The Definition, The Purpose & Expectations...

MENTAL: Intellectual process involving the mind or could also be a disorder, you be the judge...
MEDIC: Medical practitioners in the armed forces in the old days got given the nickname, it's also an old world herb of the genus Medicago, having small flowers and trifoliate leaves ie the 3 leaf clover.
MONOLOGUE: A long utterance by one person (especially one that prevents others from participating in the conversation).

In South Africa we do not have the luxury of been able to debrief often, its too busy, no this, no that, so we make do with what we have, besides one does not get the award for being the no1 trauma capital in the world for nothing! But this "little rural village" is the most diverse in the world, from one end of the spectrum to the other in sociology, physiology and criminology. Expect to be entertained, shocked, informed, empowered, touched, saddened, sickened, surprised, educated, tested, enlightened and if you are in the EMS would definitely be able to relate to the blog.

So in a nut shell it will be the method of my choice in "debriefing myself", like its needed. If a calling a spade a spade offends you then I suggest you run now, this blog will contain graphic descriptions and pictures that will shock you...

Reality as real as it gets, depicted through my eyes and sharing my experiences with you. Let your thoughts be provoked, mindsets adjusted and attitudes challenged.




Saturday, December 18, 2010

Medicare EMR Launches new Safety Campaign Initiative

I busy working on a new campaign with regards to the flow of information in emergency situations and keeping the public informed and updated. It will be a collaboration of various existing platforms...watch this space!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Sad Day in EMS

A sad day in SA EMS

Prayers and thoughts go out to the family, friends and associates of the 2 medics that were tragically killed in the line of duty in Sedibeng earlier today.

Rest in Peace guys!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Great News for the Western Cape EMS this holiday!!


RESCUE helicopters in the Western Cape will operate for extended hours during the festive season to support the provincial ambulance service and ensure rapid evacuation of critically ill patients.

SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service spokeswoman Venessa Horn said they would operate from 7am to 10pm from now until the end of February. The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service is a non-profit aero-medical organisation that has transported patients and emergency staff for the past 40 years.

IntuBrite_Kit - http://www.intubrite.com

Visualising the vocal cords...Intubrite makes it so easy!

Nice group, can't wait for the next one, thanks guys, loads of fun!

Eina weer!

Eina

No sweat...

Good job boet, didn't feel a thing...NOT! Still blue

Getting bilateral lines put up...if you can give, you must be able to get it! Good job guys

Second attempt with 16G, no problem, 1 time!

Went in with 14G, but clearly Frikkie was nervous and hypertensive, so it blew big time!

Frikkie: Nice prick Garth

Don't worry Frikkie, it's a small prick, really...

Observation point...

Taking down some very interesting tricks of the trade

My first attemp @ intubation using the intubrite

About to get a prick...

The Class...ILS FUN DAY

Frikkie looks worried, I look suprised....

Sunday, December 12, 2010

What happens when you give big boys little toys!

Result of last night beans, Kurt split his trunk!

How my baby glows at night!

Bad Driving Skills Learnt Only in EMS

Daddy's Clever Girls

Katja my youngest got 4's for all her activities, was selected to do the graduation speeches and awards ceremony, truly showing she is not scared of standing up in front of a crowd and tuning them the odds! Just like daddy...She is now ready for primary school, confident go-getter in the making!

Maya, my first and a late bloomer has shown a drastic improvement this year excelling in her development and understanding of sound, she has taken a keen interest in playing the piano, watch this space people, I have a musician in the making!

And to all parents, don't pressure or force your children into your dreams for them, but rather lead by example and live by example and be a legacy to your kids, support their ideas, if they fall, pick them up, let them be, they will make you proud!

May you all have a blessed Christmas this year, I know I will be, I have my Girls for the first time in 6yrs with me, couldn't ask for anything more!

Friday, December 10, 2010

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What a start to my day...

With silly season here, everything is going dilly, have averaged 3 calls per day this week alone. Had a interesting stabbing this morning with a 24yr old male stabbed in the back between the lungs and nicked the descending aorta, to add salt to his wounds, the call came in at 7:30am just after "the shift change" had to wait for an hour and a half for the ambulance, which "came across an mva" i.e. "cause of delay, thanks for letting us know control". Pt BP was 85 systolic on arrival, but never got higher than 110/60 even with bi-lateral iv's running, he went through 2.5 ringers while waiting!!

Any ways while my partner in crime is away at a 5 star hotel pampering his butt, he's missing out on lots of action. I returned to base and just got settled into my chair and in come the next rescue case...a call at Pick n Pay, warehouse shelving came down on a poor merchandiser, covering him in a combination of two storeys of dog food and juice. Found the pt. under a pile of sticky juice covered dog food pellets. He was sitting in almost a foetal position and could not move, query C1/2/3/6 spinal injury. He was presenting with slight neuro fallout on the right, pins and needles and a symptomatic BP of 150/100, Pulse 92. So we made use of a KED to stabilise him in the position he was huddled in and then fully immobilised him, ready for transport, pity that I was thinking Heli, but Heli was playing in the surf in Muzinberg...

So with an event standby tomorrow and training on Sunday, who knows what the rest of today holds in for me, as schools close today, roads are going to be busy, keep safe and alert, Arrive Alive

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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Breaking News: Gauteng Police make Huge Bust

Gauteng SAPS successfully made a huge bust in Hillbrow after receiving an anonymous tip-off earlier today, SAPS spokesperson said it was the biggest yet in his 23yr career as a police officer and praised the efforts of his fellow colleagues for their swift and clinical execution of this operation.

The discovery of an arms cache of 200x semi automatic rifles with 250000 rounds of ammunition, 10x anti-tank missiles, 4x RPG grenade launchers, 2 tonnes of heroin, R80million in forged banknotes and 25x Nigerian prostitutes all in a block of flats behind the Hillbrow Public Library.

Local residents were stunned. A community spokesman said: "We're shocked. We never knew we had a Library!"

Thanks Chris...made my evening..

ROFLMAO @Cell C!


ZEFGATTE

Sunday, November 28, 2010

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