Comments on: Self Destruct http://theemtspot.com/2010/05/15/self-destruct/ Medicine Moves Fast ... Keep Up. Mon, 21 May 2012 12:34:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg Friese http://theemtspot.com/2010/05/15/self-destruct/comment-page-1/#comment-3616 Greg Friese Wed, 19 May 2010 19:56:57 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=3148#comment-3616 Steve, we rarely see the big thing coming but we almost always see the little things. We are all programmed with some auto-responders. When someone asks you "How are you doing?" What do you almost always say, no matter what the reality, "OK" or "Great brau" or something like that. Am I right? So there are two parts that make talking about the little things difficult. One is saying, "well thanks for asking I am having a terrible day and would like to tell you." or "you really are great because you don't look great." The other day I was out for a trail run. A 12ish year old kid was standing on a wood bridge over a creek lighting matches and throwing them into the creek. Big deal or not a big deal. I ran by and just said hi. He looked sheepish and embarrassed. I ran about 50 yards and thought this could be something or it could be nothing. I turned back and watched him toss the whole flaming book of matches into the creek. Is this something or nothing? I said to him, "I am not a firefighter but my ff friends would want me to tell you not to play with matches. I am a medic and have seen Grandmas, dads, moms, sisters, brothers, cousins that have been burned. It never ends well. Please don't play with matches." Is he a future arsonist? I hope not. Did I make any difference? I will never know? Was it something or nothing? I am certain there was something small with Ray, Mark, and Matt that a friend, co-worker, spouse saw that caused them to pause for a moment and think, should I take a risk and pursue this? There is little downside if it is nothing. The potential upside if it is something is huge. Thanks for the opportunity to comment. Steve, we rarely see the big thing coming but we almost always see the little things. We are all programmed with some auto-responders. When someone asks you “How are you doing?” What do you almost always say, no matter what the reality, “OK” or “Great brau” or something like that. Am I right?

So there are two parts that make talking about the little things difficult. One is saying, “well thanks for asking I am having a terrible day and would like to tell you.” or “you really are great because you don’t look great.”

The other day I was out for a trail run. A 12ish year old kid was standing on a wood bridge over a creek lighting matches and throwing them into the creek. Big deal or not a big deal. I ran by and just said hi. He looked sheepish and embarrassed. I ran about 50 yards and thought this could be something or it could be nothing. I turned back and watched him toss the whole flaming book of matches into the creek. Is this something or nothing?

I said to him, “I am not a firefighter but my ff friends would want me to tell you not to play with matches. I am a medic and have seen Grandmas, dads, moms, sisters, brothers, cousins that have been burned. It never ends well. Please don’t play with matches.”

Is he a future arsonist? I hope not. Did I make any difference? I will never know? Was it something or nothing?

I am certain there was something small with Ray, Mark, and Matt that a friend, co-worker, spouse saw that caused them to pause for a moment and think, should I take a risk and pursue this?

There is little downside if it is nothing. The potential upside if it is something is huge.

Thanks for the opportunity to comment.

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