Rode the new bike to work.

For the first time, I mean that's what it's for, riding to work.
39M - Chest pain he says, a night on the booze and smoking he says, plus all the stuff I know he's not telling me. He decided to go home and sleep it off.
25M - Found sleeeping in the gutter. Woke up well and I told him to go home and he did.
30M - Agitated person, call from Police to assess. Yep he's agitated, that's what doing drugs (Crystal Meth) does to you. It a permanent condition that's part of his normal day. He just wanted to be left alone to rant at the world.
45M - Back pain.
90M - Abdo pain.
35F - Syncope.
40M - Another request from Cops to assess. He's fine too.
98M - Large skin tear on arm.
76F - Hospital to Hospital transfer.

And then I rode it home.


Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz

I have a new ride.

So the work ride broke up and with the age and current cost to repair and the desire to have a new one I do!

Another Trek, a 7.5FX.
Better running gear, lighter, lets see how many km this one does.

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

 Taz

Another fun ride!

And I do mean fun.
Unlike the alleged fun runs where I've never seen anyone smile, cycling is fun and a lot of conversation and joking goes on.

This time it was in Sydney for the Spring Cycle Classic 50km.
We opted for the intermediate start at 0700 meaning we were on the road at 0600 to get there well before that.

We mill around and chat to those we know or make new friends.
We ready ourselves with sunscreen and adjust the lycra.

And some of us reflect on what the hell we're doing here because 'I'm not a morning person!'

And then we're off!

Sydney's Iconic Harbour Bridge was partially closed. 

Other major roads too!

The halfway point

The line for water and the toilets

 The finish

 A chance to sit on something wider than a saddle!

 Look how many.

Pull back some more!

Over 9000 cyclist!

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!


 Taz

'He's never been sick!'

Since I've been back at work from holiday I have,
Completed 13 twelve hour shifts during which we saw,
93 possible incidents, this averages to 7.1 per shift.
Of these 93 incidents most of them did in fact have a patient or someone there.
Plus their families or workmates, friends, associates, other agencies, good samaritans, general busy bodies and rubber neckers. Some helping, most not, or making it worse.

Not all were transported!
One attacked my partner physically and while not causing any real harm the emotional distress was more damaging.
One gave me his 'stash' from down the front of his pants of synth cocaine, in between the severe dystonic spasms for which we had been called. I took it to the Cops later and handed it in as unknown from an unknown person for destruction.
One pushed a few of my buttons unknowingly about a past relationship with someone with mental health problems that weren't then diagnosed and I wasn't a Paramedic back then, I didn't know!

And then there was,
78M - Feeling a bit strange in the chest. After having played his first of two 18 hole rounds of golf for the week had returned home and taken a late afternoon stroll with the wife as is normal for them. On arrival back at home he had complained (very unusual for him) of a tight funny feeling central chest, weakened, diaphoretic, pale and dizzy.
We arrived about 30 minutes after the initial onset of symptoms or 5 minutes after they called 000.
Supine on bed, pale, diaphoretic, bounding pulse, perfect BP and no major or insignificant medical history to report even turned up to work when he had a broken arm, never took a 'sickie'.
The 12 lead ECG clearly indicated an Anterior Infarct even without the machine diagnostic prediction, shit a blind man without his white cane could have seen it. I transmit to the hospital and the Dr calls back while we prep him with aspirin, nitrates and 02 to confirm and get the patient details and we're off.

Now we see it all the time, the patient's handling the news and associated fuss very well and is calm but the family (wife) is starting to fray around the edges. We just told her that her Rock is having a heart attack right now in front of her, in some part of her mind is the memory of people die from heart attacks and this adds to the turmoil of her emotions. We need to manage her needs and treat her anxiety to maintain the patients well being.

It's never just the patient, there are always other players on the stage of each and every job we attend and we must always look after them as well because,

We Are The Paramedics.   



Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz

Not a good way to start the week.

I'm a MAMIL.

Middle
Aged
Man
In
Licra

I'm a cyclist, it's the first option I think of for transportation as well as for recreation.
I cycle to work on my nearly 10 year old Trek that has more than 10,000km travelled and this week there was this strange pulse when I was braking approaching the station at the begining of my rostered shifts and when I pulled up to open the door my rear wheel ruptured and burst.

 I don't abuse vehicles or equipment and treat them as my own so this must have just been wear and tear.

So do I repair/replace the wheel or do I consider buying a new bike?

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz

So where have I been?

Well the answer is nowhere really.

I have been back at work for three weeks and really there started off as nothing to tell you about and remains pretty much that.

Sorry.

Be Excellent to Each Other and See You at the Big One!

Taz