Random EMS Silliness

Dispatch: Medic 3 there’s a 911 call needed at 123 Ahhhggg St. for an unknown medical


EMT1: Received for an unknown medical at 125 [EMT2: 3 sir} ah yes 123 Ahhhggg St. and en route

EMT1: Medic 5 [EMT2: 3 sir] Medic 3 on scene

Approach scene with cot followed by coconut clacks (happens every time with use of cot)

EMT1: Hey Old Woman, what has happened to your friend….

Bystander: I’m not a woman, I’m a man…

EMT1: Oh from the back --

Bystander: And I’m not OLD, I’m 35 years old…

EMT1: Sorry so young man --

Bystander: And my name is Dennis, of course if you just asked!

EMT1: Yes, Deniis tell us what happened!

Dennis: Well my friend was planting a nice but not too expensive shrubbery in the garden when a coconut fell from the sky and dropped on his head.

EMT1: A coconut?

Dennis: Yes by a unlaiden swallow I believe … and there he lays unconscious

EMT2: Wait an African or European Swallow?

Dennis: Well I don’t know that! Why does it matter?!

EMT1: When you’re EMTs you must know these kinds of things….anyway!

EMT2: Good sir, hello there? [No response]

Dennis: You see there’s a cut on his head

EMT2: Just a flesh wound

EMT1: Hmm, I’d say tis but I scratch

Dennis: But look at the blood!

EMT1: Okay well let’s get him on the board and package him up.

[Once secured to LBB]

EMT1: Okay on the count of 3 lift …1...2...5! [EMT2: 3 sir!] Yes, 3!

(As loading into the ambulance, coconut sounds)

EMT2: Medic 5 [EMT1: 3 sir!] Medic 3 en route to hospital

In the box

EMT 1 is gathering vitals and such…Pt wakes up

Pt: Where am I? What happened?

EMT1: Well we saved you from great peril having a coconut falling on your head

Pt: Well I don’t remember that…

EMT1: Of course you don’t that, it knocked you out!

Pt: Well I feel better now

EMT1: If you didn’t come with us, you’d be stone cold dead later

Pt: I don’t want to lay here like this

EMT1: It’s for your own good

Pt: Help! Help! I’m being repressed!

EMT1: Oh shut up and lay there!

EMT1: Here I want you to remember these words “Ni, Peng, and Neee-Wom.”

EMT1: [on the radio] Medic 3 to hospital….

This is the hospital - go ahead

EMT1: Medic 3 to hospital, I’d like to give you a pt report

Hospital: No, we don’t need it…we’ve already got one

EMT1: Already got one? But how?

Hospital: It doesn’t matter, now go away!

EMT1: Wait! Can I hear it?

Hospital: No you cannot! It’s always the same thing, someone is sick and then they get better! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elder berries! I burp in your general direction! Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!

EMT1: What I rather odd person…

Ambulance Bay

Pt: I don’t want to go in the hospital!

EMT1: Well you’re going, you can tell them that!

Pt: But I feel happy! I feel happy! I think I’ll go for a walk!

EMT2: Oh no you don’t [secures straps]

[Approaching the sliding door…hit the button to open…the pt in the background repeating he‘s happy]

Intercom: None shall pass!

EMT2: We have a pt that needs a doctor!

Intercom: Stop! Those who want to cross the doors of chaos must answer me these questions three!

Intercom: Where are you from?

EMT1: We just came from our ambulance

Intercom: What is your quest?

EMT2: To drop off this pt!

Intercom: What is your favorite color?

All three look at each other….in unison: Blue!

Intercom: Okay come on in

In the hospital

Nurse: Put him in Trauma Room 3

EMT1: Okay on the count of 3 we’ll move the pt over, ..1...2..5 [EMT2: 3 sir!] Yes, 3!

[Nurse bends over to look at pt with tech in the same room]

Pt: A witch! She’s a witch!

Nurse: I am not a witch, I am not a witch!

Pt: Well you’re dressed like one

Nurse: No it’s Halloween and they dressed me as one

Tech: She did turn me into a newt once…

EMT2: A newt?

Tech: Well I got better…

EMT1: {to nurse} sign here

As EMTs leaves a person with a white coat walks into Trauma Room 3

EMT1: He must be the doctor

EMT2: Why do you say that?

EMT1: Well he hasn’t any blood on him!

Back in the ambulance

EMT2: Medic 5 [EMT1: 3 sir!] Medic 3, is clear the hospital where do you need us?

Dispatch: Medic 3 respond to 826 Kin-igats Court for a female being attacked by a killer rabbit

EMT1: Received, is there any law enforcement on scene?

Dispatch: Negative, they ran away!

EMT2: Well I’ve always wanted to use the Holy Hand Grenade

EMT1: We’ll be en route!

The End

There's No Need to Fear! An EMT is Here!

When you ask a child what he or she wants to be when they grow up the conventional response includes, “I want to be a….doctor, nurse, veterinarian, cop, or a firefighter.” Why you ask? Well children have an innate need to help such as a doctor and nurse help sick people get better, veterinarians help your fuzzy friends, cops are the brave and protect loved ones, and firefighters save people from burning buildings or cats from trees. Unless the child has a family member who works on an ambulance, you can rarely hear one say “When I grow up I want to be an [ambulance driver] EMT.”

You see what many people don’t see is that we in EMS are superheroes. Of course we aren’t the dark crusader looking for trouble wearing an ominous cape. Of course we aren’t millionaires who fund our high tech gadgets in our utility belts. And of course we didn’t gain any superpowers through gamma rays and radiation. But I do think each one of us has gotten bit by The Bug, many I believe by accident – using EMS as a bridge to something more towards a career.

Our superpowers? We can go faster than the normal speed limit [within the safety of the public], bring people back from near death or sometimes death itself, we can bring down a force of electricity when warranted, and yes! Even some of us can be impenetrable to flying bullets [mostly urban areas]. We have the gift to look people in the eye and just know how to talk them down or just with a simple touch. We have the capability to control bleeding, the resources to help one take a single breath, and not surprisingly we can fly down for a rescue.

Naturally as with any superhero, one needs a lair to prepare, a safe house per say. Just like how the X-Men have Xavier Institute for Higher Learning and The Justice League have their headquarters, EMS has their own specific base or station. It’s a solid place where one can unwind, revitalize his equipment, restock used supplies, and for many to write down memoirs of each person we were called to help upon and how we assisted them. Furthermore, as superheroes we have our very own “Bat Mobile” hidden within our quarters.

Our superior enhanced vehicle known to the public is called the ECNALUBMA or a.k.a Ambulance. The mobile unit comes in different sizes from the notorious “Box” to the “Vanbulance”, and each ranging in various types of advanced equipment and toys. What’s more at our station, just like in the comic books, where the mayor called the big red phone for help or a giant light to the sky signaling for help, we too are called by a similar way. We have been trained to tell the difference of parallel tones through a small box radio when we are needed. Once dispatched to help either during the day or late at night, we ride with our blue and red lights and sirens. The sirens are like our theme song going into action, and to some a reassuring sound that Help is always available.

Eventually like most superheroes we ourselves experience weakness. There are days where we couldn’t help those in need, there are also times where helping people involve family members and close friends, and some of the worst times is when you can relate a tragic call and associate it to a loved one. Yet experiencing all of that, normally, knowing we did our very best is enough for us. Still as superhuman as we EMT members can be, we are still human. Yes there are “those” days when we [don’t want to get up in the morning] are tired. Yes there are “those” times where we feel abused, that is the time we constantly remind ourselves it is the citizen’s emergency not our own. Finally, yes there are “those” rotations when it seems we are not needed at all.

So how do we lighten up, get our fix, and let everything go? Many have their own different ways. The most popular is working out and being sociable with friends or family. Others will go to extreme measures such as jumping out of perfectly good airplanes to “relax”. However while on duty, just like Underdog or Popeye needing their “pick me up”, we too have our own devices. The majority would use, I believe, 120 mg of caffeine orally, or alias name is Coffee. Of course others will also use nicotine or pure sarcasm…if not all three.

Finally, just like any superhero dressed in cape and mask, we too have a unique attire. Just as Superman has a giant “S” symbol on his chest, we have pride wearing a six pointed star call the Star of Life somewhere on our clothing. Identical to each superhero having a strong moral code, our own has always been “Primum non nocere” or “First, do no harm”. Still, at the end when Superman becomes Clark Kent, Batman becomes Bruce Wayne, and Spiderman becomes Peter Parker; we too get to hang up our uniforms. But unlike our known superheroes, our identities are not kept a secret on purpose only to rest for another day.

So in truth, do EMT’s really play superheroes in everyday life? Those who have been in EMS called to action numerous times upon years would probably respond “Yeah, right…” Sure we can postpone the inevitable and give support, but we only DO when we are called. Most of the time the public perceives an ambulance lurking around just waiting for [death] trouble unlike the firemen who’s always able to show results in their shiny red truck or the police both protecting you and “looking” out for “your” safety. But I think that’s how it should be for a superhero to be misunderstood. Needless to say EMS people are eat the paste kind of special, morbid, yet always available 24/7 air and ground prepared with coffee readily in their veins.

Mobitz and Joules

So let me start by saying, I have adopted two buck rats from Pocket Angels Rattie Rescue in Bedford, Texas. Initially, I wanted to adopt them to keep Rizzo company and more active (as said in my previous post). Well now I have these two new baby rats, and boy!, are they young and small. At the moment I can't introduce them to Rizzo yet just because they are just too small. Rizzo is curious of them, a little too interested, that I'm afraid his play fighting alpha male will be to rough for the little guys. In the meantime, I have their homes near each other to get a smell from one another until I feel comfortable that the newbies are big enough to be around Rizzo. I mean these boys would still able to squeeze themselves through Rizzo's cage bars.

Anyways just some quick introductions:

Mobitz         &       Joules

Mobitz is the youngest out of the two, he was around 9-10 weeks old when I first got him. He loves to play like any baby rat, but amazingly when I pick him up to hold him Mobitz would completely relax and not put up a fight. He has this very small faded black spot at the center of his belly that's irresistible to poke or kiss. He is also the bravest of the two. Mobitz is the first to come out of the cage in a new area, the first willing to take new food, and the first to actually try the new food. In addition, I don't know if it's a baby thing, but whenever it's free range time Mobitz seems to do his exploring and then come straight to me to "hang out" and hand play.

Joules was about 12-13 weeks when I met him. Trying to pick out all which two rats in the beginning, Joules was the first one who I felt was comfortable with my presence and me handling him. Now with him being the older out of the two, it's funny to see him be more cautious compared to Mobitz. Anytime I would present something new (such as a toy or pea fishing) Joules would go toward it, but wait for his little brother to try it out first and then follow. I would hand hims a treat and even though he takes it from me, Joules would nibble on it and then just drop it as if saying "Oh well that's interesting, what's next?" Don't get me wrong, he is still a very hyper baby rat. Out of the two, I would hand play/rough house with him the most and he would run in a big circle and before I knew it he would jump toward the opposite side of me from where we just played.

Mobitz   &   Joules

Now I bet many are wondering how I got their names. Well since I've started my passion in EMS I've always wanted to name my future pets something medically related. I named Mobitz (aka Moby) after what is called a Type II Mobitz Heart Block. Basically when I first got him, Mobitz kept going and going and then he just dropped. He fell asleep in the corner and whenever I reached my hand to pet him as he slept, he would quickly move to the opposite corner of the cage and flop back down. Also as you see the picture above, his tail seems to have a prolonged pick streak to the end of his tail. And to be in relation, Joules got his name due to him having these two kissing spots inside of his thighs, almost symmetrical - like paddles.

They are fantastic boys, and I am still learning something new about them every time we play and hangout. Sorry about the haziness of the pictures and the lack of, but they are too quick for the camera. I'll keep trying to photograph them more, but for now I think video taping them will hold better results.

So how's Rizzo doing?

Three days before Oscar's vet appointment (it was just suppose to be a normal follow-up) I have been at work of my last day of 72 hours. My friend who was watching my boys back home called me at the hospital, in tears, trying to explain to me in layman's terms - Oscar isn't doing to well, what should I do? I did the best to comfort her with Oscar and was lucky enough to go home that morning and spend time with Oscar and Rizzo together.

Oscar (on the left) passed away a little over a week ago - I don't make mental death date notes, for the reason it's too depressing - having to euthanize him due to what the veterinarian believe was a metastasizing cancer mass. Oscar was 2.5 years old, loved and respected until the very end. Yet I have to share that something odd and special happened whenever Oscar passed away that I wasn't prepared for compared to the past rats I had owned.

Whenever I am pulling long shifts my boys are either being watched at my boss's home where I can visit them in the evening from work, at the EMS station with me, or I have a good friend/EMS buddy who actually goes to my place and let the boys out to play. So Oscar and Rizzo have been not only been cared for, loved, shared, and watched over by me - but really with a whole swell of people. Oscar and Rizzo has been my PR (positive report) on rats since working in EMS. My boss and many others never thought of pet rats, but until they met mine and how Oscar and Rizzo's personality were totally different. My boss and like many others, were as sad and remorseful like I was whenever Oscar died. It should have occurred to me that while they played, fed, and watched my boys as I worked that the sitters would become attached. Well I guess I was aware really, whenever Oscar and Rizzo would travel with me I would say to them, "So who wants to visit Aunt/Uncle/Brother/Grandma or pa so and so...?" But it really didn't hit me until Oscar's death with me having to share the news to so many people, and to have the same concern of - So how's Rizzo doing?

Of all the warm sympathies and comfort over Oscar, what hit me the most was the worry of Rizzo's well-being. Well overall since Oscar's death, Rizzo has not changed in food intake or behavior. I have noticed though that he has been less active once put back in his cage after playtime. I can just tell that he misses his old buddy, not knowing what to do with himself alone. I trying to mimic rat stitching by my hand on him, and poor guy freaked out! He pushed down my hand and re-cleaned the spot I just stitched as if saying, "NO No no, you're doing all wrong. Now I have to fix it. Thanks for the effort, but humans can't do it right."

I recently went to Fort Worth and picked up two young male rats from a rescue - PocketAngels. I will update more later, I really hope the three will become good pals.

Merry Christmas!

Yes I know that this is in the May 2010 archive, but I just wanted to share my first few calls. Since Nov. 2009 I have been working part time in Clyde TX with Citizens EMS when Fisher Co. EMS doesn’t have me scheduled. Due to the fact that I received my Paramedic cert. in July, I have been pretty green and eager to work. Clyde asked if I could work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, now normally people would say ‘no thanks’ but with me being excited to work said “count me in!” To be honest I was pretty honored to work on a holiday just because I’ve never done it before.

Well as luck would have it, Christmas Eve started my first experience of trends. It snowed! Now it does snow in Texas usually in February, but the phrase “it snowed” is really an understatement. I woke up at 5:30 AM to get ready for my 48 hour shift in Clyde, as I was leaving huge fluffy snowflakes were falling on my car windshield. By the time I got to the station, the snow was coming down heavily. My partner that day was Kelsie, a girl who I’ve become acquainted with at TSTC semester under me, who decided to wear a Santa Clause hat for the festive day. After daily check offs and chores, we just sat and waited with periods of taking pictures of the snow in awe.

I not only worked on Christmas Eve, I also worked on “The day it snowed in Texas”. Our first call was to a MVA in Baird who got run off the road by a semi-truck and just wanted to be checked out by EMS. On our way to the scene, we took I-20 E and we pretty much passed at least 15 vehicles that were in the ditches stuck by the snow waiting for the police or firefighters to pick them up. The patient of the MVA was uninjured, just overall putout being run off the road by the semi-truck. She was our first and only No Transport for the day.

In the afternoon when the snow settled down for the time being, Kelsie and I received another call to for an elderly female with difficulty breathing located somewhere on a County Road. On the way there we came in a little too far and missed our turn in the driveway. So Kelsie asked me to step out and help her reverse the ambulance. In doing so I stepped out of the truck and headed behind the ambulance walking in the trench. Thinking I was doing just fine in ankle deep snow decided to rush to the driver’s back side by trotting…and I suddenly found myself on all fours clawing in the snow. I fell. Not only did I fall in the snow ditch area there were cars behind the ambulance who saw my event, and to add on the story my partner’s face in the driver’s side mirror was priceless with mad laughter. Dusting off the snow as I get back in my warm seat, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself either. The patient did well. She has had a fever for the past couple days with yellow sputum and bilateral wheezing. We transported her to Hendricks in Abilene, and headed back to Clyde.

Our last call for the shift was a pedi who overdosed. This was also my first pedi call ever as a paramedic. It’s already dark when the call was received and when we arrived on scene there outside stood the mother carrying the child in the driveway to keep him awake. The kid must have been 1.5 years old. The mother handed us the bottle that he took, and my partner called poison control while I assessed the boy. During my assessment I found his cap refill <2 seconds, pupils pinned with sluggish reaction, not too shy, not at all active, fatigue, and my greatest concern was his breathing…too slow for his age. The story was his mother and father were in the kitchen and the boy was in the living room. Once mama went to check on her son, she found her old cough medicine empty and open next to the kid. Kelsie reported back from the poison control hotline and apparently although the bottle was only 1/3 full that it equivalent to 6 hydrocodone pills to the little guy’s weight and age. With that the kid and his mother rode in the ambulance with me and my partner while a third EMT-B rider drove the truck to Hendricks. As we were treating my first pediatric patient with oxygen and cardiac monitor, neither of us could get an IV on the kid, but with our knowledge we knew the child needed narcan for his respirations.  So with my first pediatric followed with me giving my first muscular injection of narcan to anyone. Once at the hospital the patient’s respirations improved and he was more alert with his mother.

Finally back at the station in Clyde it was officially Christmas. My Christmas holiday shift was overall pleasant. My other partner Aleta and I had a total of at least 3 calls, none that were too memorable. But I survived my first holiday shift!  

A "Just" guy...No it's not "Just" a Rat

I had a feeling. A friend of mine told me a couple months back that since I've been in EMS that I have become more superstitious with habits. I would agree with her, since I have noticed that I throw my cigarette butts in the proper place instead of throwing them off to parking lot or grass. I can proudly say I have survived over a total year of EMS since Feb. I can't say that yet as a paramedic until July though. Anyway since graduation I have obtained a part time job in Fisher County (Fisher Co EMS) and Callahan County (Citizens EMS). As I hold on to my dreams of working away away out of state like West Coast area, at the moment West Texas area holds on to me strongly.

Much has happened since that first paramedic call. Fortunately I still have the same boys (rats) since Feb 25, 2008 - Oscar and Rizzo. They are over two years old now and in rat years they are about 60 ish years old (little fact, every 10 days for us equals a year in rat life). Rizzo and Oscar are my 9th and 10th rat that I have every owned. At the very beginning I was naive to rats, the real only introduction was from this boy in college - until that time I never gave a real thought of rats in general especially as pets. Of course my guy friend was able to open my eyes to rats and my first ones were Squeekers (female PEW sickly from PetCo yet sweet as ever) and George (male berkshire aguti). At the time I believed they were both males since the staff told me so...(yeah I know I said naive before right?) I just wish I knew those two thoughts.

"So you're a girl huh?"
"Yup I don't think she knows yet"
"It's okay, you're sick huh?"
"I've had this weird wheezing so yeah...but she's a good person"
"I'll take care of you don't worry."

Squeekers passed away Christmas 2005. Before then I had figured out about separating male and female rats and so I had Jenny and Chloe for Sqeekers and Squirt for George. Jenny and George got to together with an escape and Baby Bear came along with 11 others whom I've adopted out since then two days before Squeekers left. Just to let you know, Jenny was this yellow petite girl and Chloe I considered my drinking buddy (she would go for a can of coke and once she licked it she would look at me as if saying "Dude, Mom this isn't Budweiser!." Squirt was sickly like Squeekers but I couldn't give him up, he was just too damn cute! He should jump all over George when he was itty bitty. George would look at me as if saying "Cute sure...So we are going to keep him huh??"

Squeekers passed away due to the horrible respiratory genetic infection. Squirt followed her - in a way I always figured they knew and due to that fact they became close buddies. Chloe seemed to pass away with the same disease, but old age helped her along...I was in Las Vegas with my mom and I left Chloe with the vet to be watched over - the vet called the first of Aug 2006 letting me know Chloe "expired". Ever since then the song from James Taylor Fire and Rain makes me think of her. Jenny died from a spider bite, I remember telling her "...remember when I got you. You squeaked and squeaked, Chloe showed you the ropes and now here you are...climbing in my scrubs and licking my finger like no other." George and Jenny produced Baby Bear, she was the most trusting blue rat I could ever ask for - well tempered and beautiful. She left due to old age and cancer, but even in the end she knew she was the baby.

During the time of George, Jenny, and Baby Bear came Lucy and Phoebe. Lucy and Phoebe came along during my time as a balloon twister in San Antonio during schooling. A family I was making balloons for was impressed by my rat balloon figures and we got to talking to eventually they asked if I would take in their girl rats due to the fact the daughter was just finishing high school and moving on to college and no one could give enough love to their rats. So I took in Lucy and Phoebe (was named Libby, but at the time I couldn't remember for the life of me). Lucy was the most curious of the two of them, she actually gave me a look like - "So you know the door is just cracked, I've just push it open and wow looky there..." Pheebs on the other hand was BOSSY! She took control of Alpha female and before then George has been neutered since Jenny's 12 babies so he roomed with the girls.

Lucy passed away with respiratory compilations. She was the first rat or pet ever I had to consent to putting her to sleep. She quit eating and drinking water one day and with her wheezing I knew - yet, I don't know.

Since Dec 2004, I made a deal with George. I asked him to make it with for at least four years, twice the average life at a normal pet rat. My logic at the time was I'd be done with nursing school by then - unknowingly with EMS - thinking it would be neat if I could have rat/buddy with my so long through my journey. He stuck with me until Jan 2008. He has witnessed with me the death/loss all of his friends. I remember a time I had a horrible dream that I lost George in Thailand and that I awoke straight up with fear - immediately George jumped into the cage as if saying "It's okay you had a bad dream...really I'm here and safe."

I had a dog named Luke. He was my buddy even before my family took him in in Feb. 1996. At the times I couldn't find a friend, an ear to just listen to, protection from the darkness, or even from myself - Luke was there for me. He was a mutt, a year into his dog life and I can remember a time when my brother and I would fight Luck would jump in between us just to break it up. If anything Luke was the bind to our new family. He passed away a couple days before Chloe, I wasn't there when he had to be put down nor for the burial - I just knew he knew.

Anyway, George passed away a month before his daughter (Baby Bear) - which as much as it did hurt I found comforting believing in the ole saying "Children are to buried their parents, not the other way around." George was a good rat all around. I remember a time when Chloe was so sick that she just hide/rested in a corner and each time I gave away treats George would collect his and run over to give to Chloe and run back as if to say "I've delivered, could I have my own now please." George passed away in his sleep - no respiratory distress, no pain, no cancer, and the only surgery was a neuter for him...I just woke up one morning and he was gone.

Phoebe was the last of my original Greeley/Fort Worth/San Antonio rats. By the time she passes away, I have been able to pass on my Positive Report over pet rats. I brought them over from EMS class since then in Abilene/TSTC. She was my 1/4 pound rat and she knew it. As bossy as she was, she was such a sweetheart. Lighter yellow than Jenny, Phoebe was a character. She had the respiratory problems too like her sister...she passed away while laying on the couch with me - peaceful.

Now I have these two male rats - Oscar and Rizzo from Petsmart. Not brother's at all, Rizzo is a couple weeks older then Oscar yet they compliment each other. Oscar is this sensible rat, shy, quiet only verbal when messed with, dumbo guy. Rizzo on the other hand is this rex fuzzy ball of energy with a motto of - "I'm a rat, I know life is short of me, so dammit live/trouble to the fullest!" Rizzo just had this benign tumor removal, and he looked at me like "Dude, I love stitches and all, but this IS not what I was asking for...." Oscar is getting that hind leg paralysis, yet is still trouble and look at me as if saying "What? I'm cute and self cleaning - love me!"

My boss and his wife watches them while I work in Rotan with their son and in Clyde I'm able to bring them over to the station while I work. I like the area both ways - one is hospital base and the other strictly EMS. At the moment I can truly say with the bad calls sometimes, thank God for my boys (rats)--- a simple pet will bring them bruxing, chocolate to a head cock of thanks, a hold or stick in the finger to kisses, or just a settlement of love. If anything just seeing them oblivious to all the bad stuff you've seen - damn, isn't there times were you wish giving a piece of candy to a patient would make everything better without having to transport to the hospital(excluding diabetic calls of course)...

First Paramedic Call

I would like to believe that with every newly graduate comes a sense of eagerness and sloth. One being excited to move on after working so hard to reach the common goal of a particular degree, knowing all the doors of opportunity are now open; yet, in the same way, have a sense of wanting to quit and relax for a semester or two with no intention to do anything except wade in one's own accomplishment. As for myself, I was obvious pulled between the two options. At least until the student loans continue to show up in the mail.

Whenever anyone would ask, "So Kellie where do you plan on working?" or "So Kellie what's your next step?" My simple reply would follow, "I'll figure it out once I test out of becoming a paramedic." Well after the self-doubt, stress, pretest after pretest, and run down skills review - I did accomplish my personal goal of passing my National Registry and getting my state certification processed less than two months after graduation. With that said, I am now a Licenses Paramedic and I still haven't 'figured it out'.

No less than a week after my state was processed; I had the nerve wrecking opportunity to practice my new skills and responsibilities. Where I worked part time in the beginning since I received my Intermediate, was in a rural area just north of Abilene that covers an entire county called Fisher County, home based in Rotan TX. A normal day working with Fisher County, the EMS call volume consisted of 2 calls a day, but of course there were days that can be considered much more busier. My first 48 hours as a paramedic was "one of those days".

During those 2 days spent as a fresh paramedic, we had about 9 calls within the 48 hours. Mind you when I say 'we', there are two trucks on per day and usually switch every 12 hours to be on first call. For the most part all the calls I received were pretty basic with a transfer. But, of course, my first call of that day was dispatched as a patient who fell and might not be breathing. In my mind I strongly questioned, "how could the patient MIGHT not be breathing?" Needless to say after hearing that I STOPPED breathing. Honestly, in my head was thinking 'okay we need the airway bag, stretcher, cardiac monitor, and LBB.' As I'm sitting in the passenger's chair I want to repeat list out loud to my partner, but my mouth could not open and form words...literally! Come to have it on scene, the patient was laying on his right side and was in fact breathing. Apparently the poor guy was just discharged from the ER and when he got out of the car at his home, he slipped and fell. Yet it was greatest sigh of relief in my life.