I'm back after a break

I stopped writing in this blog over a year ago because it just seemed like no one was reading it.  A recent comment on one of my posts made me realize that it is still being read and so I decided to get back into writing more posts.

Since my last post some changes have been made at home.  The first was that we bought our first house, which was another reason I had taken a break from writing.  At the time I quit writing we were looking at houses and I just didn't have the time.  Then in March we closed on the house!   The second was that Double D was injured on the job again by a combative patient that both him and his partner ended up off work for a few months.  Double D injured the same arm that he had injured a couple years ago.  After he returned to work, (after the Doctors said he was ok to return) He still was not at 100% and felt that he could not do his job as an EMT safely.  So in September he walked away from his position as an EMT for a little bit and is a delivery driver now.  He isn't done with EMS but needed to take a break from it to let his body heal.  He really misses the job and wants so much to get back but for now, he needs to get healthy.

That's all for this post,  I will try to keep up with it more now that I know more people are reading it!  If you follow my Facebook page, which I gained over 100 new likes since the article mentioning my blog was published, please feel free to comment on any topics you would like to see me discuss on here.

Thanks!!

Black Friday

So as the most hectic shopping day of the year, Black Friday, approaches, you hear so many people upset that the stores are going to be open earlier this year, opening on Thanksgiving.  And that the stores should not be open because .....Thanksgiving should be family time......

This make me SO mad!!!! Whenever I hear this, I make sure to speak my mind!

Obviously the people that make that comment aren't thinking of the people like my Husband and many others in EMS that are working, whether volunteer or paid, because people do stupid things and have emergencies.

Thanksgiving holiday means extra safety hazards for adults

I keep hearing the phrase " Thanksgiving should be about spending time with your family ".  Yes, I agree BUT in the same note, that shouldn't be the excuse people are using to explain why they don't want to work on Thanksgiving for retail. 

That's been the biggest subject this year, because a lot of the stores are opening on Thanksgiving for their Black Friday sales.  I'm sorry if I don't have a little bit more sympathy for those griping but if you work in retail, a business that looks forward to the Thanksgiving/Christmas season because they know their sales will be up and they can make more money, then you should expect it.  Just like as much as Double D hates working on Thanksgiving this year, he knows that's a con of working EMS. Because EMS doesn't close.

One of the things thrown out there is that the stores don't need to be open, that the companies are just being greedy.  Well, if your business was there to make money, by selling items, and you had a big chance to do it, wouldn't you be right there with them?  Maybe if you were a small company that is super family oriented, you wouldn't but then most of the big companies that we all know and shop at, aren't that family oriented.

You don't hear Police, Fire, EMS throwing a fit because they have to work on the holiday, they know that as part of doing their job, it is possible to work on the holiday.  They have learned it is a possibility, but know they also have a job to do either way.  If they do complain, its usually just to their family or friends and rarely gets any public notice. 

In the city here, there was actually a group that was protesting working on Thanksgiving!  When I saw that, I thought to myself, maybe next year I should start a protest with other EMS families for ALL EMS companies to be closed.  Then when someone would dial 911 they can get a recording that says " We're sorry but in observance of the Holiday, and so all our Police, Fire and EMS employees can spend time with their families, all Emergency services are closed.  Please transport yourself to the hospital, protect your own property, and put out your own fires.  Thank you and have a Great Thanksgiving."

People seem to forget the ones that don't get to spend time with their family at the holidays.  The ones that are out there taking care of their family should the need arise.  Whether it be because of a heart attack, a stroke, a family fight in which punches are thrown, or someone throwing a frozen turkey in a turkey fryer and catching the house on fire (yes, Double D has seen that one too when he was a vol FF). 

So many people forget that EMS, nurses, Doctors, etc have families too and would like to spend time with them on the holidays just as much as everyone else, but as this quote says.....

"Missing their family while taking care of yours" 

EMS Week 2013 May 19 - 25 - The Star of Life - Part 2

Just as physicians have the caduceus, Emergency Medical Service personnel have the Star of Life.

Originally, many ambulances used a safety orange cross on a square background of reflective white to designate them as emergency units.  But then the American National Red Cross complained that it was too close to their symbol that's when the Star of Life was created.

The Star of Life was designed by Leo R. Schwartz, Chief of the EMS Branch of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Each of the bars of the blue Star of Life represents the six system functions of emergency medical services.

The six branches of the star are symbols of the six main tasks executed by rescuers all through the emergency chain:

1.) Detection: The first rescuers on the scene, usually untrained civilians or those involved in the incident, observe the scene, understand the problem, identify the dangers to themselves and the others, and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety on the scene (environmental, electricity, chemicals, radiation, etc.).

2.) Reporting: The call for professional help is made and dispatch is connected with the victims, providing emergency medical dispatch.

3.) Response: The first rescuers provide first aid and immediate care to the extent of their capabilities.

4.) On scene care: The EMS personnel arrive and provide immediate care to the extent of their capabilities on-scene.

5.) Care in Transit: The EMS personnel proceed to transfer the patient to a hospital via an ambulance or helicopter for specialized care. They provide medical care during the transportation.

6.) Transfer to Definitive care: Appropriate specialized care is provided at the hospital.

The snake emblem is the Rod of Asclepius, widely used as the symbol of medical care worldwide. There are several theories as to its development, and it is named for the Greek mythology figure Asclepius, who was said to have possessed healing power.

References: Wikipedia, emsworld.com