3-27-2000

Change is Good

Say it with me...Good

I just wish that the things that were changing
didn't have to Change things as much as the will.

There are a few people at lifecare who have decided that They no longer wanted to work on an Ambulance or were Leaving E.M.S. to Persue other goals.

This is Good.
If you know when you have had enough
and can make the adjustments you need to make
to be happy then...

Good For you!
Some people don't find out that they should have quit until it is too late and that is sad.

Tina has left her position on C-shift to become the Educational Co-ordinator for Lifecare.
This is Where she has been Heading for a while and we are all glad to see her in this position.
Tammy is Leaving A-shift.
This came without warning and was sort of un-expected

She is Going into the Restaurant Bussiness
with her brother and  her parents at her side.
I hope they  will do well,They have purchased an existing and successful restaurant in Lorain.
It is Called the "Black River Beanery"

Both of these departures have left holes in the roster which need to be filled appropriately.

I have my thoughts on who should go where...
but I am not in the habit of telling people where to go!
I have kept my thoughts and input to my-self
and/or to my partner and shift mates.

In my estimation this addition to our shift effects us directly and if they were to put a non-compatable personality on the shift it could be a difficult situation.

My partner and Crew chief seems to disagree and has stated that it only seems to be effecting me.
He falls back on the "It's not my decision" Platform.
which is true but
Our boss Herb does value the opinion of his people especially the Crew Chief's

So With all of the Changes going on around me
I was in a defensive mode of operation all day.
Which is an outwardly negative mood but it makes me feel secure.
I have had my life changed without notice many times.

I do not like it.
I had been up-rooted so often in my childhood that I still have trouble making lasting friendships
or trusting people without proof they will not betray me.
I am quick to deny access to my emotional self to anyone who may be a threat.
even if they are a close friend or co-worker.


So with that in mind understand this.

Even though Change is Good.
that Doesnt mean that it is Easy.

on with the story

A couple of shifts ago
I wrote about loss and the damage to a new car...

Maybe this was a Jinx...
Ken Just bought a new mini-van
and he confessed that crashing it was his biggest fear.
because of it being new and "pure"
well,
Sadly Ken's lovely wife Judy,
had a small backing-up incident in their drive way.
and ... uh-oh.

in other news...

I must coment on a call I was on this morning.
It was for an elderly man
(terminal illness,Hospice care patient )
who was having a large lower G.I. bleed
and needed to be taken to the hospital.

This is not the kind of call we would need help with
(from the fire department)
but it was there in abundance.
Too much help for this type of case.

But in any case...
There were three extra people on scene.
they arrived before we did
(by a few minutes)

Two more were in the second fire truck that was Racing to the scene ahead of us but was cancelled by the other unit on scene as they arrived at the street the call was on.


Here's where my problem begins...
If you are going to be on a scene and you are an E.M.T.
whether with E.M.S. or Fire...

Do Something !

For the Love of god and your fellow man
don't just stand there and Gather Demographics!

How about a set of vital signs
or
help the family clean up the blood and shit soaked bed...
(You can't say you didn't notice it!)
instead of just watching
or worse forcing
someone to surrender their dignity to you
when you will not even help them to be comfortable
while they are dying.
(This man was old, Ill  and had lost some blood from a tear in his lower intestines...)
(but signed papers that said don't save my life just make me comfortable while I die)

don't be a spectator while a family tries
to allow their loved one to be a "man" till the end.
(The same man who has given them the lives they now enjoy)

This is the Glory of E.M.S.
This is how most people spend their last days...
this is where you serve an important role in the Game.

But if you don't want to you don't have to.
there are plenty of people waiting in line
for the chance to do this.


Good Night.