The Back of the Medic

I may catch hell for this post, but I feel it is important enough to tell you…

I don’t know if you have noticed it lately or not, but social media is using YOU to sell products.

Yes, YOU.

Next time you are on one of those sites, take a look at the “sponsored ads” and “xxx likes…” ads. Here is one that occurred today on Facebook, and the person who “liked” this product had no idea that he was unwittingly selling a product:

It is called a “Related Post” on Facebook. Twitter and other social media sites are using this as a revenue stream. However, using ME as a selling point for a product without specifically asking me for permission is, in my opinion, dead wrong. It may be buried in their Terms of Service, but it is still not fair use of my likeness to huck a product. After I told this person about his selling a product, he promptly “Unliked” the product. Oh, and you won’t see these ads that you are in. You will see friends and family selling these products. And they probably have NO IDEA that their name is being used to do this.

I decided to poke around my settings a bit, after thinking initially I would unlike all commercial products. And lo and behold, Facebook does allow you to opt out of this. So I did just that. I’m not telling everyone to do that, but I don’t want to be selling something without someone getting my expressed permission to do so (Or even compensating me for it!). If you would like to do so as well, follow these instructions:

Click on the Settings wheel in the upper right-hand of your Facebook screen.

Click on Ads on the left-hand side when Settings comes up.

There are (currently) two types of Ads: “Third Party Ads”, and “Ads & Friends”. Click Edit on each one, and change the setting to “No one”, and click “Save Changes”. Make sure to do it for each type. As I said, there are currently two types. Perhaps there will be more later.

Oh, and if you happen to know of the privacy settings for ads on other social media sites, let me know, and I will update this blog entry with it.

Please feel free to share this information.

Kelly Grayson posted an incredible blog entry regarding the Newtown murders, For Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which I strongly encourage EVERYONE, not just emergency responders, to read. It is an insightful letter that I agree with 100%.

I have discussed “Sucking it up” in a previous post, and the PTSD that can occur in responders who have done this. Some overcome it and stay doing what they do, and for others, it was career ending when they (or their supervisors) realized that they were no longer capable of providing care in the field as a result of the psychological damage inflicted on them due to an extremely distressing call or calls. This rational of not dealing with the issue because, “shit happens”, even contributed to some committing suicide.

THIS SHOULD NEVER OCCUR. EVER.

Horrific things occur to people every day. Last Friday was yet another example of what one human being is capable of. It impacted people worldwide. What made this one more important than others? Could it be:

• That it was children that were killed, along with those we entrust them to during the day?
• That it occurred in a school, again, where we trust our children will be safe?
• The manner in which they were killed?
• That it was a mentally ill person that did this?
• That the children who lived through this saw and/or heard their classmates and teachers murdered?
• That there were police, EMS, and fire departments that responded who had to see this horror, and make those decisions that NONE OF US EVER WANTS TO HAVE TO MAKE?
• That it was all of that?

Part of our education involves emotional and pyschological well-being. How many of you paid attention that day in class? It was important material.

We, as a community of responders, need to ensure that all of our fellow responders who are exposed to traumatic incidents such as what occurred in Connecticut, what happen in our own communities such as when we respond to the horribly abused baby, the rape victim, the car accident that wipes out an entire family, get the assistance that they need.  Don’t just assume that your fellow EMT, paramedic, firefighter, or police officer will get the help they need. Talk to them.  Help them. They are our family.

If you are that person who has seen that horror out there we deal with, reach out to someone. There is no shame in having feelings. We all do. Yes, we have to shut them off when we are dealing with the incident, but we need to confront those feelings. Use your local agency chaplaincy, call your CISM/CISD representative, walk into a place of worship, talk to the psychologist or social worker at your local hospital, call a family member. Call the International Criticial Incidence Stress Foundation Emergency Hotline at 410-313-2473. Reach out on Facebook, Twitter, or another social media site. There are many of us out there. We’ll help.

I’m in the last two weeks of my paramedic academy didactics. I can’t believe it has been almost a year already. As I await my internship to begin, I am currently taking exams, both written and psychomotor.

All year-long, we at given essay examinations. These are based on student learning objectives. These aren’t short answer items. I don’t think I will ever forget, “In detail…” followed by one of the SLOs from our textbook. And we are expected to excel at these. Most have been pathophysiology-based, but some have been local protocols, drug information, about operations, and more.

This semester (The last of 3), we were subject to more multiple-choice exams. The last of the multiple-choice exams was the other day. It was grueling. It is meant to assess our overall readiness to take the NREMT Computer-Based Test (CBT). We don’t get to see the correct answers, but we do gain a “learning prescription” that enables us to study those subjects that need improvement.

Thankfully, I have passed my multiple-choice exams, and now have turned my attentions to the essay questions in our comprehensive final exam (All 3 semesters worth), and the skills verifications showing my readiness for the NREMT psychomotor exams. I’ve taken a differing approach to these latter exams, due to TEST ANXIETY. Yeah, me. I finally figured out why I was having such a problem with them. My instructor is the one testing us, along with others. I loathed having him be my proctor for these. It was due to the fact that he has been barking at me during class. During training, he should be pushing my buttons. He had noticed I had certain difficulties in scenarios. He wanted to know if I could get over them, or if I would buckle. Thankfully, I overcame them.

Problem is, I was still envisioning him barking at me when I would be tested on skills. When I did a simple one recently (Supine Spinal Immobilization), I decided to essentially forget he was there, and perform the skill as the NREMT skills sheets have you play. I passed. I spoke with him about this today for a few minutes, and told him how I did it. He told me that is EXACTLY how I should handle each skills test. Today was yet another two. I had different proctors each time. And I passed each. One test at a time. One skill at a time.

Not quite an NREMT skill!

Recently, I made a commitment to myself. I would participate in another 5k run. As many of you know, I suck at running am not a runner. Not by a long shot. Being significantly overweight,  with asthma,  and an ankle in need of reconstruction (again), cycling is my preference. I love cycling. Always have. I walk a fair amount, but marathons aren’t my thing. Hell, exercise hasn’t been my thing for a long time. But I have to exercise to:

• lose weight, and
• feel better

The Sacramento Run to Feed The Hungry happens every Thanksgiving Day. A few weeks ago, I realized I would not be able to go see my daughter and grandson for Thanksgiving. The cost of fuel is just too great right now. So, I decided to do this run. A few friends of mine were also doing it. Last Tuesday, I signed up. An interesting facet of this event is that you don’t have to choose which race to do until race day. I put in my head that I would at least do the 5k, but I started to think about the 10k race. I’ve done a 5k before, and it didn’t seem difficult. Even the day before, though, I wasn’t sure if I would do the 10k.

Yesterday morning, I decided to commit to the 10k. So, I got to the venue, found a decent parking spot (It helps that the venue is my old Alma mater, and I know my way around campus), and picked up my number and shirt.

It was pretty chilly, and I only had a short sleeve dri-weave shirt on, so I changed shirts, and hunkered down in my Jeep for about 30 minutes. I drank some water, but decided not to bring any with me (MISTAKE!).

As race time approached, I made sure I had other necessities with me, locked up my Jeep, and moved to the crowd, which was 25,000+ strong at this point. Most were there for the 5k race, but the 10k racers all were on the street, waiting for the start. I stationed myself with the walkers. After some introductions, a singer that performed America the Beautiful, and a quick question about which of us were there for the first time (There were a lot of us!), the race started. With that many people, unless you are up at the front, you start walking. Time starts when you cross the start line. Since I wasn’t officially timed, I noted my start time as I crossed the pads.

I started jogging more than walking, but after mile 2, I wimped out and couldn’t jog much any more. I still walked, and jogged a block here and there. I made it past the cutoff for the 5k race diversion (YES!). Got to mile 3, which seemed to be a popular spot for people to take their picture. So, of course, I followed the lemmings did it also.

About this time, I realized I hadn’t seen any aid stations. No water. Lots of police and volunteers keeping traffic off the streets, and one lone ambulance at the split point for the 5k, but no water. And I was starting to get thirsty. It was warming up a little, and I was sweating a bit. Since I know I have an issue with sodium balance, I like to stay hydrated.

I noticed a hotspot developing on my right foot, just behind the ball of my foot. It is where my $50 orthotics end. I stopped briefly and put a bandaid at the hotspot, hoping to staunch a blister. Yeah, my experience working marathons paid off in this respect… I had put some bandaids in my fanny pack before the race (Except the H2O as noted).

At mile 4ish, there was finally an aid station with water. I grabbed a few cupfuls of water. No electrolytes, though. OK. I was feeling ok, but I did down a Roctane package also (I should have had it before the water… it left me wanting more fluids). There were spectators offering fluids… of the alcoholic variety. I decided that wasn’t a good idea. I was hoping to run into a few of my cycling friends that were volunteering at the intersections and bum a drink, but that never happened.

I also made some friends out there around this time. Two ladies were walking, and as I passed them, one of them asked something, and I happened to know the answer. They had just come together right before I came upon them. We struck up a conversation, and I stayed with them for the remainder of the race, each of us encouraging the other. This was actually a way to get my mind off the fact that both my feet were really beginning to hurt at the same spot (That hotspot).

As we approached to confluence of the 5k and 10k race, about 5-2/3 miles in, the sheer numbers of people began to show. The 10k was to use the left side of the road, and the 5k the right, but it is a huge mingling of people toward the finish. I saw the finish. YES! And a sea of people all around me. My new friends and I stopped briefly for a free photo done by the event organizers:

The gentleman in the picture is the son of the gal to the left of me. He was waiting for his mom to arrive. They left shortly after, leaving me with the other lady. We kept going… As the finish got closer, I remembered what several of my friends said… Finish strong. So I began to jog to the finish, then run. Good thing I did. I finished under 2 hours, at 1:58:12. If I had just walked, I don’t think I would have done it.

So, I finished my first 10k race. Yeah, it wasn’t officially timed. I should have done better am OK with that. My goal was to finish. I would have liked to have done it in 90 minutes, but under 120 works.They gave away samples of Builder Bars. I normally don’t like them, but after 10k, that little bar tasted pretty darn good! And I sucked down a water bottle as fast as it was handed to me.

Next  year, I want 90 minutes. I have a year to get ready…

Oh, no blisters. But damn, my feet were sore!

And… I did a little MTB riding today, to be kind to my muscles and work some of those lovely metabolic by-products out of the system. It wasn’t a long ride, but it felt good.

Recently, I have had to make a decision. And it is one of wants vs needs. Aside from my gadget freak nature wanting the latest and greatest of smartphones, I’m a fairly pragmatic and practical person. If I don’t need something, I generally go without it. Part of that is borne from necessity; poverty in my past is a real reminder of the things you truly need in life. Part of that is from upbringing and the impact of religion on my life.

There are many things I want:

• To own a home on a good chunk of land (Living in the sticks is a positive to me!)
• To take a long cruise somewhere
• To go to Yellowstone for a few weeks
• To buy an RV and become more of a nomad again, just more comfortably
• To get a really lightweight, powerful laptop
• To get a new vehicle (Betsy my Jeep is getting old and wearing down)
• To get back to fishing
• To have weekly massages and chiropractic again (This is actually more of a need)
• To get back to MTB riding and race next year
• To do something different at work
• To get a new smartphone (Told ya I like gadgets!)
• To sit on my porch most nights and watch the sunset
• To see more of my old friends
• To bake and cook more

That’s my main bucket list right now.

Now, the needs:

• A roof over my head (I LOVE where I live, and want to stay there)
• Reliable transportation that I can also use for my business
• To stay healthy
• To get MORE healthy
• To get my ankle surgically repaired
• To get my Paramedic license (I’m in my internship now – That one is become a reality)
• To see my children and grandchildren more often (One is here, one is on the way in December)
• To see the rest of my family more often

As you can see, there is a vast chasm between the wants and needs. With one exception. I WANT AND NEED A NEW VEHICLE. I’ve been looking for a few months now, and decided to stay with Jeeps. I like them. They can take a pounding and keep working. They go on trail, they are reliable as hell. Big things for me. My business partner and friend recently bought a Jeep Commander. After spending a weekend with his vehicle, it gave me the knowledge I needed in deciding vehicles. I wanted either another Grand Cherokee, or a Commander. I secured financing, and went looking. I quickly realized that the Grand Cherokees are more pricey than the Commanders, and that the Commanders offer more space, and equivalent mileage, at a lower cost. The practical person in me is emerging in the thought process…

So, then I limited my searches to Commanders. I really wanted a good 4WD vehicle that would take me up gnarly trail like my current Jeep Cherokee does. So I limited my search further to Commanders with Quadra Trac II or Quadra Drive II. The prices went higher than I was willing to go, as they are almost exclusively in the 4.7 L and 5.7 L engines, and in the higher end Overland and Limited units. Yikes. OK. Back to needs… I *NEED* 4WD. I *NEED* space. I *NEED* reliability.

I narrowed my search. And looked more utilitarian. I decided to keep my old Jeep. She can’t go into 4WD right now, due to a front drive shaft or transfer case issue. Her A/C doesn’t work. The driver’s seat is screwed up. She can be repaired and be the more rugged 4WD unit, and perhaps be lifted a bit also. But I still need another vehicle. I looked at 4. High end to low end. I have to admit, the high end model I saw on Saturday was REALLY NICE. I made an offer on it, but it was not accepted by the dealership. OK. It wasn’t meant to be. I would have really liked it, as my current Jeep was the high end model of its time.

So, I looked at the others. A white Sport model in Roseville, a mid-range black model in Napa, and then the one in Fairfield…

It is a 2007 Commander Sport, has a 3.7 L engine, with an AWD 4×4 system (Yeah, I know…). Transmission is a Mercedes built transmission. It has a tow package (after-market) installed, fabric seats, and LOTS of room. I can seat 7 in there (with not much else in the vehicle). It also has a built-in GPS navigation system, and an XM satellite radio (After-market add-on). This SUV has a lot of what I want. It was owned by a guy in the Air Force, who obviously has kids (evidence found!). He took pretty darn good care of this baby.

So, after a test drive, and a bit of bargaining, both the price, and certain things I felt needed to be taken care of on it… I bought it. And I named her. Yes, I name my vehicles, and this one is a she. Her name is Jenny.

Oh… And it is my favorite color: Blue