Paramedicine- 30 years and counting

 There is nothing like hearing the pleas for help as a coworker and friend comes over the air with "SIGNAL 25! SIGNAL 25! SIGNAL 25! HE'S GOT A GUN ON US!!" There is NOTHING more nauseating, nothing more helpless, nothing more paralyzing. Until that air traffic happens only days after a mass shooting that rocked your community and your security. We were responding to a cardiac arrest when suddenly the dispatch channel lights up with "RESCOM FROM DISTRICT 6- WE NEED HELP!" Followed by "SIGNAL 25! SIGNAL 25! SIGNAL 25! HE'S GOT A GUN ON US!!" We call him "Bull". Many don't care for Bull because he has a not so fantastic rapport with his coworkers. Bull and I have a history of not getting along ourselves, but something happened to Bull over the past few years and we've mended fences. Bull always happens to pop up at the oddest times, sometimes he shows up and has no idea what's going on- creates some drama (albeit, maybe not inte...

 Well, tonight I am back on Medic 92- the Advanced Practice Paramedic gig that I was able to grab a fill in slot for. Tonight is the first night back in the Suburban after “that call”. You know that call- the one everyone, yet no one, wants to talk about.  It was Thursday night, just before 5pm. I was working an overtime shift on Medic 92 and was sitting in a parking lot joking with the supervisor and another APP about how inept our local psychiatric hospital is. “DC 9- SHOOTING- 6028 Osprey Cove Dr.” We start reading the notes- male in neighborhood shooting people in the street. Subject driving a white car”. Seconds later- “SIGNAL25! OFF DUTY OFFICER DOWN” Chris alerts us- get ready guys, it’s going next alarm. DC9 heads out and I follow, with Medic 93 right behind. EMS stage, subject still shooting! As we get closer, we get the go ahead- scene secure, shooter is down- on the greenway! We need EMS on the greenway, subject down. We head into the scene, but we have NO idea what...

   Some calls you never forget. I still remember the smell, the heat, the flames. We were clearing Wake Med from another call when we heard the "SIGNAL 25, SIGNAL 25, SIGNAL 25!!" come across the radio. I was working with a new recruit, already medically cleared and one of my own trainees who was moved to me for the night. "Patti, we've got to go to this!". I was typing a chart from a young girl who we brought to the hospital because she had stopped breathing. Funny, normally I'd remember that call... but I don't. We put ourselves in service and immediately got dispatched. The call was on I540. A signal 25 is a code for "Officer down". I quickly read the CAD notes and questioned out loud "WHO THE HELL IS SHOOTING COPS ON THE HIGHWAY?" I don't know why I had it in my head that there was someone shot, probably because that's usually the cause of "signal 25s". As Peyton drove, I continually read CAD notes, listened to t...

I started my EMS career as a hobby, really. In 1993, my family moved to Hope Mills, NC  and I was a stay at home Mom. I wanted something to keep myself busy. Remembering back to my early years, I was always interested in becoming an EMT. I joined the Cumberland County Rescue Squad and earned my EMT, then my EMT-I.  My days there were short- only about a year. But I loved it! A divorce found me moving back to Scranton, PA. Since PA did not recognize the EMT-I, I had to bump back to an EMT. I was quickly hired by John Weisenfluh (RIP) and started what has become the ride of my life! Weisenfluh sold out to Safecare, and we were called Network Ambulance Service for the rest of my time there. I quickly earned my Paramedic and worked my way up to ALS Coordinator, continuing my road time as well. In 2004, the family and I decided it was time for change. We moved to Snow Hill, NC and I began my career with Wake County EMS. This is where I continue serving to this day. This blog will b...

     So I decided to start blogging about my EMS life- there's lots to say. Maybe my stories will be intriguing to you, although I write to clear my mind. I've been doing this job since 1993, and I wouldn't trade it in for the world- most days. But other days, I'd rather be something else- what? anything... just not this.      All of that to say this- being a Paramedic is one of the most rewarding, yet terrifying jobs in the world. We help people. We save lives. We make differences. But we also get spit on, cussed at, and have weapons pulled on us.      I hope you find this blog to be interesting. For me, it's therapeutic. There's a lot of clutter in this head and heart of mine, and maybe putting it in paragraph form will be healing.