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

First stack on the Madone!

The Madone is my full carbon fibre bike from TREK a Madone 4.5. Purchased as my reward for giving up the smokes last year.
I picked it up on the 19th of January and have ridden about 2400km or 1500m since. My older Trek 7100 hybrid has well over 10,000km or 6200m and today saw the first time the lazy motorist not looking before and during them opening their door get me.
A bit of bark off the knee, swollen finger, sore hand and a 5cm lac on the forearm.
I had only just pushed off so didn't have any speed up yet.
The driver was nice and concerned and accepted blame which I wasn't proportioning out, the bike looked ok and I rode it home but I'll keep and eye on it and so after 400km (250m) ridden while on holidays on the last day and within 3km of home I had my first stack.

Hold off on the get well cards I'll be fine and while the holidays are officially over rostering doesn't have me returning to duty until Wednesday, sweet.

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

Taz

Ride 4 Epilepsy

At the end of my 1st week of holidays I had three things to do.
Complete and submit two assignments to Uni and to ride with the wife in a 6hr charity event.

The venue was Calder Park Raceway with a combination of the disused AUSCAR (NASCAR) track and the classic race circuit to give a total lap of 4.21km (2.62m) for the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria.
Why?
Because I don't know if I can!

Look at the banked track behind me (3hr in to the race)

So with 112 other competitors we set off at 0800hrs to complete as many laps as we could in 6 hours. There were also 100k, 40k and 20k rides to compete in and 153 riders did.
From the very serious adult rider to children, roadies to BMX and mums on their mountain bike to families with child seats on the back.

Ambowife flying down the start/finish straight.

Results
Me, 38th overall, 31st male, 6th in my age group with 108.34km
Ambowife, 51st, 11th female, 3rd in her age group with 95.84km

We finished and could still smile and walk.

If rostering allows I'll do it again next year and try to get other ambo's to come along and do something different, uncomfortable and community minded.
They'll be richer for the experience.

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

 Taz

OMG!

It's been nearly two weeks since I last posted!

We do see some really F%#ked up stuff and watching on TV ain't nothing like being in there amongst it!
We get told the most sick and deviant lies that are very obvious to us.
We are verbally and sometimes physically assaulted by even those we are there to help and save.
Sometimes there is no understanding of management and their workings.
The pay could be better, maybe a City Penalty Rate, it costs more to live here and we do more jobs?
But we love the job even with these and many other drawbacks.
We love it with a passion from the bottom of our soul.
And the odd hours we work are part of our love
Cause we get 2 x 3 weeks holidays AND I"M ON SOME!

Sorry for shouting



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

Taz