Software Sought

Recently purchased a Palm Centro. Looking for the best reference guide type software to install.....let me know your thoughts....

So far....have these reccomendations: Emedic and Pepid.

Tell me what you think in comments...

Trauma Study

Via EMS magazine a Canadian study on BLS V. ALS treatment of trauma. Among the info presented, "Survival did not differ overall (81.1% among patients in the advanced
life-support phase v. 81.8% among those in the basic life-support phase; p = 0.65)." Also, "We also found that during the advanced lifesupport phase, mortality was greater among patients with
Glasgow Coma Scale scores less than 9."

I've always been told that a good basic saves a medic or that to be a good medic you must 1st be a good basic. This study seems to be consistent with that.

It's Time

Report that Packers offered Favre many millions not to play. OK it's courage of convictions time. If you don't want Favre to play then let him go. Yes its risky, yes you get no compensation but it at least moves this situation onto the post Packers career phase...

Punter News....

I missed this....Packers released P Kenny DeBauche due to being up against the 80 man roster limit. This means Jon Ryan has no camp competition.

P.S. Favre has applied for reinstatement. You won't find much comment on this or any other aspect here. I'll focus on other aspects of the team letting the rest of the world give you # 4 updates.

Quote

"And I found as all those who suffer find, that my melancholy condition might have been worse."

Within a Budding Grove

Kids

Had a female teenager who said she took 4 600 mg ibuprofens. She didn't want to harm herself. No, she wanted to get high. Kids these days, don't they even know anything about drugs?!

Dry

At work yesterday I heard a couple of calls for grass fires. Sign of dry times,eh? Being a CoCoRaHs participant I can tell you that the last rain at my house was July 20th when we received .09 inches. There are no red flag warnings, but with more dryness I suppose there could be.

LB's

The Packers line backers range in age from 22 year old rookie free agent Danny Lansanah to 28. year old starting MLB Nick Barnett. Spencer Havner is one of three 6-3 players and is one of two at 248 pounds. Backup Abdul Hodge and special teams ace Tracy White are measured at 6-0.

qb's

As camp starts pack has 3 quarterbacks of whom two are rookies between them they have 1 td pass and 0 nfl starts. and away we go!

DB's

Is either Harris or Woodson too old? Will someone like Blackman or Lee become a CB? Will Rouse play more? This area all about questions buy mostly ones that could have happy answers.

O Line

The O line is aging book end tackles with solid Scott Wells as center with Spitz as one guard and the hope that Alan Barbre becomes the other guard.

Jolly and the DL

After the Corey Williams trade Johnny Jolly is a DL key. Jolly was recently busted for coke possession so his availability could be spotty. Last year's #1DC Harell has been hurt so his development may have slowed.

Last years strength may end up a down grate.

Packers WR's

Training camp up soon...the 28th and papers etc. are looking position by position.

Wr's Stacked I'd say. Interesting to see if Driver is still as much of a favorite to Rogers. Jennings is at least co # 1. Hopefully Jones will handle his 2nd season better. Rookie Nelson and Martin are working at the # 4 spot.

Lately....

I've not had many calls. As a new (2 months and counting) paramedic I've been having slow shifts. On the order of 3-4 calls in a 24 hour shift and nothing overnite. Restful yes, but not the best for my growth and progress.

---

In EMS the outside of the truck getting washed seems a ritual of great importance. Oh and those wheel covers how important are they to be clean?

Lately though I've wondered how often the inside of the truck gets washed? When is the cot cleansed? Wouldn't a pateint rest in a position of comfort on a clean cot rather than know the wheel covers are clean?

Quote

"There can be no peace of mind in love."

Within a Budding Grove

mobile post

this is my first post from my new phone. slow day at work so far 8 hours into a 24 hour shift. Foggy drive into work.

Quote

"Perhaps indeed there exists but a single uniform intelligence, in which everyone in the world participates."

Within a Budding Grove

Quote

"Genius having the widest experience of the human intelligence, can best be understand the ideas most directly in opposition to those which form the foundation of its own writings."

Within a Budding Grove

Move On Indeed

My short thoughts on the Brett Favre scenario. I had doubts about him in the NFC title game in the snow. He retired which confirmed the doubts. Now he wants to play again. Regardless of the mechanics of the scenario if the Packers want to go with Rogers fine with me. Let's get a disposition for him and get on with the season. It was over and is still over. Frankly I'm starting to edge toward the position of this take.

Recent Case

'Twas my partners call but this is what I know. We were called for swollen tongue and indeed that's what we got.

Tongue was growing bigger, no difficulty breathing. Patient had not tried any new foods, etc. Vital signs were stable she breathed fine on NRB. The NRB was gradually being filled with her ever growing tongue.

Following our anaphylaxsis protocol my partner 1st gave 50 of bendaryl. He called med control and they said give 1:100 epi. Neither stopped the swelling, but there was no increase in sob or dib either.

Got her to the hospital and last I knew she was being nasally intubated.

Pt's offspring stated that tongue swelling occurs after pt. has seizure, although she denied seizure. I was thinking maybe a cva/tia......

Running Report

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
7-16-08	2 miles	27:00	5/10	Lakeshore path	Temp 74 and sunny. Run/walk to get ready for 10k on Saturday.

Narrative: Supposed to do long run on Sunday, but worked. Did 2 miler to prepare for race.

Quote

"A powerful idea communicates some of its strength to him who challenges it."

Within a Budding Grove

Chest Pain or....

Was the chest pain actually cardiac or was it from the spicy chicken, orange juice and ice cream that you ate? The nitro didn't touch it, the EKG was text book so perhaps we had heartburn/indigestion and not any type of cardiac issue or MI?

Body Pyschics

Standard procedure is to ask patients: do you take medications regularly? Do you have a list of them?

Perhaps less standard is to ask: do you take these as prescribed? Or did you decide your high blood pressure medicine is not to be taken? Or that you don't like your anxiety med?

Or that you have a fever but not a thermometer and haven't taken anything?

Quote

"However characteristic it may be, the sound that escapes from human lips is fugitive and does not survive the speaker."

Within a Budding Grove

Running Report

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
7-09-08	4 miles	56:00	6/10	Lakeshore path	Temp 67 and sunny. Ran 4 walked 1, Stupid mistakes: forgot anti chafe, laced shoes too tite. Calf pain, knee pain, chafe. Enjoyment 3/5

Narrative: Sunday nite slept all nite at Lowell station and woke up with painful back. This plus some rainy times delayed this from Sunday to Wednesday. Next race will be 10k 19 July.

You know..when

The blog NSR has a series of posts on You know you're a paramedic when...

Streetwatch says: At the movies you find yourself noticing the veins in movie stars arms as much as their looks. Ah yes I can relate, don't know that I noticed folks had veins until I got into medic class. & You either have a second job or you make almost as much in overtime as you do in regular pay. That's true, no 2nd job but I seem to exist on OT.

Witness contributes, "3. You say "en route" over the phone, off duty." Guilty. I'll say I'm en route and use 10-4 much more than I should.

Rogue Medic riffs about restraining patients "Your knotting skills approach those of a sailor." Good news here is that I was a sailor prior to EMS, so watch out combative patients!

My own mini contribution, things are going well when you hear Prinivil, Glipizide, and risperidone and in your head this translates to: hypertension, diabetes and psych history.

June 2008 Reading Report

Books Read 9

Fiction 7 Non Fiction 2

Read 2 by Shannon Boone Safe Flight and Black Flies.

Total after 6 months: 53

May 2008 Reading Report

Books Read: 6

Fiction 4 Non Fiction 2

I remember Truck by Michael Perry

Not as good Bridge of Sighs Richard Russo

Quote

"Until he no longer felt himself obliged to perform certain practical duties, for which he had substituted the duty of imagining those other lives."

Marcel Proust Swan's Way

D50

Learned recently that there are approximately 100 calories in an amp of d5w. So, when treating a hypoglycemic diabetic you can tell them that they've had about 100 calories but should eat more to keep their blood sugar up and prevent another crash.

DNR's

Thoughtful post from Rogue Medic regarding Hospice Care. I recall a hospice patient we transported to home from the hospital. She was yellow from jaundice due to alcohol induced liver failure. Two days later I saw her obit.

Often hospice and DNR situations coincide. Had a pt. yesterday who was a DNR and was not even supposed to go to the hospital. Family changed mind and wanted her transported. She was possible CVA, definite decreased LOC, high blood sugar etc.

Had rapid resps. with sats below 70. Chose to start an IV- thinking back not really sure why and insert an OPA and bag. Got sats as high as 95, pt. still unresponsive- had been from the start.

Upon arrival the hospital was not happy and stopped bagging. Did I make the right call? I think so.

Family wanted her evaluated I cared for her until the hospital did not violate the DNR. The hospital piece is beyond me.

Running Report

Date	Distance	Time	Effort	Route	Comment
7-01-08	-----	30:00	4/10	Sherman-Lincoln-Lakeshore-Letarte Park-Denmark-Home	Temp 70 and sunny. Ran 3 walked 2, recovery run.

Narrative: Had a recovery walk on Sunday. Worked Sunday/Monday nite this is 1st recovery after 5k. Next race will be 10k 19 July.