Intriguing links - toxicology

"Under our Skin"  2009 PBS documentary on Lyme disease.  It will open your eyes (1:45 long).

http://www.hulu.com/watch/268761

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2JgR_Jfbhv8

Some great videos by a paramedic friend:

Respiratory System and Pulmonary Edema

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5rhjTeBhsM

The Pump - CHF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVWdnftP2RU

Electrical Conduction System of the Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bALlIYO6LdA

Pneumothorax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzIfiU0obKg

NOW SERIOUSLY I am not one of those people who does not believe in vaccinations.  I think people who don't vaccinate are nuts, BUT we can do it more safely.  The mercury-based preservative is the big danger.  Why can't we do better?

Safe Minds - the dangers of mercury

http://www.safeminds.org/

Smart Vax - vaccines and mercury

http://www.smartvax.com/

Google Book - Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic

http://books.google.com/books?id=JlCS2A9WkuoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

We did it!

We survived - all 11 students made it through their NREMT practicals (even the one who put the KED on inside out - you want to talk about FORCING myself to keep a straight face and not say anything...)

And I passed cardiology.  I PASSED CARDIOLOGY!!!

I still don't feel like I know a heck of a lot, but I'm really getting the feeling that I can do this.  That I can actually be a paramedic, be good at it.  Make the right decisions when it counts.

So Monday nights can be study nights instead of EMT class nights.  Wednesdays we still get together for 1.5 hours of CE, but it will be good to be doing "real world" stuff, not just prepping them to get through exams.

Though the snow is falling, the light stays with us until after 8 pm these days.  Spring is coming, and the EMS calls will not be far behind.

EMT Class Coming to a Close

They are doing well.
I think I now can understand how Mr. Medic felt with our EMR, then EMT classes.  In the beginning it's nothing but new, fun skills.  In the middle, pure frustration.  You know enough, but really not enough to be useful.  In the end, it's all about getting through clinicals and getting ready for the tests.  Class written, class practical, NREMT practical, then scheduling that computer-based adaptive NREMT final written.

We have broken the news to a few of them, that once they are done with that - then the real learning kicks into gear.  Mr. Medic keeps it all together with our weekly meetings - debrief calls of the week, work on skills, discuss protocols.

A select few have pagers already and have gone on a call or two.

With luck, we will pick up a few of the 11 students as crew, either for our service or the Village Volunteers.

I'm proud of their progress, and relieved another class is almost done.

Struggling Cardiologically

Cardiology, ACLS - some people seem to be able to run through the algorithms without any issue.
I am having a really tough time.
Seems like everybody else does this for a living, not as a "sideline gig" so I really need to work harder.

Here are some practice resources for all of us:
http://www.12leadecg.com/

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073520713/student_view0/

Littman's heart sounds course
http://www.3m.com/healthcare/littmann/LIA-Basics.htm