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Showing posts from November, 2017

He's Dead

"Hurry up, hurry up!"  she shouted. Why were they getting out of the truck so slowly? "He can't breathe, he can't breathe!"  she shouted. They are still taking forever. "He needs oxygen, he needs oxygen!"  she shouted Finally they are at the door. "Where is he?"  they ask.  Isn't it obvious? "In there, in there!"  she shouted.  "What happened?"  they ask. Isn't it obvious? "He needs oxygen, he needs oxygen!" she shouted. They are standing on his oxygen tubing. "Don't stand there, don't stand there!"  she shouted.  They opened their bags. "No breathing tube, no breathing tube!"  she shouted.  "What do you mean?"  they ask.  Isn't it obvious? She waved a paper in their faces.  "It says it right here, right here!"  she shouted "He doesn't want any of this?" they ask.  Isn't it obvious? "He just

He's Dead (reprise)

"Hurry up, hurry up!" she shouted. They're going as fast as they can "He can't breathe, he can't breathe!" she shouted. Get the bag, the oxygen, the monitor, the board "He needs oxygen, he needs oxygen!" she shouted. Crossing the threshold. "Where is he?" they ask.  How would they know? "In there, in there!" she shouted. "What happened?" How would they know? "He needs oxygen, he needs oxygen!" she shouted. They enter the room, evaluate the situation. "Don't stand there, don't stand there!" she shouted. CPR started, oxygen delivered, heart monitor on. "No breathing tube, no breathing tube!" she shouted. "What do you mean?" they ask. How would they know? She waved a paper in their faces. "It says it right here, right here!" she shouted "He doesn't want any of this." they say.  How would they know? "He just needs

Paramedics are like cats

Growing up, our outdoor cat would often leave us 'presents' after a successful hunt.  She sought praise, but often got indignance as we mourned a cute little mouse or baby rabbit.  Even now, my indoor cats will stare at a mouse- trapped behind something- for hours before eating what they want and leaving the rest for me to find (usually by stepping on it).  Oh, what good cats they are! My favorite doctor in the ER used to be a paramedic.  So he knows it for a fact: paramedics are like cats. I proved this just the other day.  We started with a cardiac arrest. But not just any arrest:  one where I actually got to do stuff! To feel like I could do something or make a decision that would improve the outcome of the call.  It felt really good, (despite the ultimate patient outcome) to actually have to think and remember stuff that I haven't practiced in a while. (I'm not sure if that sounds good or bad to you, dear reader).  When got to the ER, the doctor too, seemed happy