Is this our slice of heaven?

Fair Dinkum, the hardest thing I've ever done.

Bought a property at auction.
The tension.
The machinations.
The thought of going into debt late in life, doesn't matter about having plenty of secure collateral your still taking expensive money from a bank and they're nearly all crooks.

But I am now the proud husband of a very happy wife because of this

Nth Front entrance

Zoom in, that's all our property and you can see the house and shed

Last three are wife's cave

Oh and this is my cave

Bikes, cars and furniture belong to the previous owners but we might follow their style.

What do you think, did we buy well? 

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

Taz

What kind of work do I come across in a rural post?

The same, it can just take a whole lot longer to complete than in the metro.
We can travel 65 km or 40 mi just to get to the scene which can be in a house, on the road or in a paddock!
Do the medical stuff, there is more than likely no higher skill level than yourself, radio, mobile and satellite are scratchy at best but plenty of strong farmers ready to help so back your skill and go for it.
Then it's 65 km (40 mi) slower to the local hospital or maybe another 80 km (50 mi) on top of that to a large trauma facility if the patient is stable.

But that's the few an' far jobs.
In my eight weeks here I have dealt with;
4 intoxicated persons for their intoxication alone (3 being the same person),
numerous abdo pain, some have be transferred 80 km to the big hospital for surgery or review,
some well done fractured limbs,
3 single vehicle MVC's, best to miss the tree's if you can, 1 involved a 'B' double truck of livestock.
mental health with a similar primary diagnosis as most metro patients,
1 acute road transport with a Dr on board where we hit speeds of around 150 kph in sections, when safety to all allowed, as the patient deteriorated during the 70 km transport,
numerous 'there, there's' and 'it'll be ok' to promote health at home,
a few general sick patients,
2 long transfer's 500 km (310 mi) each round trip.

You can't pick when you'll work, we might sit on station all day (0800 - 1700) and do three jobs lasting 2 hrs each over night with an hour or so of sleep each time before returning to the station and do nothing or, a long transfer.

It's not the metro, I know that, I made a deliberate decision to move here for the life style not the work and when we finally find something reasonable to buy it will be complete.

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

Taz

Foot Care.

Take Care of your feet!

I think because I am still trying different options of clothing to keep on until I go to bed when on call, that I may be wearing my boots longer than I did in the City an there are different temperature swings out here in the country. Anyway I got a blister in the medial aspect of my right foot and in three days it nearly maimed me, to the point of having the on-call Dr look at it while we were at the hospital that night. The infection had tracked up my lower leg to the knee and she removed a substantial quantity of skin together with a script for a week of ABs.

A fortnight later the infection has gone but the wound is slow to heal but is not longer in doubt on whether it may in fact ulcerate, thankfully.

I have seen a Podiatrist and have a foot care plan to alleviate this problem in the future. 

Be Excellent to Each Other and I'll see you at the 'Big One'!

Taz 

So what has happened to me?

After ten years in the largest city in Australia,
At the busiest station (incident numbers divided by staff numbers),
Completing my Fiftieth year upon this mortal coil,
I was right for a change of pace on my own terms.

Before I became referred to by others as 'that's Taz, in the day he was good' I was ready to leave while still chasing partners, young enough to be my children, up to clear for another job!

So began the 'Tree Change'

500 km south and about the same inland is our new home.
Rather than a possible patient population of over 4 million I have 6000!
Farmland, low humidity, country folk friendly as hell.

But the work???

After 10 shifts including on call, I had done 20 jobs, no drugs administered, lots of advise and guidance,
A 500 km patient transfer, numerous hot response jobs that were 40 - 50 km away, near daily 170 km transfers of patients from our local well functioning country hospital to the larger district hospital.

An elderly population, very few alcohol related jobs, even though our local sports teams have had much success at the end of their seasons, no farm jobs yet and we're still looking for somewhere to buy, maybe a little bit of dirt, nothing more than 100 acres should do!

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

Taz

Still not Party Weather.

89F - Had a slow fall backwards and has back issues and c/o increased pain.
21F - A student who has accepted they have some symptoms similar to some rather common maladies and has grouped them together with her own research (Google) to create what really isn't there with neurosis.
54M - Very, very pissed and has had a fall and it probably is the booze talking but as we know it may be a head injury.
The fricking media has been beating up some new strain of viral infection that has popped up in a few isolated cases in young kids and of course we get a call from some nervous mum who won't be talked out of immediate Tx to the ED for the 10/12M's first fever.
77F - Generlised pains, minor.
55M - Disability pt needing some trans dermal patches put on.
Brawl, no injuries.
20F - IP fell off her shoes and cut her chin, that close to the hospital she elected to walk there.
80M - Dialysis.

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

Taz

It's cold and that slows them down.

Or rather the locals think it's cold but I just think it's winter!!!!

55M - Fast becoming our latest IP pest, straight to waiting room and then left.
39F - # Ankle off tall shoes.
56F - Sciatic pain, new.
48F - SIRS, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or pre-Sepsis or sick and needs a Dr tonight!
31M - Taxi driver king hit by some random waking along the road.

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

Taz

Oh very Hungover.

I'm not the only senior staff member leaving station and last night we had drinks for Matt.
I turned up after work and I'm not sure when I got home, but I did and the lovely Ambowife woke me up after I failed to do so myself.. I was late to work by my standards (only 1 hour before start rather than 2) but this was enough to alarm my colleagues.
A handful of paracetamol, several coffee's and a rather large egg an' bacon roll with BBQ sause had me on the road to redemption.

56M - Discharge to home post OP.
39M - Aggravation of known back issue.
43F - Small injury on knee but the arcade manager called us. We cleaned it and off she went.
78M - Not new bladder pain.
83F - Small laceration to her scalp, cleaned and she elected to stay at home.
81M - Over-balanced and needed a hand up. Didn't need to go to hospital.
68F - Has now managed to # some vertebrae after a recent series of minor falls.
42M - Left hospital before Rx was completed for a Na+ imbalance and the hostel he resided at wanted him returned.

The day got better or rather I did and all is well in the world.

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

Taz

Fresh Week.

26F - Haematoma on the back of her head from an alleged assault.
103F - To a rehab from home post possible stroke.
76F - SOB.
83F - Tibial skin tear that will need surgery in the end.
8/52M Hospital to hospital transfer
Assist with a pt who may have been on the floor for three days.
64F - Bipolar and aggressive in a nursing home with frail residents.
86F - Hyperkalaemia? Rehab to Hospital.
50M - IP sleeping it off.

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

Taz

A better day.

18F - Headache, there was something odd about the presentation and we found out later there was something strange on her CT.
??M - Assist with a motor bike rider who came off at about 80kph, walked out of hospital without injury.
21M - Psychosis, paranoia.
65M - Back pain.
35F - IP who got aggressive in the back so I threw her out and reported it to the Cops.
71M - Abdo pain.

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

Taz

A bad day.

One of the hardest days at the office I've every had.

62M - Foot pain, arch of foot last night while playing tennis.
22M- Post ictal, by himself in a public place so leaving him was not an option.
??M - A member of the public reported a drug effected person but we couldn't find him, UTL.
5M - Near faint, had a temp last night and enjoying his sisters birthday today, all a little too much for maybe. Staying at home but taking it easy.
61M - Chest wall pain from seat belt trauma.
??M - A supposed cardiac arrest that turned out to be an intoxicated person.
38M - Renal Colic.
79F - Mild abdo pain.

What do you say to a Husband while the other crews his Wife is being treated for a traumatic arrest?
There is no textbook chapter on this, it was the most emotionally draining and distressing cases I have ever had in my career.
But that's part of our job and with the support of my crew mate, peers and my wife I worked my way through.

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

Taz

Sent out of area.

To the land of track pants, hoodies and the saying OMG!

39M - Has had an infected finger for 4yrs and is after compo.
25F - A well displaced left patella that wasn't behaving it's self like they usually do by popping back when you move the patient.
??M - IP, Police decided to take him back to their shop.
67M - Discharged to nursing home.
48M - This one wanted to go to hospital by ambulance rather than his own car because he said he needed a rest! Yes he had a medical condition but there was nothing wrong at this very moment. As we know I have to transport but I don't have to carry or wheel them, particularly when they can walk.
80M - For his regular dialysis.


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


Taz

STEMI Time!

84F - Vomiting for three days with a heaviness in her chest. LMO was contacted and reportedly told carers not to call an ambulance as it was all in her head. My Lifepak 15 said there was a STEMI and I could see it there too. Transmitted it and she went to the Cath Lab.
78M - CA Penis, haematuria.
38M - IP at the rail station with abdo pain from drinking to much!
23M - Minor head injury post assault declined transport.
19F - Abdo pain. Declined transport.


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

Taz

Some good sick patients this shift.

74M - A definite candidate for sepsis, tachycardic, 40 degree temp but not hypotensive.
35M - Patella displacement.
81M - Severe decrease in mobility.
50M - Alcohol withdrawal related seizure, refused transport.
65F - From a medical centre with renal colic.
97F - Flank pain.
77F- Tripped on a roadway head injury.


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

Taz

Some odd stuff today.

I had a telephone interview yesterday for one of the two country posts I have applied for, not my first preference however.

55F - Dialysis patient.
1F - Mum shut the door after clipping her into the car seat but the car had re-locked and the keys were sitting on the drivers seat. Luckily it was parked in a multi level car park out of the sun. The motor club man arrived soon and opened it up much to the relief of Mum. SNR.
87F - Extreme abdo distention, later at hospital it was gone after they had drained over 2 liters of wee!!!!
32M - Post ictal.
83M - Concern for welfare by a neighbour who hadn't seen him for a few days. Before the Police busted in his door the alleged pt arrived home, we talked and left him there.
42M - IP not coping but also will not stay in hospital and goes home only to ring several hours later, the Police will be called to all future incidents.
31M - Cyclist going through an intersection against the red light and without a helmet and was collected by an innocent motorist. Head injury.
80M - Back pain.


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


Taz

And it was a good night for us!

Nobody was dying but there were some injuries and disease that needed our attention.

68F - Mechanical fall on bad paving landing on a knee that has been replaced already. The opening night of a three week night time light and arts festival made the crowds tough but we got her out and to the nearest hospital for an x-ray (they were from out of town), three fractures needing surgery.
46M - From the same location, rang stating he was gigging out and feared he would have an alcohol withdrawal seizure. My problem was that he wasn't withdrawing from alcohol he was well pissed. Seeking a warm waiting room.
36M - Found lying on a footpath, said he thought he had a seizure?????? I feel there may be a more simple for him feeling a little spaced out but he didn't wait around to discuss it.
48F - Off her chops on booze and MDMA (Ecstasy), 48???? slipped slowly to the floor of an outside bar and staff thought she should remain there until we arrived. Uninjured and wanting to continue partying she is and adult I think they are going to ask her to leave.
4F - Long seizure, may have missed her meds and it was really late and she would have been fatigued as well. Midazolam and transport.
22M - Really pissed and sleeping in a doorway. Nice guy and as he lived an hour away driving and intended to catch a train home with the friends he had lost we took him somewhere safe to sober up.
18M - King hit and went down like 'a sack of spuds'.  No real injuries but with the hits we've seen here and the deaths from the simple we took no short cuts.
?20M - Here are their choices;

•  Don't misbehave and the Cops won't notice you
• Stop misbehaving when directed by the Cops
• Don't stop they will make you with one of three nasty options
• Shot you
• Tazar you
• OC spray

Be thankful the Officer only sprayed you and stop spitting, swearing and being a girl about it, yes even I have been in the line of fire and copped OC spray by accident it's not that bad. In fact I haven't done decontamination wash down for ages, this fella just wasn't listening.
32M - To drunk to even get a breath analysis from who rode the train all the way to it's last stop. Took him to a safe spot too.
22F - Severe abdo pain, I'll guess gale stones.


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

Taz

I haven't posted anything this week?

No, I haven't.

Those of you who care will have noticed that I should  have been back at work for three shifts now but I have not made a single post.

Our Certificate to Practice lasts for three years, during which, in a mystical and difficult to understand sequence we are required to attend one of our education centers and complete a three day workshop for revision of skills, protocols, pharmacology and any issues that we put forward for clarification as well as assessment scenarios, supposedly every 18 months.
This one has been focused on;
Mentoring
Sepsis
Paediatric
Stroke
Cardiac review
Mental health.

Factually I really learnt little as I do try to keep myself in touch with contemporary readings etc but rather as usual absorbed little pearls of wisdom from the older wiser heads.

Night shift tomorrow and then days off, no resting though. I have a 2000 word assessment for Uni that's struggling at about 1800 words short and a telephone interview for a possible new station I have applied for in a rural setting.
 

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

Taz

Why would a 2 y/o take stool softener?

Yeah! I don't know either but our 1st call was for that.
We consulted all the pharmacy guidelines and directions and decided that as the little fella was running madly around the house in a game with other children that double nappies when he does slow down and expect a heroic poo!
40F - Anxiety
48M - IP with a laceration to his face where he fell down.
42F - Chest infection being treated by LMO but she requested a brochodialator neb and declined transport.
21F - Very pissed, lost balance and sustained a head lac needing stitches.
34M - 2/52 post op for orthopedic surgery now very painful.
60F - Vertigo.

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

Taz

Split from my partner and sent away for the shift.

And that usually means some really good work.
Just not for me of late,

42M - In a whole world of hurt with renal colic, kidney stones teaching us ignorant men what child birth feels like. In the end I had given him 30mg of Morphine and still he was restless with the pain.
23M - Motorcyclist who had gone over the handlebars and then the roof of the taxi before landing near the drivers door. Complaining of lower abdo/pelvic pain and I applied a pelvic sheet and Rx as such but frankly I think he slapped his goolies on the gas tank and then the speedo!
38M - Has Google'd himself into a rare and possibly fatal disease or it's just some cold symptoms that he hasn't understood. Lets consider experimenting with some night time cold and flu medicine and if she wants to his wife can take him to their LMO tomorrow. She was great and just needed someone in a uniform to tell him that.  

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

Taz

It's not a good job when the dispatcher apologises for giving it to you!

18F - My foot is sore. Did you sit on it on the train? Yes! Could that be why it's sore? Yes! Left on her own TWO feet.
81F - At that stage where she has been approved for aged care placement but can't quite leave home. We're still not sure how we got involved but we bypassed ED for Geriatric Care.
80F - Has been attempting to manage a sprained ankle at home for three days but it's getting too hard God love her.
41M - One day of the year that he's in the office rather than on the road, BAM witnessed heart attack. Instant CPR and application of an AED with one DC shock Return Of  Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC).
Pt is conscious on our arrival GCS = 13/14, AF, tachy. Turns out he is being investigated for the arrhythmia.
We all told him to by a lottery ticket.
42M - Walked into his LMO's office tight chested, pain in left arm, diaphoretic, they gave him an aspirin and took him outside to the street to wait for us. Our 12 lead shows NSR and the GTN did nothing for the tightness or pain but we Tx as cardiac.
68M - Acquired brain injury form alcohol abuse, anxiety issues that are being heightened by issues to do with his accommodation at a low care facility who appear to be taking a rough handed course to have him removed. Tx more for social issues. 

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

 Taz

Mad Mondays.

The hospitals are full and there's no beds so my plan was to only take in those that need it. As I've said before if they state they want transport to hospital I must take them, even if I think they're going to walk straight out and go do some shopping or are just using me as a taxi.

34F - Cyclist who self stacked. Grazed elbow, sore shoulder but everything was moving in the right way so take the day off and self manage at home.
42F - Giving up the smoke and put the whole 20 mg nicotine patch on and found out how awful a drug it is. She took the thing off herself and I just confirmed that she needs a smaller dose for her petite frame. Go to work.
83F - New to renal failure and refused dialysis on Friday and now if feeling the toxins and fluid retention. She wants it now.
54F - Reflux chest pain, resolved, stay at home.
19M - Playing sport, tackled and compound # Tib/Fib. Surgery tonight to be pinned.
Flagged down to help a Gent with vision problems cross the road. Happy to do it but why did it have to be me?
??M - Cyclist V Car didn't want us not hurt, just winded.
19M - Same sport as the #, concussion, dizzy and unbalanced an hour post hit. He needs to be watch.
89F - Mechanical fall and what I suspect to be a #/dislocation of the left shoulder.

Nine jobs in 12 hrs, 4 not taken in to waste the systems time and money.

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

Taz

Not many the next night but interesting.

Not that it started out that way really,

36F - Developmentally delayed, seems to have a Hx of going out to organised events and fainting and being transported. Tonight it was at the LIVE recording of a reality TV that I'm not allowed to name because that would indicate where in Australia I work and I'm not allowed to do that. I don't think we appeared in the broadcast and the stage looks much bigger on the little screen.
22F - A cast member in a real family drama series. They're all either drunk or drug effected and no there is nothing in my kits to stop your daughter (pt) for shouting at you. We were called back while driving away and again asked to stop the fighting and shouting between them. Made them sit in different rooms for 10 minute while we snuck away. Halfwits watch this shit on TV for entertainment just our family didn't have silicone boobs, bling or  say OMG.
41M - Electrician in a power room and all his mate saw was a big flash. Initially unconscious his mate started CPR and the Pt was sitting up on our arrival. No visible entry/exit points, evidence of epistaxis and very tachy, confused agitated but luckily stable. Tx for observation.
Very loud, very fake and very popular night spot has 2 females who have been punched in the nose by someone male. So Cops are there and it's all very intense because of the little bit of blood and tears but we're just waiting for them to calm down so we take them to a quiet room and let them chill and start to talk and what do you know, with all that glamour and bling they started the incident. Bleeding had stopped and they just wanted to make a quick getaway.
40F - Well known cutter who, as they do nomally, doesn't do much damage. Tonight she got her tendons in the forearm. Otherwise she's a sweet, troubled person.

So I have a Traffic Offenders course to present on my first day off and then 2 days supervising some Paramedic Students from a university who have hospital ED placement to get cannula's and experience with living patients.



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


Taz

Sent to a neighbouring station for a quiet night.

85F - Anxious, a cuddle and some time to listen, she stayed at home.
27M - Sore knee from two weeks ago, wanted transport and we did, straight to the waiting room.
68F - Cold, and I mean temperature wise. Bed socks and a hot water bottle kept her at home.
69M- Hospital to hospital transfer with kidney stones.
11day F - Baby two of twins being transferred to home hospital, nurse escort we did nothing.


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

Taz

A quiet Sunday??? NOT!

22F - IP who is trying to walk home, but in the wrong direction. We gave her a lift home to her flatmates care.
28F - CA pt with breathing problems.
55F - Alcoholic who misses her Mum with Mothers Day next week her in Australia.
74M - Extremely rapidly swollen knee without any obvious trauma or infection.
39M - Depressed.
70F - IDDM who looks like she fainted after a busy weekend for her son's wedding, fatigued.
26M - Bad asthma, not that there is good asthma!
41F - Florist who was holding a glass vase when it shattered causing a significant thumb laceration.
82M - Discharge to home.


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

Taz

The sun is shining,

And the patients are waiting.

72M - Who has been ignoring his cardiologists advise about his leaking heart valve, lethargy.
67M - Abdo pain.
15M - Claiming to have fallen because of his huge genitals, I shit you not! That's what the caller said, not surprisingly we were unable to locate (UTL).
81F - Who we found while looking for the above loser. She had suffered a simple mechanical fall and due to a known low bone density was concerned about her hip.
22M - # left ankle, sporting injury.
28M - Stiff after having played tennis and didn't want to drive himself from the tennis club to hospital wanted us to transport him. We really have to get a refusal protocol for this type of caller.
82M - Minor lac to forehead. Declined transport with us preferring to attend the theatre where he was.


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

Taz

Double header in the Police Cells.

What a glorious way to start a Sunday night!

44F - She's just drunk, denies all illicit drugs and the Charge Sargent is happy for her to sleep it off in the cells. The nurses send their thanks.
17M - In the next cell, ADHD, Borderline Personality, this and that and has a few very minor scratches on his body from the arrest scuffle. Again Sarg' is happy to have him if we believe that the wounds don't need further attention. There is no actual protocol for us to medically clear a patient of such wounds but there is also no way these scratches are needing more. With common understanding between us we're happy to write that in our Qualified Paramedic opinion these patients are safe in Police Custody. Done.
58M - 'It's 20 minutes after the MVC, the pain you are now starting to feel in your neck is not likely to be spinal did the other crew ask if you wanted to come to hospital and have a needless x-ray or were you told you had to?' So we transported.
74M - Epistaxis, two days he reckons, not on anti-coagulants.
42M - Mogadon and Booze don't mix. Get off the floor and into bed and have the family check in on him.
23F - Fell asleep in a cafe after a good night out. Woken up by us refreshed and left the scene.
44F - Alcoholic with ?worse DTs at 0400hrs and wants to go to hospital.

And that saw us out for the shift.

A quick Q to Lauren in the States, was that Taz me? Did you attend some Aussie who fainted?

Thank you other reader for your patients.

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

Taz

Thank Chr#st that's over!

I'm all holidayed out and ready for some work.

35F - Who has now learnt the lesson that when drunk you may some stupid things like harming your self and no amount of back peddling with the Police or me can stop us from taking you to hospital for a mental exam. I'm sure you don't mean it now but the damage is done and the ball set in motion with our duty of care.
75M - Simple low and slow mechanical fall the # his NOF.
6/12M - unsettled so the parents called us. I had a wonderful time playing with him while I was examining him before handing him back to Mum to put to bed as he was looking ready to sleep now.
??M - Assaulted? UTL
29M - IP who thinks he must of had a seizure because he's lost his mate and he wont answer his phone. I think he's really pissed and like myself on occasions has had some memory loss, complicating thing is he is an epileptic. In the end the Dr agreed with my diagnosis hours later.
30M - Anxiety, had called the Cops but wasn't a threat to anyone, the senior Sgt, like myself realised the Dude had dropped a pill and would eventually come down. He was staying with his parents, a safe place and really just needed sleep and to 'Chillax'!  
66F - Abdo pain, random around the belly button and called us rather than taking a pain killer and going back to sleep. I gave her some paracetamol but she wanted Tx anyway. Last seen in waiting room with the pain getting better now.






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


Taz

Transported less than half!

85F - Bradycardic, hypotensive, complete heart block, your definitely going.
87M - Tachypnoea suspecting pneumonia.
23M - #jaw post assault.

34M - Shared a pill with a friend and had an anxiety event. Nope
??F Being taken home by her G/f and a 3rd party called, WHY, don't know. Left them to their business.
30M - A vomit after exposure to a failed chlorine bomb, declined transport.
31F - Same incident but seriously there was nothing wrong with them.

Now I'm on holidays again!


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

Taz

Took a while to find a patient!

Not literally, the shift started with a discharge from hospital back to a nursing home but we got called off that for a MVC 'with injuries' but they weren't specified only that it was a scooter rider who had come off.
The caller told us the Domino's Pizza guy had dropped the scooter, lain in the quiet road for a while and when she came back out after calling us, had overcome his embarrassment and left the scene.
Then was a psych transfer to a distant hospital which would have seen us disappear into the void which is in the west but thankfully the Police came to our rescue.

53M - Claiming a poly pharmacy OD, in custody and just one angry SOB.
96F - Mechanical fall with a minor skin tear. I dressed it and her GP will visit tomorrow to review.
19M - In a motel room with a friend, drunk. I tried to get the friend to accept responsibility of care because really he wasn't that pissed and just needed to sleep it off but he wouldn't so transported to the little local hospital for three hours to sober up under supervision.
35M - Drowsy from normal meds but the Men's Hostel staff wanted a Dr's clearance letter so we took him to the same little hospital waited for the Dr to write the letter and took him back because it was bucketing down.
55M - Serial peat who has called 7 ambulances today and been finally given a bed in the psych ward for the night before a management plan is made but left and called for another ambulance. Got Scheduled this time and locked up.
48F - Gastro like symptoms, discussed the options and management and she stayed at home.

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

Taz

A dialysis pt a day!

Really makes you appreciate your kidneys.

68M - Regular dialysis pt.
??M in a arcade doorway sleeping, talk to them before you ring bounces off like water on a dumb ducks back.
30M - Known epileptic, post ictal, the alleged medical staff in this official government facility claim not to know how to look after him nor that he was even epileptic!
38F - Chronic alcoholic who made comments pissed to a friend who then rang the Cops concerned and then the pt made the same unthinking comments in front of the Cops so she had to go in for a psych evaluation even though we all know alcohol is a depressant etc, etc.
67F - Suspected food poisoning having flown in from O/S this AM, it's coming out both ends still.
56M - Witnessed stroke at a business meeting, right sided with dysphasia but on warfarin.  
Hoax call from a shopping centre.
54M - Known sufferer of schizophrenia getting a little violent with others in halfway house.
37M - Also with schizophrenia also thinking violence but with those quiet staring episodes that make you just sit back a little in case it blows up,,,,.


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

 Taz

April Fool!!!!!!

Did someone get you or were you the prankster?

I'm clean nothing happened to me anyway.

We travelled well a field to get our first patient,

71M - And not one of our regular dialysis pts.
64M - What may have been a wake up stroke like symptoms or rather I was leaning towards something like Bells Palsy!
46M - Known new issues with a herniated L 4/5 disk.
38M - GHB OD, one of three from the same party.
31F - Failing to cope with a hangover until I gave her some direct instructions and told her I wasn't going to take her to a hospital.
32M - Surfer hit in head by board, think he was bunging it on.
24M - Surfer who ran over his own leg with the boards fins and gave himself a deep thigh lac.


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

 Taz

Same Challenge

Or at least take them to the small hospital in town if they don't need the services of the large!

29F - Booked herself out of drug detox and then rang up after she had shot up. No need for Naloxone but she needed to be observed and her friends who arrived after us were not comfortable to do that so we Tx to the little hospital.
60F - Gastro symptoms, common sense, some advise and an information sheet on self treatment, stay at home.
52M - IP, fell on head, ??? LOC, amnesic. At the big hospital we find out he had a subdural bleed last year after a similar fall.
36F - Smoked synthetic cannabis a and had a bad reaction,felt spaced out, seems to have lost her common sense, we looked but couldn't find it. Left at home.
72M - Missing person for nearly three days when found by police. Dementia sufferer, has some minor ?fall injuries Tx for a quick once over and maybe review of care plan.



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

Taz

The Challenge!

Is to keep the masses out of hospital.
The masses generally don't need an Emergency Dept because it isn't an emergency, but you all know that.
The shit has hit the fan, the wards are full, ergo the A&E is too, this is the time to step up your game and delve into Low Acuity options, Community Health and God forbid, Common sense.

93M - Assist off floor, called off.
86F - Oesophageal spasms was my where my money was by a long complicated Hx with GI cancer was worrying. This has potential to go pear shaped so needs Tx.
84F - Assist off floor, called off.
92F - Simple mechanical fall 4-5 hours ago, they continued the family dinner party and then rang because the bruise was up.Low acuity, common sense stay at home but call if you need to.
15F - Street kid, had cold symptoms for three days which is about how long since she last had drugs. I'm still not sure what we were called for but she went to a friends house to score. I know it sounds callus  but legally she is allowed to lead this life style and advise is all I have if she wants to listen.
63F - Anxiety attack.

Challenge successful.

For now!

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

Taz

A couple of car prangs.

71M - Type 2 diabetes hypo, not a common thing this, Tx him.
84F - Who tripped and banged her knee crossing a road, nothing really bad but bystanders who rang thought she had been knocked down by a car. While dressing it we also drove her to church, her original destination.
43M - Who claimed to have fallen asleep while driving at 11 AM and hit three parked cars.
31M - Concern for welfare with Police. No Tx.
52M - Severe proximal tibia # playing soccer.
58F - Glands under her jaw swollen up today and no insect bite or current illness, transported.
2 Cars, 3 people, non wanted us.

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

 Taz

Now for a full block of shifts.

Bloody work!
Somewhere they've found more holidays that they claim I haven't taken and must do so immediately or there about.
Some of you will scratch your head and wonder why I fuss so?
I don't do holidays well, well I haven't for most of my working life anyway.
So here I am being forced to take an extra 6 weeks before midyear on top of the 6 weeks I'll be taking normally during the year rather than slip them over to next year with Long Service when we intend to slow tour the non-tourist spots in the US. It's just pressure I don't need.

68M - Regular dialysis patient.
37M - Like the mental health team said, 'Floridly Delusional and needing immediate heavy sedation to handle'. I told them so as I walked in.
84M - Still not sure what he did but the Cops ended up at his place due to concern for welfare and asked us to come over and have a talk to him. He's old and just getting over being sick and is seeing his Dr in three days as part of the treatment, so he's handling it well without us or his busybody neighbour.
33F - Abscess on her arm from shooting up and the detox clinic requested Tx and for us to stay with her? I explained they can come too if their concerned and they lost interest.
48F - Severe delusional/Schizoid episode, we transported but the Cops sectioned.
8M - Mum panicked when he cut his shin in a park, she was much calmer when we arrived but we dressed it and then left.
50M - Threatening suicide, by text, from a bar somewhere. After we broke into his apartment to rule out him being there the Cops said they would ring us back when he was found.
78M - Claims to suffer high blood pressure between 1 PM and 5 PM for the last three days but will see her Dr on Monday.
53M - Well known local drunk who didn't want a lift home today but Tx to hospital and then he left and walked home?

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

 Taz

And that's the end of my first shifts back.

Yes it is short.
The Roster Gods had me return for my two night shifts and then my days off, which is handy because I have a university assignment due on the 24th and this will allow me the time to work on it.

71F - Not looking down at the footpath and over she goes and smacks her head resulting in a possible brief LOC but I think she just wasn't given the right options when asked about that, I felt it was more of the pain, seeing stars and being a bit dazed, to me that's not knocked out but she was on aspirin anyway so there's a possible worry but the hospital were just full of sick and injured already so we had to wait before we could handover care to them. 5 hours.
33F - 22 weeks gestation with a day of mild constant abdo pain and Hx of one spontaneous abortion at 11 weeks.
19M - A likely lad who had been arrested and believed he had been struck with a bottle to the head. Well before the Police arrested him but he thought that would make them go away. It didn't because the story was rubbish but he tried it on anyway because Police and Ambo's all came down in the last shower and are 'stupid'.
17M - Above's mate who didn't like being arrested as well an was shooting his trap off. We discussed the nature of the idle threats he was making and the Metal Health act had he re-considered his verbal outbursts.
??? - In a park wanting and ambulance, I do have a good look for this kind of caller but I couldn't locate them.
51M - COPD who wanted a NEB, refused to come in for a respiratory assessment and went home from G/f's place.

And that's me.
So what have you been up to?

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

Back in the saddle.

And nothing seems to have changed,

Really!

85F - Who thinks there was something caught in her oesophagus but it's now gone but she can't control her breathing or gagging. After trying to resolve the issues on scene we transport because she's working herself into a lather.
59F - Mechanical fall to ground putting her front teeth through her lip leaving a 1" or 3cm hole.
31M - Alleged assault punched + + + times to the head and lots of very impressive swelling.
51M - Very drunk unable to walk and has a broken heart.
21M - Very drunk and unable to walk until he vomited (outside) and then left with his friends who thought we were miracle workers to cure him.
??M - Already in the Police cells and may have hit his head on the wall when he fell off the bench seat but his pottie mouth, the same one that he kisses his poor Mother with was full of foul language used with such intent the indicate that her had not, just a case of cautious cops.
20M - Very drunk also having difficulty walking but we were able to find a Taxi who would take him home.
??M - Again very drunk with wobbly leg syndrome and had fallen but was leaving the scene with his friends so we didn't stop them.
31F - Elbow injury post a single car MVC.
40F - Mental health.

So looks like the same ol' same ol'.

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

 Taz

So What you doin'?

Now I warned you that I was going to be quiet because I was on holidays but everyone else seems to have gone silent as well.

Lauren reminded me that I hadn't converted the distance on my ride so it was a smidgen under 134 miles.

University has commenced for the year and my subject this semester is 'Contemporary Issues in Paramedic Practice' a warm and fuzzy subject with no direct link to actual practical practice but requires a lot of reading, naval gazing and essay writing. It does stimulate you to investigate the pathway we are undertaking here in Australia to gain recognition as a Profession such as Medicine and Nursing and the options regarding true National Registration and Regulation.

My physio has directed me to some remedial massage before he next see's me because of the strain on my legs from my ride but otherwise riding continues. I'm looking at a 102k or 63m ride for a children's hospital in May.

I have been to work once in the two weeks I have been off so far and that was to check the next roster as I will be attending Recertification Training mid May but I might have to slip in to station because there is a box of articles in the study room that may help with my next Uni assignment.

And that's my update, mowing the lawns when they need it (usually a week after they first needed it), travelling around a little, drinking beers on the couch with the little lady and watching TV as long as it's not 'My Kitchen Rules' or Master Chef' or The Block' or any of the dumbing alleged reality shows.

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

Taz

My little ride

I have been spruiking a charity ride in Tasmania that was held last weekend.
Two rides one starting in Devonport finishing in the west coast hamlet of Strahan and the shorter starting high up on the picturesque Cradle Mountain with the same destination.

The web site is www.puretasmaniacyclechallenge.com.au/ if your interested go have a look, you might be interested in next years ride but be warned, it was the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life with regards the physical pain of the MASSIVE climbs cat 2 or better on three alone. The time in saddle, fatigue and sheer speed that the group went out.

They say it's not a race but there were many who took it as such.

One rider retired hurt after putting it down with a face plant at around 45kph on a descent and I scared the shit out of myself with a new personal fastest ever speed on a very steep straight run.

There are no photo's from me because I was just trying to finish and my thanks to a man named Karl who was driving the broom bus (what comes and sweeps up those that quit) who refused to let me quit and stuck close to encourage me for around 160km. I can never repay him for that.

Here instead is my data and a map from my Strava account.

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

Taz

Males on Drugs and Ladies falling.

Or so it seemed when I looked back over the list of jobs for the day

This is all I jot down either during the day or at the end of shift from review of the computer, my aide-memoire!

90F - Resides in a low care assisted living facility. She has been to hospital for this complaint (Cellulitis) and discharged with oral ABs. It's not improving so we'll take her back for review.
28F - The local Fire Fighters (in Australia Fire and Ambulance are two completely separate departments of government) were cruising around when they were flagged down by this distressed lass. Sometime in the last 14hrs she claims to have been given something that made her feel funny but she's not sure what or exactly when because of all the other drugs she was consuming at that time. Now extremely anxious and emotional and wants to go to hospital.
??M - In the foyer of a inner city motel passed out. When we arrived her was awake and trying to remember which room his friend were in. We left.
27M - Went troppo (Spaz attack) in an al-fresco cafe and got arrested. Cops wanted us to take him for assessment. My assessment, he's had a gut full of drugs and booze, no sleep and is full of sh*t with his sob story to the Cops and us trying to get himself out of the mess he's in. There was no damage so he is released to us and promptly walks out of the hospital in search of more trouble.
28M - Depressed, a couple of emotional triggers and took a razor to his wrists. He's ok but needs some support and help today.
??M - Anonymous call about a dude OD'd in a public toilet. Locate it and bang on the door, wake him up because he's not that gone and the same BS about 'Oh I haven't had any heroin', 'I don't use drugs now'. Why do they think we can't tell?
58F - Fell on a wet floor at the train station, may of injured her left wrist.
28F - Tripped at the bottom of the escalators at another station and sprained her ankle.

The bottom two lines are the case numbers we were on that made us miss our scheduled lunch breaks or cribs an old English working class word for meal break.


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

Taz

Only one day off

I requested a particular spot on the roster to start, at that time this was so I was able to compete in this charity bicycle ride, the Pure Tasmanian Cycle Challenge so I have a really bad roster change, just 24hrs before starting another three shifts but somehow I accumulated some leave years ago and management say I have to take it or else so I will be on holiday for this ride now and hopefully not needing it to recover.

So posts about work will peter out for the next month or two, sorry but I will try to pop something in.

Just a heads up for those that stop by for a read. 

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

Taz

2 transports Only.

44M - Old Spinal Cord Injury has left him without legs and he needed assistance to bed after a low fall.
73F - 24hrs of flying from the cold other side of the world and felt faint. A good nights sleep is the best medicine for you.
Road Rage incident that was a Police matter nothing for us.
48M - Trying to pull the wool over our eyes with chest pain. I'll take you back to that hospital you just left but your going to the waiting room.
47M - Whom the Constables believed to be only pissed and he was. They took him then.
86M - With an sudden posterior rib pain. I'll take you in for the DR to see.
74M - Dialysis pt for finish off.




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


Taz

Three food related jobs and one religious.

31F - Epigastric burning with no other signs, milk, antacid and see your GP tomorrow.
60M - More mastication before swallowing, he had dislodged it himself.
21F - It's good to get gastro on the last night of your holiday in our fair city, stay near the toilet, small sips of water and wait for the diarrhoea.

62M - Transfer with Triple Vessel disease for a triple bypass.
42M - Ventilated pt transfer.

28F - Psychiatric Episode, Religious Ferver, I have come across the odd 'I'm Jesus' or God but this pt would not stop praying, even to go to the bathroom so she had urinated in her clothes several times. Was not able to give any reason for the prays, usually you pray to seek guidance, forgiveness or asking for something to happen. Had to be picked up and carried while remaining in a kneeling position with the occasional head punch or head butt to the wall. 24hrs later she was still going. 

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

Taz

MFMFM much more order.

38M - A large angry man off his Bi-polar meds, not aggressive physically but everyone stood back from him.
49F - 3/7 migraine, has tried all her own remedies and failed and has never had one last this long. Just a little Morphine and some antiemetics and off we go.
83M - Sudden onset of Aphasia and confusion that resolved - TIA
58F - CA pt who wanted to be left alone and refused to allow in her home care workers and the Police got called and then we arrive. She has a reduced Competency and Capacity to make that decision as she was unable to explain the complications or end outcome to us, she was not able to demonstrate the ability to retain any new information given by us and there was no end of life plan or Enduring Power of Attorney Medical Care. A sad case but we can't leave you here by yourself, society expects more.
34M - Known to have de-generation of the cartilage between all his cervical vertebra. Had slip and awkward movement and now has neck pain and altered sensation in one arm. Collar only to support the now cramping muscle and off we go.

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


Taz

Half and Half

That was the ratio of patients today, well nearly.
What was interesting was that it was female patients first and then an afternoon of males.

98F - Next door neighbour thought she looked dead in bed through the window. A bunch of Cops and an Ambo crew trying to breaking woke her up! The neighbour was very happy.
27F - Acute lower right abdo pain, 22.5mg of Morphine got the pain to manageable, just!
16F - Hx of SVT, but I think today was a twinge of rib pain starting an anxiety episode.
33F - Fell and caught her foot in a metal staircase, ripped a toe nail and may have # the bone.

4M - Worsening asthma.
30M - Shot his mouth off to his case worker saying dump shit and when he went back to apologise she wanted him scheduled. He was repentant and had no intention to harm himself. Just let his mouth run off.
37M - Cyclist who was collected by a pedestrian crossing illegally. Arm pain.
62M - Drunk and staggering home, we gave him a lift.
50M - Drunk and abusive, not our fault if the public think he's dead.

Then to throw it out,

61F - Hip pain Chronic.


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

Taz

This all happened before midnght!

??M - See by staff from a homeless hostel and they were concerned. When we arrived he got up apologised and left.
69M - Anxious, feeling slower mentally than normal, has recently arrived back in the country (<4 and="" as="" from="" get="" he="" is="" it.="" jet="" lag="" more="" neuro="" obs="" ok="" opted="" over="" overseas="" p="" physical="" sleep="" so="" still="" struggling="" to="" try="" were="" with="">36M - In the company of the constabulary and was a little too drowsy to be left in their cells till morning court, there was also the issue of some forgotten epilepsy meds too.
3M - Woke Mum and Dad with breathing difficulty but is wasn't until we arrived that the dreaded seal cough appeared. Didn't need to give adrenaline but transported as this was his first ever croup presentation.
25F - Nausea and vomiting,,, dropped as TV on her head several days ago and had some neck pain still,,,, collar and transport just to be safe.
92M - Discharge to home and assist to bed.   

And that was it until 30 minutes before knockoff
A pair of specials having got home from a night drinking at the casino were having a dispute and calling each other mental instead of having a sloppy shag, so called us to take one of them away. After ten minutes of listening to this nonsense I ordered one to sleep in the bed, the other on the couch and sleep it off. 

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

Taz

Midday before the 1st Job

58M - Sat down on feeling giddy and still had a syncope. struck his forehead on a bench and needed it stitched.
40F - Recognised me from when I last attended her over 4yrs ago. Today we think she may have and inflamed appendix.
50M - Down and out and needing a hand to find hope.
74M - Feels SOB but it doesn't effect his speech or walking.
24F - Mild concussion to be monitored by a friend.

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

Taz

Paraffin and Children

68M - Regular dialysis pt.
56M - Emotional issues and using broken glass to scratch his wrists.
84F - Rapid AF, new.
18/12F - Found a bottle of paraffin lamp oil not securely capped and drank some we think? I don't know the why's but our concern was only if she had inhaled some. In the ol' days you were given paraffin oil as a laxative.
54F - Minor abrasions from falling off her motor scooter in the wet.
85M - From nursing home for investigation of possible pneumonia.
86F - Anxiety issues.

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

Taz

The gut was right.

The US TV drama NCIS, the 'Gibbs Gut' is always trusted.
The same goes for our job, if it doesn't feel right it isn't.
This instinct or intuition generally comes with experience and an open mind.

17M - Horsing around with his twin and stuck his arm through a glass door panel. one large lac with muscle exposed but it appears no tendon or nerve damage. It's going to need a surgical washout.
25M - Horsing around with other backpackers and dislocated his shoulder, 20mg of Morphine got him up off the floor and walking down the twisting convoluted stairwells of this backpackers and on his way to hospital.
52M - Who was out celebrating the Bucks Night of one of his sons and when trying to stop a fight between strangers got pushed backwards and suffered a minor scalp injury.
28M - GHB OD
86M Angina resolved declined Tx.

27F - Fainted, a very common job. We arrive and while she's LL on the floor she's talking so I sit her up then to her feet and as she appears steady we walk outside the restaurant for a sit down examination.
Physically she is a fine healthy young lady but there is a scared/fear in her eyes and she says that she doesn't feel right. At first there seems to be confusion to questions but it didn't seem right so investigated further it's more an aphasia but even then it depends on the way your phrase the question;
Whats you DOB? no answer just a struggling look.
When's your birthday? the something of the something 19something, straight off no problem.

Strange!

No drugs, trauma, over exertion, fatigue, illness, recent overseas travel, medical Hx and appeared clean, sensible, well presented, high functioning and not seeking attention.

There had been a previous syncope today that they put done to heat in the middle of the day, but I would like her to see a Dr tonight because I can't convince myself of any obvious cause for this.

While at first Triage was doubtful of my concerns after talking to the pt and witnessing another syncope and adding incontinence to the presentations some sort of seizure is looming.
A tumour larger than a golf ball in her frontal lobe region was found on CT.
It appears very aggressive as symptoms continued.

I hope they can do something, she's a very lovely girl.    

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

Taz

A bit of that!

62F - I've been here before and she does have really bad anxiety and if her own control methods don't work she calls us.
51F - Fell or pushed over last night and she walked home, today her hip hurts (has taken no analgesia) and rang us, I feel it's muscular really.
16F - Wanted Methadone.
31M - Effected by Xanax and walked off the curb into the side of a truck that was hardly moving, an abrasion to his forehead, unsure when the truck last had a tetanus shot but it was uninjured.
50F - Restrained driver in a two car head on. Didn't need to cut the car but there was a possible SC injury.
49M - Who tested mine, my partner and everyone he came in contact with's patience, and that is being really, really nice about how much this guy pissed me off.
72M - Looked like he was pre-arrest brachial pulse weak, very diaphoretic, 70sys the best I got but the ECG came back with NSR and after a bolus 500mls of Hartmann's or Ringers Lactate it was up to 91/54.
As a retired Dr he thinks it's a reaction to seafood but I'm not sure.

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

Taz

A bit of this!

89M - Fell from bed and his legs are weak, Geriatric Assessment needed.
90M - Fell transferring to a chair but only wants a hand up.
39F - Thought her heart was racing but all we had to do was take her pulse and tell her it wasn't and she was off?
57F - Delusions, Paranoid and all very genuine.
71M - Collapse, may be septic, need bloods.
28M - Cyclist, was wearing a helmet I'll give him points for that but seriously Dude trust me I have had way bigger stacks than that and got back on and rode off, he wanted a hospital.
??M - Road rage incident, never could figure out if our pt was the victim or not.
MVC - SNR
49F - Hyperventilating after a hard walk on what was a hot day.


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

Taz

Non Australian Patients

To be clear,
I don't care where you come from on this planet,
I don't care what you believe in unless it involves your treatment like Jehovah's not taking blood products
I don't care who you pray to
I don't care that you think your Ok
I don't like you spitting at me
I don't like you urinating or defecating in my work place
I don't like you taking a swing at me or my partner

I will treat you to the best of my ability
I will treat you with more respect than you show me

I know that my fellow Paramedic, EMT, EMS from around the world look after as many Australian citizens with the same care as I have, Thank you

Happy Birthday to Lauren for the 12th, I don't seem to be able to leave comment on any of your posts

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

Taz

Record Temperature Day.

And therefore a stupidly busy night, but no there was a general calm.
This may have been from the heatwave just being too much and the punters just staying indoors.

47F - Working on a river cruise boat who suffered a small trauma and re-injured a neck issue
30M - Witnesses state a seizure and he said a faint because he's had similar before to the point where they have installed a on demand pacemaker for bradicardic events they thought he was having. I saw a proper post ictal stage not recovering from a faint. To be investigated.
24M - Blind sided by some thug, top lip split to the gum line. Very nice young dude I very much doubt that he provoked this random attack.
?26F - Slapped in the face by her BFF, who cares really!
?36M - IP passed out in a hotel foyer, woken by the cops and after they explained it 20 times you leave in a Taxi right now or go with us (Ambos) to hospital to sober up he took the taxi option
Assist another crew with extrication of a pt.
32M - claimed a Redback Spider bite ?????
66M - Acute cardiac failure causeing a fall in the nursing home and pre-arrest developing en route. Luckily we were 3-4km from hospital so just ran there but the outcome was unsuccessful.
79M - Dialysis

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

Taz

It's getting hard for me to find a patient worth transporting.

Three in an entire shift,

20M - SCI Quad also with a life threatening respiratory disease with increased SOB
31M - City Ranger who got sprayed in the face by a hooligan when caught being a public nuisance, black paint.
32F - Suicidal thoughts and plans.

Then there was,
Public transport officer who was slapped in the face, he didn't want us and had told the bosses just that.
20M - Heavy drinking last night and at the beach today and now feels weak, shivering and hot and nauseous, do you think you might have just over done it?
21M - Citizen of the US who was celebrating his 21st by getting pissed in Australia (where he could have drunk for the last three yrs) and falling asleep in a park garden.
21M - In Police custody, was too happy even though he was in very serious trouble, so he must be on drugs please check him out. No this little crime wave was just trying to play with their brains as well as playing the No speak English card which may (I doubt it) have been true but he sure as shit could understand English.

Oh I guess the two Dialysis pts did need to go.

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

Taz

Busy Day

Lots of jobs but the quality could have been better.

62M - Epistaxis, well a flood sometimes and others a dribble going on for nearly 24hrs.
89F - Public assistance to lift of the floor and back to bed
83F - Fit, healthy, swims in the sea 3X's a week as well as goes to the gym but today suffered a skin tear to her calf area that split her left gastrocnemius (calf) muscles from an accident with someone else's dog lead wrapping around her leg. While this looked a nasty wound, with her good health recover should be excellent.
32M - Don't know how but he split the skin on the underside of his middle toe on one foot. He was wearing footwear, so go figure?
27F - Abdo pain, sounds like an inflamed appendix.
26F - Abdo pain, period pain, you can go home and before I get howled down my wife agrees with me.
32M - With behavioural issues not Psychiatric ones, so ED don't want him.
58M - Transport to a detox clinic for his first attempt.
75F - A theme here, stumbled and went down on one knee causing a huge skin tear from medial to lateral right over the patella, add being on anticoagulants and a diabetic and this has to be seen at hospital.
82M - who rang the Fire Brigade and us because he smelt something funny! Nothing found.


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


Taz

Just another Day.

77M - With a week long history of a pain around his pacemaker
44M - Ate something spoilt and is paying for it today
?70M - Found Deceased in a park
82F - Very obvious chest infection
43F - Fell and suffered a large lac to her forehead
87F - Chest pain with a wide complex QRS
83F - Hospital transfer

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

Taz

Not as hot tonight.

Attended an obvious death first case, only young so we spent some time with the father who found him.
31M - asleep on the street, OD on Xanax. Decreased GCS so transported for his safety.
27F - 7/40 pregnant and nauseous,,,, must have seen the stories about Princess Kate and how she needed a hospital with morning sickness. And before I get hung drawn and quartered we did transport.
??M - IP sleeping at the train station, concerned passerby couldn't wake him but the Cops who beat us there could. SNR
18F - Learning the hard way about Tequila, need I say more?
61F - Praying on the good nature of other people, nothing wrong with this moocher.

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

Taz

A very hot night.

Australia is in the grip of a heat wave this week and many States are fighting bush fires. in fact because of the combustible nature of eucalyptus forests, Australia is considered to be one of the most explosive and fire-prone countries on earth.
Here in the city it's heat related cases, heat stroke, exhaustion, dehydration and syncope that crews have been dealing with as well as an increase in the elderly cardiac arrests of patients with chronic illness.
I've not got much of that tonight but I am stuck at hospital with my own patient as well as babysitting others crews patients until there are beds.
68F - Sudden onset of nausea and pre-syncope symptoms without exposure to the heat and there is no BP drop. Normally healthy deserves immediate investigation at a hospital tonight.
64F - Felt hot and weak, also cannot find her fan. So while my partner finds that I do a baseline set of obs (all fine there) and with the fan found and operating the problem is solved. 'I'll stay at home thank you'.
28M - Uni students celebrating finishing exams, fine, it's even ok that you have over indulged and now need the services of the Ambulance Service but don't go around the scene and later the ED introducing yourself as a Medical Student and everything is 'OK' with your drunk friend (whom I have transported in restraints because he's an Aggressive drunk and doesn't need an assault charge against him) to the Qualified and knowledgeable staff. All that book learning and not smart enough to shut up when I told him to before we arrived at the ED.
41F - Migraine that has not responded to her own medications.
51M - Partner says he had 2 seizures overnight, but it was still 38 degrees at 3AM and he was exhausted from not being able to sleep in the heat but the change has come in now and it's 10 degrees cooler and he is competent and shows capacity to refuse transport that I offer. I'm happy with that too.

  

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

Taz

A coffee with two other crews.
7 Police crews drop by the scenic spot we're in also.
The radio crackles can you call the Nth channel for a job
24F - Fainted, but wait there's more now it's saying possible agonal breathing and then in arrest. Asystole on arrival with the oddest agonal huge breaths I've ever seen. CPR, 2 x Adrenaline and some Narcan because we believe it may be an intended opiate OD, 8 min in we have ROSC or her heart starts to beat and perfuse her body and while we were first to arrive the others transport and we follow to Hospital
While printing of the eMR another crew back up into the bay and shout jump in he's arresting and there we have a ?60M in VF, one 200j pops him back along with a little CPR.
The sweat is dripping from me.
56F - Who wants to go to hospital because she can't breath. Problem I have is that it took her several minutes of loud, full and complete sentences to inform me of this breathing difficulty she has?? I took her.
50F - Known epileptic had a moment, left in care of others.
45M - IP.
6M - with a suspected # humerus.

Very slow start and on nights next and the temp is due to climb over 40C in the day, UCK.

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

 Taz

So what does the 1st real shift of the New Year offer?

35F - Denies alcohol, drugs or a need for us (3rd party caller) she's a bit of a space cadet/hippie but I can't fault that so off she goes. Another car picks her up 5hrs later with a Xanax OD.
26M - Got drunk on a plane flight, played up and was arrested on touchdown and they wanted a quick psych evaluation. Now 7hrs post landing he is sober and shitting himself because the fact of him being put on a return flight later today is looming large!
79F - Bless her, she waited 4/7 before calling about this fever she had. Pneumonia.
36M - 4/7 Hx of illness overseas and a syncope at the airport on return.
23M - Depressed after getting drunk.
46M - Hypoglycaemia, excellent this we can treat and reverse.
37M - Witnessed syncope and profound confusion, must remember to follow him up because it looks like the aftermath of a bender.
40M - Opiate use, drowsy at a bus stop but you mention Narcan,,,,
 

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

 Taz

Happy New Year Everybody

I had requested to be on rostered shift this year rather than Special Events Coverage at one of the celebration sites, you spend the night putting bandaids on cut feet or reassuring someone that their friend is just really drunk.
Working on the streets isn't that much better but at least you can move and drive around.
12 Completed cases
20+ on the computer but either cancelled or called off
Physical restraints used as early as the second job for a drunk 25M hallucinating and getting violent and there really were no extra cops around to come with us so they helped us while we applied ours and secured him to the stretcher for everyone's safety.
Got a New Year snog from some nurses at the ED!

And that was 2012
  

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

 Taz

Twas the night before NYE

15mth M - The family are on holiday away from their normal support structures and had been doing everything I would expect to get the little chaps temp down but it wasn't playing along.
57M - Who's family (not living with him) called us to go and take him to hospital. He didn't want to go and frankly there was nothing that a hospital had to offer him he wasn't acutely sick and didn't want detox, so I left him at home.
44F - Anxiety and many different and moving pains in many different spots and not constant nor describable.
70M - Verrucas vein haemorrhage. It had resolved with direct pressure and again this is not an acute problem and he was not on anti coagulants so a clean dressing, some instructions and go see you own Dr tomorrow.
49M - A third party called us to see to this homeless or between residence person with some pain around his liver region that when asked he could even tell you what it was. He didn't want to go to hospital either.
23M - Obvious ankle injury from jumping over a fence.
23M - Lac to the eye lid.

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