Second ? and last ? ambulance rotations yesterday. Had two calls ? an epileptic seizure (over by the time we got there) and a call over to the police station to check a diabetic inmate?s blood sugar.
The seizure patient ? according to a coworker ? had an implant in his chest. Apparently, when he felt a seizure coming on, he would place a magnet (about the size of a large block pencil eraser) over this implant and it would somehow control the seizure activity. None of the paramedics or EMTs had heard of that before. When we got there, he had been laid on his side and had no trauma. He was breathing but unresponsive. After a little while of being there, he came around and was alert but disoriented. The longer we sat there, the more oriented he became ? all in all, just like the book said it would be. I took his blood pressure, but that was about it.
An extremely frustrating part of the day was checking the blood pressure of an older woman that walked in to have it taken for a later doctor?s visit. I got something in the 120?s over 80-something. The EMT got 150-something over 74 ? much more in line with what you?d expect. I didn?t hear anything before the 120?s, although I saw the needle jumping long before that. I don?t know how I missed it by that much, but it?s frustrating as hell, especially when she was sitting there, still, in a completely quiet room. That?s maddening.
A woman also walked in complaining of chest pain she had been having for 2 days. I think they took her blood pressure but that?s about all that can be done. Told her to go see her doctor because we can?t treat that kind of thing. It?s amazing what some people will do
Aside from that ? there were no other calls. I?m going to try to do some ride-alongs with my instructor?s company, just to get some experience with people. I don?t even care if they aren?t in dire need of medical help ? I just need to get used to being around people and having the confidence necessary of the authority they assume someone in the position of ?paramedic? has. I want to work on the whole ?curbside manner? thing, as I?ve rarely had a job that required me to interact with people, especially in such an important way.
-MedicMike
