Category Archives: The events…

Early CPR

Posted on by

The blue flashing lights were a give away.  As were the waving arms.  But really, it was the classic rhythmic movement of someone performing chest compressions that caught my eye.  And at 200yds and closing fast you could tell the compressions were good.  Really good.  Hard and fast.

hard and fast!Skidding to a halt and very nearly T-boning a police vehicle (oh the cakes I would have had to have bought!!!) I jumped out the car, grabbed the Lifepak machine and headed over to the commotion.  A crew had arrived at the same time and were bringing the rest of the gear.

What was happening?  Well, an old man had collapsed in the street and gone into cardiac arrest of course. Continue reading →

The Dentist?!

Posted on by

A twenty two year old having a stroke is highly unlikely . . . but not impossible I imagine.

However, forgive me for not feeling a surge of adrenaline when the job came down as “Red 2.  CVA.  Weak, numb, head pain”.  So, I brushed off the thousands of pistachio nut casings from my lap into the drivers well, put on my seat belt and sped off toward the job. Continue reading →

Triangular Bandage – part 2 . . .

Posted on by

“It really hurts”

The young teenager cried and looked sorry for herself.  She’d been attacked in the street by some older lads – they’d repeatedly struck her with scaffold padding and she’d inevitably held up her arms in defence.  Now, back at her home she was complaining of immense pain in one of her forearms.  There were no obvious signs of a break and she had good movement in her hand and arm.  However, feeling sorry for the poor girl I uttered my next suggestion without first considering it’s inevitably disastrous consequences . . .

“Would you like me to put your arm in a sling?”

Just how does this little object cause so much grief!!! Continue reading →

Super strength batteries!

Posted on by

“You can feel it going . . . go on, have a feel”  She said through streaming tears and gritted teeth.

I placed my hand on her tiny stomach and sure enough, I could feel it . . .

BZZZZZZZZ – BZZZZZZZZ – BZZZZZZZZ – BZZZZZZZZ – BZZZZZZZZ

“Wow!”  I said, genuinely impressed.  I looked back up at our patient and smiled . . . not that this helped in any way.  You see, our patient had managed to get a vibrator stuck up in her rectum – and it was switched on at full speed.

A vibrator . . . possibly NOT the type used by our patient - who knows Continue reading →

Resevoir Dogs

Posted on by

I’ve never had a guest entry written on this blog before.  And quite honestly, I never thought I would either.  However, I’m warming to the idea as several people have, in the past, mentioned it.   And, after meeting up with Ella Shaw(who writes the “other” paramenace blog, tryingmypatients.co.uk) and being allowed to write one on their blog it only seemed fair trade to allow the same.

We both gave each other a vague theme to cover and for my blog I gave the vague theme of humour.  Disastrous humour.  I read this last night and burst out laughing . . . as these things – well, you just can’t make them up.

Now, read on . . . with thanks and courtesy to Ella Shaw from www.tryingmypatients.co.uk

“84 year old male, chest pain, dementia”

It was student season.  For 4-5 weeks the paramedic university students were chucked out from the comfort of their lecture rooms to the unforgiving shift patterns of their respective mentors.  It is during this time they hone their skills and learn how to take a patient history, diagnose conditions and talk to people.  Of course, always under the watchful eyes of one of us!  I remember being chucked into the deep end all those years ago.  Staring blankly at an expectant patient and not having a clue what to say, there were so many awkward silences!  It’s just part of the learning process.

gosh they start young nowadays Continue reading →

And why haven’t you given Narcan?

Posted on by

Using a pen torch the Doctor calmly checked the pupils of our patient.  Without looking back at us she spoke in both a matter-of-fact way and accusing tone.

“Hmmm, pinpoint pupils.  And why haven’t you given any Narcan*?”

pinpoint pupilsWe all glanced at each other in sudden disbelief.  There were four of us stood there in resuss.  Me, my crew mate and two MRUs (Motorcycle Response Units).  Sweat was pouring from all of us – more so from the MRUs in their leathers – and we were all fighting for breath.  Clothes were disheveled, my shirt buttons were ripped, someone had a fat lip and hair was hanging about our faces.  Bent double with my hands on my knees I threw one hand up, pointing with vagueness toward the sleeping patient.

“Um . . . **puff, pant** . . . we’d . . . **puff** . . . he’d . . . ”

Half an hour earlier and this was quite a different story . . . Continue reading →