Comments on: Grumblemedics

By: Behind the Seams: Fire Hose Slip N’ Slide, Internet Trolls and More | Tactical Pants Blog

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:52:10 +0000

[...] What do EMS have to complain about? A lot apparently. (Life Under the Lights) [...]

By: Shannon Kisch

Shannon Kisch — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 08:55:00 +0000

To answer Joann’s question to herself “I sometimes question why I enjoy such a thankless, underpaid career.”. There is always that one call, you may only get it once a year or less. I had 2 in 2 days.
Out of town transfer for a pt that is basically going home to die. I read the chart and then I walked into the patients room, introduced myself and asked him one question… are you allergic to morphine? I got a no, which was good. I tracked down the doctor and got an order to give him morphine 2-4mg every 2-4 hours. it was an almost 5 hour transport. He has cancer and the doc gave him 3-4 weeks. I wanted to make sure that during the transfer, if he started having any pain whatsoever, that I could make him comfortable. And I did.
From what the family told me after the transport, the company that brought him to my city, basically tossed him around in the back of the truck; were very rough with him all around.
When we got to his house 5 hours away all my partner and I got were thank you’s from every person in the family, including the patient. And a phone call came in to my supervisor as we were driving back to town.
The next one was only a 3 hour transfer, but pretty much the same thing. He was going for cardiac surgery that wasn’t available at that hospital and the RN told me that he periodically went into unsustained runs of VT. Had him on the monitor, he was semi fowlers on the stretcher, I leaned my hand on the top of the stretcher and tapped the monitor and at the same time I told him that I heard that his heart likes to do funny stuff and scare everybody. I said, ok, I know all about this, so no funny stuff on this monitor for the next 3 hours, deal? He shook my hand on that and said “deal”. There was no funny stuff. He slept the whole way. When we got there, the wife asked for our names, and again, a phone call came in on our drive back.
I have never had two in a row like that, they are usually a year or so apart, but it felt good to walk in the office at the end of my shift as my boss is sending an email to the head honcho letting him know that we represented the company in the best light and that the customer was more than satisfied with the service they were given.
I know the thank you’s don’t come in that often, and it can be discouraging. But these two patients were inspiring in more ways than one and those 2 thank you’s will keep me going and doing my best as a paramedic and as a member of this organization.

By: Joann Archibald

Joann Archibald — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:16:00 +0000

Excellent article. I got quite a laugh out of your tangents, I can relate completely. I’ve found that the 24 hour shifts I have that are busy, where no time for a nap here or there is an option, the “dry feet” calls @ 3 am take every part of me to not be annoyed by the time we arrive on scene. It’s a fault of mine that I recognise & have tried to work on over the years. While en route to the call, at times I have to remind myself, “Deep breath Joann, …. Deep breath.” I do love being a paramedic & working in the pre-hospital environment, even though I sometimes question why I enjoy such a thankless, underpaid career. Lol.

By: Lazy EMS – Encouraging the RMA | Life Under the Lights

Lazy EMS – Encouraging the RMA | Life Under the Lights — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:29:08 +0000

[...] Also, it may be helpful to read this post: a primer on the people I call “Grumblemedics” [...]

By: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-11 | Life Under the Lights

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-04-11 | Life Under the Lights — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:43:03 +0000

[...] @Ckemtp: New blog post: Grumblemedics http://lifeunderthelights.com/2010/04/grumblemedics/ [...]

By: Firefighter/Paramedic

Firefighter/Paramedic — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:27:27 +0000

I agree, great post. PR is everything. I learned a long time ago that perception is reality. It's not what you do that matters. It's what others think you do. Even if it's a BS call give them the best attention and care, then try to educate them.

By: Firefighter/Paramedic

Firefighter/Paramedic — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:27:27 +0000

By: Firefighter/Paramedic

Firefighter/Paramedic — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:27:27 +0000

By: The MICT Student

The MICT Student — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:37:11 +0000

Great post. I've still got a few more months until I hit the streets as a paramedic, but I've just been hired on at the service I not only wanted to do my internship through, but also where I also plan to work after I get my gold patch. We'll see how jaded I become after a few of the senseless calls, and how humbled I am by the real ones who waited too long to call 911.