Been a While!!

The past week and a half have been busy. Kids are out of school, we had birthdays (including mine- a new PT category! YEAH!!) , Christmas and tonight is New Years Eve. I have slept in at the fire house most nights, but not been very busy. I have had a couple of canceled calls and 2 we transported.
I plan on sleeping in tonight, maybe New Years Eve will be a busy night! Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season! Be in touch next year!

Busy time off

I am on leave until the new year, but that does not mean I am taking it easy. I was Santa again on Saturday and Sunday. I slept in on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and all I got was a call that was cancelled in route. I need to get that first call as an EMT under my belt so I can get rid of the butterflies.
I have also been busy helping get ready for the Holidays. We are having Christmas eve at our house this year instead of a Joan's folks house. We have been cleaning and decorating and Joan and her sister have been baking.
Sometimes I think the Holiday has lost much of its meaning and I do not even look forward to it any more.
Happy Holidays!!

Card Day!!

Today was a day for cards. I received several in the mail today. Some good friends who are in Afghanistan sent us a Christmas card. I was surprised to receive that.
I also received my membership card for the American Legion. I have been eligible to join since I joined the national guard so many years ago, and I did once, but never attended a function. My father in law is a member of the local post and is very active. Since we moved to this area we have attened many functions at the local post and I finally thought it was time to join.
The most coveted card I received in the mail today was my EMT card. ITs offical!!

SANTA!!!

The department I am running with has a tradition of taking most of the trucks and ambulances and driving through the local neighborhoods with Santa on top on one of the engines. The schedule is published in the paper and people look forward to it. I Saturday evening ay my in-laws so I could be with the kids when they came down the street.
On Sunday I had the opportunity to be Santa!! Oh, how much fun I had! The looks on the faces of the kids!! It was a wonderful 2 1/2 hours!!! I am planning on doing it again this weekend! Hopefully I get off early on Friday and can do it , and I plan on doing it Saturday and Sunday!!

I PASSED!!!!

I has been a while since I posted, I was sick and can no longer access the site from work. Well, I am now an EMT. We took the written on Wednesday because the test was postponed due to weather Monday. I di not find out how I did until today after finishing the practical. I made a 92 on the written and did well on the practical. My biggest drawback was a blood pressure error.
I tink I am more scared to go on calls now than I was before because now I am expected to know what I am doing!!
Gotta run!

Rough Week

Monday night we had a training drill at the firehouse. It was what we call a combined drill. We get the fire side folks and the EMS folks to work together. This is the first one I have actively particiapated in. Boy, did I participate! They made me and another EMT student the OIC's (Officer in Charge) of the ambulances for the drill. They also put a young firefighter in charge of the fire side. The scenario was a two vehicle crash with patients trapped in each vehicle. I was on the first ambulance on scene. I started sweating before we pulled up. (A 30 second drive from the bay to the traing pad behind the station.) I did not do a great job in my intial scene size up and the information I was giving to the dispatchers to get more units. I mostly had to stand around while my "crew " was inside the vehicle attempting to treat the patients while the fire guys cut up the car.
We had a debrief afterwards. I did not do as bad as I thought I did. I learned alot! I was not wearing as much gear as the fire guys, but I think I sweat as much.
Tuesday was another late night. Our EMT class took a "field trip" to Baltimore Shock Trauma Cener. That was a big learning experience. Did not get home until after 1100 for the second night in a row.
Now I sit at home for the second day in a row. I went to sick call yesterday and found out I have bronchitis. I at least got to catch up on a little sleep yesterday!!