1/3 and the miracles of drugs

1/3 is the number (fraction). 1/3 of the population is infected by tuberculosis, 1/3 of the world population is well-fed,1/3 is under-fed, and 1/3 is starving. 1/3 is also how far I am in paramedic school. I have made it through 3 benchmarks, 2 hands on skills exams, 1 ACLS course testing, and about 100 hours of clinical shifts in the past 3 months. I have gone from having no clue how to do and IV and can now do it in my sleep. I have made some of the best friends I am ever going to have. I learned that sleep is a privilege, so is watching TV. If you get to sleep in... DO IT!! I am amazed every day how much I have learned in such a short time. I am thankful that our minds are so able to grow and retain all that is forced in there. Seriously I think the reason that we have pillows is so that they can block our ears from leaking to much. I have also found that trying to stay awake in class is a joke. There are 2 kids in my class that get away with sleeping during every class. I don't know how they do it. I close my eyes fro 2 seconds and my teacher makes me stand in the back of the room the rest of the time. Theses two can sleep the entire class and start snoring and the teacher would not care. It does provided great entertainment for us other students. We watch them head bob and it is quite entertaining. 


The miracles of drugs. When you have a broken arm the last thing you want to remember is when the doctor puts it back in place. OWCH! I know I would hate to remember, and that is why we have Versed. It literally is a miracle drug. You are slightly sill awake for this but the best part is that you forget EVERYTHING!! How cool is that! I seriously wish I could use this for some of the stupid things I have done. There is also this drug called Zofran that helps with N&V which might not seem that big of a deal to you but if it keeps your patient from throwing up whatever has been in the stomach for the past 12 hrs you will be eternally grateful! Seriously I cannot fathom this world without medications! They are life savers! 

I have also come to appreciate empty cots. As paramedics we live to see blood and guts. We can sit through someone puking in your lap, to blood covering you head to toe. As I was sitting in the ambulance the other day this dawned on me that I am thankful for one less patient. While it was a slow day and I was hoping that someone would shoot there toe off or burn there face trying to make there hair look like Miley Cyrus; I was thankful that no one was hurt. I feel that sometimes we forget that people have families, careers, friends, and futures. We care so much on staying busy and getting to see cool things. I was able to take a moment and be grateful that a drunk driver did not kill a family with 3 little kids, or that another teenager decided to take his life into his own hand and we had to clean up. Take a moment and thank the Lord that there are empty cots. 

I just want to give a shout out to my teachers that have push us this semester. Thank you for all the time you put into helping us excel in our chosen career. Even though I say some of the STUPIDEST things ever they still put up with me!! 

I love my job. I don't always love the long nights, slow days, or class everyday but I love that I am able to help people every day. 

Stay safe and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!