The July EMS Roundup
“The flames kindled on the 4 of July 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them”
Thomas Jefferson, Author of The Declaration of Independence
While I would never be so presumptuous as to compare the writings here at The EMT Spot to the profound words authored by Thomas Jefferson, I think we had some fairly good stuff to offer in July.
We started with the idea that life, and work, is primarily about where you chose to focus. Then we described the controversial hand drop test and a few words of wisdom from Chief Mike West. I told you about seven EMS blogs you should read before diving head first into a three part series on head injuries. I rumbled a bit about quality assurance in EMS and settling for “almost good enough” before rounding off the month by answering the question, “What is GHB anyway.”
Elsewhere around the EMS blogging net, Michael Morse tells the story of a young girls disturbing response to hypnotism in Night Terrors. Tom Reynolds muses about the frailty of human life in Always. Greg Friese waxes philosophic about overcoming self-doubt in It Cannot Be Done and The Happy Medic displays mixed emotions about the passing of his systems 24 hour shifts in Medic 99 Has Been Deactivated. Ben Yatzbaz teaches us that you can never really know the full influence of your actions in the story Inspirationand Mark Glencourse reminds us that everything is temporary in the touching story Always Together.
In EMS News, Little Rock Arkansas is installing new sirens that shake the ground. In an episode of “contagious fear” 34 Fort Worth Texas bank patrons went to the hospital after smelling perfume. (You can’t make these up.) And the Louisiana Department of transportation is trying to explain why fire trucks, school buses, police officers and boy scouts are exempt from paying road tolls, but ambulances are not.
In the medics misbehavin’ category, a UK medic was fired after telling a dying woman to “drink Gin and relax” and the man named Westmon, Illinois 2007 firefighter / paramedic of the year has been sentenced to 60 days in prison for stealing Morphine and replacing it with saline. (We can’t pick them all right.) And lastly, a few medics behaving admirably. Two Oklahoma medics witnessed a small plane crash and rescued four people from the wreckage before local responders arrived. all patients we transported within 19 minutes of the crash. Well done guys.
Great offerings in the podcast realm this month. First, as I mentioned on the blog, Buck Feris created a very cool new podcast called Copy Code Three. The boys in the EMS Garage talk about the UK report that oxygen is bad for patients. The boys at the EMS Educast discussed teaching psychomotor skills. The EMS professional also chimed about Billy Mays, Michael Jackson and how paramedics can find themselves in the media spotlight.
And you thought I was exaggerating when I said it was going to be a great month. Next month at The Spot we’ll kick off with a simple but profound observation. You can’t give away what you don’t have. Come back and see us soon.
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Tags: ems roundup
Nice. I love these roundups you do. Such a great reference to people such as myself who are new on the EMS scene. Thanks!
Thanks Courtney. I’m glad you find them helpful.