I was an Ambulance!!

Before I begin my post, yes, my title did require two exclamation points.

Last week, I did my EMS ride along with a Dorchester County medic unit. As a First Responder I am encouraged to get hands on experience with my newly acquired life saving skills. Most of it is me observing “the action,” but there are times where I can play a crucial role in helping the paramedics perform basic life saving procedures.

Sadly, this ride along did not contain any such moments. While it is good for them, and I guess for the people who were not injured or in need of transport to the hospital, it was boring for me. We had two calls the entire time I was there (9am-8pm).

The first was a fender bender in Summerville, and no one was seriously injured, but one of the parties was complaining of abdominal pain, so we transported her to the hospital. Done and done. Back to the station.

Now you may wonder what those paramedics do on slow days where people aren’t off injuring themselves. Well I got to find out…first hand.

First we had the exciting task of eating some snacks! Rice crispie treats, nutter butters, granola bars - you name it, they had it! EXCITING!

Then we watched some TV! I’m not talking regular TV here, I’m talking Daytime TV - the crap you never watch because you’re at school/work or sleeping. NON STOP ACTION!!

Four episodes of “Tales from the Darkside” later (The 80’s cheesy version of the Twilight Zone), we grab some lunch. LUNCH!

We then put in a movie, The Sentinel with Michael Douglas. MEDIOCRE AT BEST!!

Then we eat dinner at Alex’s restaurant. I’ve never eaten at Alex’s and it not be 2am. It was a new experience for me. GREASY DINER!!

But then, we get our second call. A man is having respiratory problems and needs a transport to the hospital. This is actually and interesting experience, because I got to see all of my “airway” training put into use. The man’s breathing was not getting better, but he was stable when we got him to the hospital.  NORMAL VITALS!

 Then after all was done, I went home. I do want to do this again, but hopefully for Charleston County, where all the action is (or so I’ve heard).

~ by aeqvitas on March 25, 2008.