, local emergency department (fire, ambulance, hospitals, police) and the many citizens who stopped and asked Can I help?  This called went like clock work.  I can do and you know what I do it well (not tooting my own horn) I now want to thank the angels on earth. I thanked each and everyone one who was on that scene and all the services and citizens that assisted.  I spoke of how thankful I am for all of them.  There was a standing ovation.  I had many people who said I have never seen you shoot from the hip like that and it meant alot that I would talk to them without reading off the paper.
 
     The mental condition of emergency services personnel is of strength, courage, and pride.  Go into chaos while others run from it. Next time you see a EMT, Firefighter, police officer or any other emergency worker, thank them for what they do.

Things we need to know

Some of the things we are going to ask you for and about when we get to your house are the following:
     * What medications you on?
     * What is your past medical history? 
     * Are you allergic to anything?
     * Who is your primary care doctor?

These are all great things to know when we come to help you, but if your unable to answer these questions what happens then?  Well it will take us a longer time to figure what is going on by investigating you as a patient meaning, exam your body, your speech, your breathing, putting you on EKG monitor and other investigative tools. One thing you could do to help us and you is list your Name, Address, Past medical history, Medications, Allergies, Doctors name and phone number, your date of birth and place all that information on a paper and stick it to the refrigerator.  This is one of the first places we will look for this information in the event you are unable to communication to us.  You are our first priority and we want to be able to care for you and start treatment to improve your well being.  

What is taking them so long?

My mother is having a heart attack, my dad is not responding to us.  Where is that ambulance?  We must remember to put the numbers to our house at the end of the driveway.  Also remember the ambulance could be coming in from different directions so make sure you have numbers visible from all directions. Make your numbers are reflect able also.  People think the nice numbers they put on their house in the daytime is good for the ambulance police or fire to see at any hour.  Those numbers are invisible in dark.   If we are responding to your house at night, put your outside light on.  If you have someone who can go to the end of the driveway and wave us in would also help.  Remember every minute counts.  Time = Brain in Stroke, Time = Heart Muscle in a heart attack.  Check this site out.  http://www.911housenumbers.org/

What are those lights behind me

Your rushing out to your meeting, going to pick up the kids, or just out enjoying a ride.  You look in your rear view mirror and see these flashing red, blue emergency lights, what do you do?  Well some people think it is a great way to get through traffic so if you stay ahead of them everyone moves out of the way, some people think the ambulance, fire or police are just a bully and they probably not going to anything important, and others pull over as much as they can to the side of the road.  First of all if you try to "ride the wave" is what I call it and get through traffic with the help of a rescue vehicle or don't pull over because you think it is not important.  Remember when you pull into your driveway and you get that dreaded stomach in the throat feeling because that ambulance, fire or police you wouldn't pull over for is at your house trying to save the life of one of your family members or your home.  You held the rescue up and now we were unable to save your family or house but hey you did get three cars ahead on the road.  Also when you see a ambulance fire and police pass you and you pull out behind to "Ride the wave" remember other drivers sometimes don't see you and pull out right after we go by and hit you and now there is another emergency.  Last when you see an emergency vehicle coming he opposite way on the road, please pull over as far as you can and don't pull over so that the vehicle on the other side of the road is right across from you (if you can help it) because it is hard to maneuver through the small area.  Remember you don't know where we are going or who we are going for.... PLEASE stop pull over and allow us through the life you save could be your own.