I was on an ambulance today...

[Purple Penguin]

Not as a patient. I'm an EMT student and part of getting my cert' requires me to go on a few ride alongs. I was there from 9 in the morning and I left at 5 at night.

we got a call today about a lady having a heart attack and when we got there she was uncontious wasn't breathing and had no heart beat. we imeadiatly started CPR. I was doing the chest compressions while an EMT was doing artificial resperations with a BVM. one Medic was giving meds and another was starting an IV. the whole time the lady daughter was running around saying that her mom had a DNR, we still had to work on her though 'cause the daughter couldn't find the DNR.

All of it did no good though the lady still died.

it's a strange feeling having someone die pretty much in your arms. it kind of gets you thinking about things..

this lady was a compleat stranger but it still had an impact, I think it was mostly because of her family breaking down and crying. I felt so helpless. it was hard to look them in the face and still be profesional. I was able to do it but I when i got home I broke down myself... man what a job to get into....

[Limbfilter]

ever seen the movie "Bringing out the Dead" ?

[Purple Penguin]

nope

[necrolop]

So sad. Well shes in a better place now. RIP.

[Limbfilter]

I suggest renting it...It's a good movie...imo anyway...nic cage is in it and it's about driving ambulances...

[Dew-It]

It's not easy to dis-associate from that type of job. I was trying to be a nurse's aid at a nursing home. I was taking care of a elderly gentlemen and I felt bad for him because he could'nt take care of himself properly in a manner that would seem to be normal to anyone else. Well I did'nt venture into this line of work it was'nt for me. But everyone is different and we all deal with these types of things in are own unique ways.

[Purple Penguin]

Originally posted by Limbfilter
I suggest renting it...It's a good movie...imo anyway...nic cage is in it and it's about driving ambulances...

oh okay I know what your talking about now. I've seen it. and it is good. wierd but good

[Purple Penguin]

I still like the job and I hope like hell that I get it. It didn't even reall bother me that she died (she was 72 and had health problems) but the reaction of the family hit me hard, I wasn't expecting it so I wasn't prepared for it. I'll be prepared next time though.

[Sapherz]

that could mess you up if you let it
thats why i'm not chasing a career in the health industry
and the food industry, i'd be worried all the customer would drop dead of glandular fever

[Purple Penguin]

Originally posted by Sapherz
that could mess you up if you let it
thats why i'm not chasing a career in the health industry
and the food industry, i'd be worried all the customer would drop dead of glandular fever

very true, if I'm not carfull It'lll screw me up big time. but thinking of all the people that I'm going to help makes it a lot easier. I live in a small town and it's not every day that someone dies here. I just got lucky on my ride along.