Deweedle, deweedle! Beep, beep-beeeep!

 Several weeks ago I was asked to do a presentation on basic First Aid during our annual homeschool Fire Prevention event.

    I complied and gave some basic tips on First Aid. Managing a bleed, giving support for a broken limb, and, because it was fire prevention: how to treat a burn.

One of the moms snapped this photo and later sent it to me.

    Many children were fascinated by all the tools I have on my uniform. I explained that my stethoscope is used on every call to take blood pressures or listen to lung sounds. On my belt, I have my trauma shears and pager. The battery on my pager will last about 3 days before I need to put it on the charger. Once on the charger, it will reach fully charged in less than 20min. 

    My wristwatch is also used to take vitals; counting a pulse and how many breaths a patient is taking in a minute. 

    In my calf pocket I have several pens, a flashlight, and disposable trauma shears. This set of shears is what I will hand to any of the other crew members if they need one. Because of the quality of my trauma shears, those are only for my use:). 

    The boots I wear are Irish Setters. They give foot and ankle support, as well as protection from the elements, and bodily fluids. My boots also have a side zipper for quick and easy on/off. 

    During the lunch break, several people asked me what it's like to get up in the middle of the night to take a call.

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It's early one Sunday morning. I'm sound asleep in my bed when: deweedle deweedle! beep, beep beeeep! With lots of beeping and other indescribable noises, my pager jarred me awake. I jumped rapidly out of bed, knowing that by the length of the tones that this was no small incident. 

   I quickly put on my uniform, the dispatcher was giving more information: it was a cardiac arrest. This added further urgency; I slid into my shoes and clipped my pager on my belt as I bolted down the stairs. I quickly grabbed my phone, ID, and keys as I hurried by. 

  Jumping into my car, I ignored the burnout that followed as I pulled out onto 522. 15 seconds later I was at the station, followed by other EMS/Fire personnel. I hurried to the ambulance bay, a driver and another provider hopped in and responded to the scene. Glancing at my watch I noted that it was 02:38. I had made it to the station 2 minutes after the tones had dropped.  

  "Jump bag, AED, portable suction..." I mentally made a list of things I would need to grab as I pulled on my bright orange gloves.

  The ambulance screeched to an abrupt halt. I quickly grabbed my equipment and headed inside.

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    85-90% of all cardiac arrests end in fatalities. In only 10-15% of cardiac arrests will health providers get what is called ROSC, or return of spontaneous circulation, which is when the heart starts beating again.

    This call was special to me because it became one of the rarer 10-15%.

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    Several hours later, having restocked the truck, it was back in service and ready for the next call.

    I went home tired, but with a feeling of satisfaction and relief. I ransacked the fridge for a snack, something about a call always makes me hungry. 

    My watch finally read 05:36 when I went back to bed.