Ask A Medic

Ewww yeah. Projectile vomit.

WTF .. you telling me people in Canada call an ambulance for vomiting?

 

Your most gruesome scene you went on?

 

I worked for a medical imaging company that had a very close ties with a major SF hospital. One of the radiologists used to bring x-rays in once a week so you could guess what was there.

There was some pretty weird shit (pardon the pun) but never a mayo jar (that I saw)

 

They call for toe pain or stomach aches lasting for several days.

Rollover. 17y/o Female DOA on ground behind vehicle. 60MPH rollover in an early 90's pickup.

Not good.

 

What is the difference between "cold and dead" and "warm and dead"? I've heard this in a chat between EMTs.

 

All the time! Is it really that hard to put your address up????

 

Warm and dead is dead-dead.

Cold and dead is mostly dead.

If you have to choose. Choose Cold and Dead.

It's to do with Hypothermia. You can be super hypothermic and for all intents and purposes to anyone, you'd be dead. But bring them back up to temperature and with proper techniques, they still live. So that's why they say, you're not dead till you're warm and dead.

 

When I was doing training hours in an ER, had an infant come in full arrest. Died of SIDs. Father came in, heard the news and went bezerk. Took 5 of us to hold the guy down. God awful. But it is true that you become pretty desensitized to much of it. "Meh" is sort of where you end up. Lot's of dark humor in the field too. It's a coping mechanism. Will refrain from details.

 

read the book! GTFO

12 lead: The art of interpretation I'm a natural freaking genius so I didn't need it....lol j/k I paid attention in class

 

Where you other medics workin? I'm AMR here in southern WA state. Wev been getting our asses kicked with the amount of calls. And running down ambulances every day doesn't help.

We do 911 and interfacility transfers. Been running average of 8 transports a day, 12 hr shift.

 

North Calgary Region, Alberta, Canukistan.

 

If you have to look too hard and long at a 12 lead.... There's nothing too significant to see!

 

indians on the reserve about 100km north of town use the ambulance like its a taxi service.

 

ACLS is a joke now a days. Read the book, pay attention in class...it's easy now.

 

Oooh I think I understand....

So if you bring them back to temp and they are still dead, it's a done deal. But if they are cold but "dead" there's still a chance because they can possibly still survive if you warm them up?

 

I've done this for 16 yrs....hell if I know. It's all just blood...some have a little some have more....some have a whole lot. Nothing really stands out. seen all kinds of crap.

 

Do you truly realize how important you are to us?

I want to thank you for all of the long nights, the trauma you see and the hard work you do.

Heroes. That's what you are. Thank you.

 

Small car sideswiped a semi at about 100km/hr. Car was destroyed, patient was still alive, but hanging out the drivers window. Massive head/neck/back/chest/abdomen trauma but still able to squeeze my hand and open his eyes when I asked him to. Lesser trained fire/rescue, poor conditions and general fucked-upness of the car made it nearly impossible to get him out and he ended up arresting on me in my hands when we just about had him out.

This was in February and it still messes with me sometimes. My partner was friends with his son.

 

Rural county service...closest hospital 25 or so miles. All 911, need a transfer call a private service.

 

^^^This

Worked a 8 week old one time. Didn't make it....he had just angioplasty 3 days before....everyone has their own way of dealing with stuff they see.