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It's Friday! Also December 1st. When the hell did that happen? Yeesh, this year has really gone by quickly. I mean, the last quarter of it has been a blur for me, but still. It doesn't feel like it's been a full 12 months since January. Then again, the first six months, dad was in and out of the hospital and rehab centers, so it's not really a huge surprise that it's all a blur. Still, it feels like it's gone inordinately fast.
Yesterday was an interesting day. I was going along, doing my best and still having something wrong on each call. Then a little before we were going to take out the garbage, I got the call I've been afraid of. "My friend isn't breathing." I don't think I've ever typed so fast in my life. I got them validated and into the protocol at top speed, and clicked the Unconscious and not breathing dropdown super fast. We checked their breath, which was like one every 10-20 seconds, and I went straight into explaining how to do CPR. They did it, and I counted with them, and kept them up to speed, telling them how awesome they were doing, and to keep it up. Thank goodness, the responders got there quickly, and confirmed that she was in cardiac arrest and treated them. They survived. Mind you, because this is a big deal, I had my trainer, my co trainee, the shift manager and the other trainees clustered around me, listening in.
When it was over, I disconnected and sat there for a minute. What a total adrenaline rush! My trainer informed me that I had done it perfectly, and the shift manager agreed. I was still jittering, so I decided this was a good time to take out all the trash. When I got back in, there was an almost ceremonial signing of my trainee workbook, showing that I'd successfully completed the protocol for a cardiac arrest.
The adrenaline high lasted for about four hours, after which, I kind of flopped. Up until now, I enjoyed the job and thought it was kinda cool, but after the last two days, I kind of get it. It's a thrill junkie's platonic ideal of a job. It's really neat knowing that whatever I do, I had a hand in saving someone's life.
After that, the mulch fire I got on the next call was kind of a letdown, but oh well. On my way out, my trainer stopped me again to tell me what a great job I'd done. It was a little surreal.
Okay, I should start getting myself together now. Everyone have an excellent Friday!
Yesterday was an interesting day. I was going along, doing my best and still having something wrong on each call. Then a little before we were going to take out the garbage, I got the call I've been afraid of. "My friend isn't breathing." I don't think I've ever typed so fast in my life. I got them validated and into the protocol at top speed, and clicked the Unconscious and not breathing dropdown super fast. We checked their breath, which was like one every 10-20 seconds, and I went straight into explaining how to do CPR. They did it, and I counted with them, and kept them up to speed, telling them how awesome they were doing, and to keep it up. Thank goodness, the responders got there quickly, and confirmed that she was in cardiac arrest and treated them. They survived. Mind you, because this is a big deal, I had my trainer, my co trainee, the shift manager and the other trainees clustered around me, listening in.
When it was over, I disconnected and sat there for a minute. What a total adrenaline rush! My trainer informed me that I had done it perfectly, and the shift manager agreed. I was still jittering, so I decided this was a good time to take out all the trash. When I got back in, there was an almost ceremonial signing of my trainee workbook, showing that I'd successfully completed the protocol for a cardiac arrest.
The adrenaline high lasted for about four hours, after which, I kind of flopped. Up until now, I enjoyed the job and thought it was kinda cool, but after the last two days, I kind of get it. It's a thrill junkie's platonic ideal of a job. It's really neat knowing that whatever I do, I had a hand in saving someone's life.
After that, the mulch fire I got on the next call was kind of a letdown, but oh well. On my way out, my trainer stopped me again to tell me what a great job I'd done. It was a little surreal.
Okay, I should start getting myself together now. Everyone have an excellent Friday!
