Thoughts, Adventures, & Daily Life of a Home-Schooled High-Schooler

  I read a verse this morning that made me think of a call last summer, and I've chosen to share the story with you all. *Addresses and names are fictitious in accordance with HIPAA regulations* Dweedle-dweedle, beep beep beep!!! my pager chirped. "Berks Township, 2336 South Market Street, fo r chest pain." The dispatcher stated, adding that my unit was due to respond to the call. I shoved the mop bucket to the side of the hallway and tossed the cleaning supplies into the closet on the way to the truck bay. Half the bathroom was cleaned, but the other half would have to wait until we returned.  Flipping on the lights and siren, I easily merged onto the busy highway. "58 year old male, sudden onset of chest pain, trouble breathing, extensive cardiac history. Oh, and he did take one nitro with no relief." The d ispatcher added. That information added urgency, (and a bit more speed).  Several minutes later,  I was kneeling on the floor beside the sofa whe...

 2 years ago this week, I walked into a testing site to take my National Registry Exam. I was 17 and absolutely terrified. Due to c🦠vid, my class had ended prematurely and I didn’t feel very prepared for the test. That afternoon, I repeatedly checked the website and was shocked but very excited to see I had passed! I started out intending only to run with my local EMS agency as time allowed, but it wasn’t long before I realized I wanted to do it as a full time job.  Just a few short weeks after my 18th birthday, I applied for a job as a transport EMT. I was hired to start the interfacility transport program for DH&L. I knew nothing about IFT, but spent a lot of time talking to different agencies and providers, gathering information as well as tips and tricks.  When a 911 position became available in April, I passed the transport program onto a newer hire and began the 24on/72off schedule that I’m still doing at this present time.  It’s not always fun and glamoro...

*** I have tried to keep the story as real as possible, but please note that all names, places, and times have been changed in compliance with HIPPA regulations. ***    "Hey, what's this?" I asked my EMS partner as a small weighted paper dropped out of my certification file and fell gently to the floor. With a distinct "ka-thunk" I set the file I had been sorting on the desk and grabbed the wayward paper. "Oh, it's my TPA award!" I said, slightly surprised. "I was wondering where this brain had gotten to. It's been missing for several months."      "Missing for several months? No wonder the last while has been quite busy!!!" my partner exclaimed, not willing to miss a golden opportunity for a joke.     It was true, the month of December especially was much busier than in years prior. As a volunteer, I had run 20 calls around the schedules of the paid staff, mainly in the evenings or during the night.      Setting the certi...

 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 di...

          Last week in my post I mentioned I had driven to Chambersburg only to find out my EMT test had been canceled.       I was able to reschedule my test for Tuesday, April 21, in Pottsville. I felt more than a little apprehensive. Would I even be able to test? Did I know my different disease processes and cardiac anatomy as well as I should?       Arriving at the test center nearly 45 minutes early, I was given some paperwork to fill out, confirming I was indeed the person I claimed to be. I was also asked to sign a loonnngggg paper acknowledging I that I understood my license and testing privileges would be revoked if I didn't comply with everything else listed.       I complied, acknowledging I would not cheat and hadn't smuggled any notes in under my clothes.        The test was quite hard, to say the least. Question after question appeared on the screen and I wondered if I would ...