Stage Day 2.

Much busier day today. We had 5 calls and from 2:00 am until 5:00 am it was one call after another. My "maitres de stage" are extremely nice and I couldn't ask for better people to learn from. Here's a list of my calls:

1st Call: Call came in for Respiratory Distress, 58 year old male. Upon our arrival the patient was breathing fine, was well coloured, and not complaining of any pain. We took the vital signs, attached the monitor, and took him to the hospital.

2nd Call: Transfer from Anna Laberge Hospital to Montreal Children's. 15 year old male, was climbing a tree and the branch broke and he fell about 1 story and landed on his back, he broke his left hip. This was my favorite call of the night, even though we didn't do anything medically, I got a chance to talk to this young man the whole way to the hospital. He goes to the same high school I went to and we talked a lot about that. This kid was very nice and polite, and after talking to me, he now thinks he might want to become a Paramedic. I felt that in one way, I made a difference in his life, simply by talking to him, and showing him, that a kid who went to Billings can actually move on an do something.

3rd Call: We get called for a 32 year old woman with abdominal pain, diarrhea nausea, etc.... We show up, and the woman is waiting for us lying on her porch complaining of severe pain. One of my partners, says that this woman is a known "psych" patient and calls at least once a month. Again we check the vitals, put her in the ambulance and bring her to the hospital.

4th Call: We get a call for a woman with severe non traumatic back pain. We show up, she's lying in bed, complaining of back spasms. We bring her to the hospital, where she looks to be in pretty bad pain, when we transfer her from our stretcher to the hospital bed. We wish her good luck, and continue on.

5th Call: We get called at 5:30 am (half an hour before our shift ends) for a 62 year old woman who can't get out of bed, on a priority 3. This woman has the whole kit, known asthmatic, cardiac history etc... We show up at the house, bring in our equipment, and see a 550 pound woman half on half off the bed. She tells us she wants to sit, but she can't move, she has severe swelling and dehydration of both her feet. There's no way we can move this patient, just us three so we call for help from the firefighters. This woman is confused, and unoriented. when we ask her the year, she can't tell us what it is. She's a known diabetic, so I check her blood sugar level and it way high at 22 (Normal is between 4 and 6). We tried our best to get her on the stretcher, and bring her to the hospital as quickly as we could.

Stage Day 1:

I wish I had more interesting things to talk about. But after a 12 hour shift we only did one call. That's what it's like outside of Montreal. We did a 48 year old strangle victim, he was dead for quite some time and there as nothing we could do....NOTHING. We did a lot of hanging out and coffee drinking.
The thing I found strange was that I'm sitting there bored, dying to get a call, everytime the radio crackles, I hope I hear 621, 6-2-1, but I hear nothing. It's an odd feeling to be sitting there hoping someone gets sick,has trouble breathing, or gets in a car accident, because you're bored.

WE ARE NOT AMBULANCE DRIVERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOgUdUU_jYc

"Late night, brakes lock, hear the tires squeal
Red light, can't stop so I spin the wheel
My world goes black before I feel an angel steal me from the
Greedy jaws of death and chance, and pull me in with steady hands
They've given me a second chance, the artist in the ambulance"
- The Artist In the Ambulance - By Thrice

"EMTs are trained in emergency medical procedures that need to be deployed within a rapid time frame from onset of a patient's condition (e.g. treatments for cardiac arrest). The EMT's immediate focus is rapid evaluation of a patient's condition and maintaining a patient's airway, breathing and circulation. Immediate EMT interventions include providing CPR and cardiac defibrillation when necessary, controlling severe external bleeding, preventing shock, immobilization of the neck to prevent further spinal damage, immediate treatment (such as splinting) of bone fractures (both open and closed). Interventions are designed to prevent further injury or disability and preserve life or conditions conducive to life while EMT's expedite transport of the patient to a hospital emergency department for definitive medical care."
-Wikipedia 2008

I was talking with my friend yesterday who's about to begin his studies in Prehospital care, when he told me a story that I found disturbing. He told me he ran into an old friend that he went to school with a few years ago. She asked what he was up to, and he told her that he was about to start school to become a Paramedic, and the same question I always get was asked to him, "Wow, cool, does that pay a lot" he answered with the usual, "it's not bad but, Paramedics don't get paid as much as they should." and she answered back with..." Well you guys don't really do that much anyways."
The thing that bothers me so much about that comment is that she didn't say it to be mean or condescending, it's just that she doesn't fully understand the job a Paramedic does. No one does. All throughout my studies I've been called an "Ambulance Guy," an "Ambulance Driver", "An Ambulance" etc.... I always answer back with, "No, I'm a Paramedic."
I've been asked many many times if I'm going to drive the Ambulance, or take care of the person in the back. People still think that there are Ambulance Drivers. While yes, driving an Ambulance is a part of our tasks, what we do is so much more important and complex.
It seems as though Police, Firefighters, Nurses, and Doctors are praised on a regular basis, by both Hollywood, and regular civilians, and deservedly so, however they often forget that Paramedics are an equal part of that team.
Police prevent you from getting shot, but if you do it's the Paramedics that take care of you.
Firefighters put out fires and pull you from burning buildings, but if you do get burnt or inhale smoke, it's the Paramedics that take care of you
Nurses and Doctors, look after you in the hospital and diagnose you and tell you how to treat it, but it's the Paramedics that get you there, and keep you alive.
If it wasn't for Paramedics doctors and Nurses would have nothing to do. We're on the front line of medicine, what we do in the first 10 minutes of our intervention determine your outcome. If we don't get you, or keep you alive on the way to the hospital, the Doctors and Nurses wont be able to help you.
In one day a Paramedic has to be a Pediatrician, a Cardiologist, a Respiratory Therapist, a Gynecologist, a Neurologist, a Psychiatrist, and a best friend. While doctors choose what type of medicine they want to dabble in and choose what kind of patients they get, Paramedics have to be good in all fields and deal with all different kinds of patients.
What I ask for is a little respect and recognition, we don't do it for the money, or the fame, or to get a pat on the back, we do it because we love the job and we love our patients. Next time you see an Ambulance drive by, give them a little wave, next time you see them in line at Tim Hortons buying a coffee give a wave, a smile, and say "Thank You". You don't know what that Paramedic has seen that day, or what he will see in the Future. Everyday we interact with people who are having the worst day of their life, and we have to continue on and treat the next patient the best we possibly can.
So while you might have had a bad day at work, because you're completely swamped and your boss doesn't understand how much you do, keep in mind that, that Paramedic you see in Tim Hortons might have had a bad day because a child died in their arms.

So please click the link I posted at the beginning and see what it is we do, and no longer call us "Ambulance Drivers", we're Paramedics and we wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

..." Our Patients did not choose us....We have chosen them"
-PHTLS

College Ahuntsic

I started school November 19th 2007 in a class of around 24, only 17 would finish. There are 4 semesters for the program. I didn't know what to expect when I started. I expected to be kind of a loner and left to myself, being the only anglophone student. This was an ignorant point of view on my part. I was treated just like everyone else, and really changed my views on language relations in this province. I quickly realized that not only was I not the only anglophone, but I would not be treated any differently by the teachers or the students. During the 10 months I feel as though I made a bond for life with the 17 students still in the program, we've been through a lot together, and I feel as though I have a personal interest in how their careers will develop. All the students have helped me out tremendously, but I have to give a special shout out to Charleyne, Pierre M, Pierre D, Justin G, Bridgette P, and D, Olivier G, Olivier S.C and Julien. There is one classmate in particular whom I would like to mention. Mikael didn't speak a word of English when we started school, but now 10 months later, because of hard work and determination, I am proud to say that Mike is now able to have a conversation in English, and treat the English patients just as well as I could. He is doing his stage in a mostly English community and I wish him all the best.
The following is quick class by class account of my studies:

1st Semester
SFV (Supports Des Fonctions Vitals) Teachers Marco Harnois & Michel Demeo
Very important course and good introduction to our tasks as Medics. Learning CPR, and how to Intubate.

ECP (Evaluation Clinique Prehospitalier) Teacher: Dave Boisvert
Another very important class, how to take vital signs and the step by step process of evaluating the scene and the patient

Biology ( Anatomy and Physiology) Teacher Katy Perron
My white whale, the hardest course in the program in my opinion, learning the ins and outs of the Human Body in a few weeks.

CPTA (Champs De Pratique en Techniques Ambulancier) Teacher Claude Labarre
An introduction to the profession, nothing really medical to learn, but learning how to act and to respect the profession, and important course for the advancement of the profession.

2nd Semester
UMP1 (Urgence Medical Prehospitalier 1) Teacher Dave Boisvert
Learning how the heart works, Pulmonary Edema, how to read ECGs, and Defibrillate how to do a 10-10 and a Rapport Verbal, How to fill out a RIP, and our first experience with Medications, Nitro and Asprin for Myocardial Infarctions

UTP 1 (Urgence Traumatique Prehospitalier 1) Teacher Michel Demeo
Introduction to trauma, how to evaluate the patients, and put on a neck brace in fully immobilize on a back board and a Vacuum Mattress. And how to recognize Shock

UMP2 (Urgence Medical Prehospitalier 2) Teacher Anik Gagnon
Learning about Respiratory Emergencies and Diabetes, learning how to administer Salbutamol for Asthma attacks and respiratory emergencies, and Glucagon for Hypoglycemic emergencies.

UPP ( Urgence Psycosocial Prehospitalier) Teacher Emmanuel Bourdon
Learning how to talk to patients who's soul is aching, how to deal with violent, suicidal or mentally handicapped patients

3rd Semester
UMP3 (Urgence Medical Prehospitalier 3) Teacher Anik Gagnon
Learning about Child Birth, Drugs, Drownings, Burns, Diving Accidents, and Anaphylactic Shock. And how to Administer Epinephrine for Anaphylactic Shock.

UTP2 ( Urgence Traumatique Prehospitalier 2) Teacher Michel Demeo
Learning, how to treat stab, and gunshot wounds, and impalements

UTP3 (Urgence Traumatique Prehospitalier 3) Teacher Pat Bertrand
Learning how to treat and immobilize fractures, and tweaking our Trauma skills.

ISEP ( Intervention dans les Situations Exceptionelle Prehospitalier) Teacher Louis Phillippe Tetrault
Learning how to triage and care for multiple victims, radio communication, how to work with electricity, extrication, and how to use ropes to transport patients uphill.

4th Semester
UVU ( Utulisation d'un Vehicule D'Urgence) Teacher Claude Labarre
How to drive an Ambulance.....PRACTICE

Stage: Teacher Anne & Annie
Stay Tuned

Synthese: Teacher Virginie Ares Trepanier
Stay Tuned

Introduction

Hello,

My name is Phil McHugh. For those of you who don't know, I've been studying for the past 10 months at College Ahuntsic in Prehospital care. I'm about to wrap up my studies and am starting stage in a few days. In this blog I will account my calls that I do during my stage. I will explain the calls, how I reacted, what I did wrong, what I should've done, and how the call made me feel. This is more for personal use so I remember by journey, but also for those who are interested in becoming a Paramedic and wonders what it might be like, and for two of my friends who plan to follow in my footsteps and become a Medic.

The Beginning: I said before that I've been studying for 10 months to become a Paramedic, but I've really been preparing for it my whole life. My Father is one of the best and most respected Paramedics in Canada, and his influence on me is enormous. I don't really remember ever being told what my father did for a living, but I always remember being proud of it. Growing up I attending some of the classes my father would give on CPR and what not, and it was normal for me to be 5 years old and know CPR, (both me and my sister knew CPR when we were very young) I always felt very safe growing up, whenever I was sick, I never panicked and felt comforted knowing that my father knew what he was talking about, and I knew I wanted to, one day give the same sort of support for my kids.
When I finished high school I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I quickly took the first job I could. I worked at a customs broker for 6 years and realized that I didn't want to do that anymore. I was not an office person who could fall into a routine of a 9 to 5 job. I always knew I wanted to be a Paramedic but if I were to tell you it's been a life long passion of mine I'd be lying. After about 2 years at this customs agency, I started thinking about going back to school to become a Paramedic but didn't follow through with it, because of my stubbornness of not wanting to do it in French, so I brushed the thought aside and continued working at that Customs job.

Realization: In May 2007 I began to experience severe abdominal pains. Fed up of the pain and the sleepless nights I decided to get checked out at Montreal General Hospital. After doing some tests I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, and because of my severe dehydration I was told to stay at the hospital for a week so I could be monitored. My Mother, My Father, My Friends, The Doctors, and the Nurses were so great to me, I realized that I need to do something more with my life. The way the Nurses treated just confirmed my thought that I want to do something in the medical field to help people. When I got out of the hospital I started the process of registering for school and ended up starting my classes at College Ahuntsic on November 19th 2007.

Today: Here we are July 24th 2008, two days after my 24th birthday and I feel as though I'm just starting my life. On Monday July 28th I will do my first day of Stage in Chateauguay from 6:00 pm until 6:00 am. I will be covering Chateauguay, Lery, Mercier, Beauhornois, and St Isidore. I will be doing my shift with two female Paramedics who's names I will change for privacy sake, once I think of two names to use.
Everyone has influenced me and helped me throughout my studies but these next people I would like to thank personally.

Gary McHugh
Yveline McHugh
Melissa McHugh
Rene Durand
Michel Demeo
Pat Bertrand
Claude LaBarre
Pierre Lahaie
Charles Alexandre Campbell
Pierre Bayard
Richard Leblanc
Leo Scampanella
CoCo Hui
Nelly Stipdonk
All the Teachers at Ahuntsic in SPU
and everyone in Group 89.

Please Stay tuned....
Phil