TheWedgie
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I'll admit this is mostly ego-stroking, but hey, after a bit of blergh in my personal life recently, I deserve it! 
I'm a second year (of three) student at Flinders University, studying the Health Science (Paramedic) degree, as well as working in the State Communications Centre for SA Ambulance Service as a Call Taker.
4:30am Thursday morning I received an E000* call from a lady, staying at a motel in the Fullarton area with her partner, who had undergone a triple bypass last week. He had been feeling a bit unwell all afternoon, but she said that he was having some trouble with his breathing, and had just fallen over. No problemo, I thought, he's just slipped over, easy enough.
I started going through the triage system, the first question of which is 'Is the person responsive', which I normally ask in two, 'are they awake', and 'are they talking to you' (which can then be expanded upon if need be)... she replied with something along the lines of 'no, he's on the ground, and oh... I don't think he's breathing'.
So, we got into starting CPR. I never thought instructing someone to do CPR over the phone - on a relative - would be that hard, until I started this job.
Just under 10 minutes later, the crews arrived, luckily, as the caller was incredibly tired (as was I!).
Alas that was where my involvement ended - and it was something we'd discussed during training - the lack of closure on jobs like this.
Luckily I overheard the crew on the radio saying they were heading into the hospital under lights & sirens, and also got to listen to their notification to the Emergency Department at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
I was satisfied they'd brought him back, and had more than likely made it there OK. (Of course his long term outlook won't be great, but at least he might be able to say goodbye to family).
Later in the morning I got a call from one of the crews that attended, wanting to pass on thanks from the caller for all the help I gave.
It made my morning.
-Nick
*000 = same as 911 in the US
I'm a second year (of three) student at Flinders University, studying the Health Science (Paramedic) degree, as well as working in the State Communications Centre for SA Ambulance Service as a Call Taker.
4:30am Thursday morning I received an E000* call from a lady, staying at a motel in the Fullarton area with her partner, who had undergone a triple bypass last week. He had been feeling a bit unwell all afternoon, but she said that he was having some trouble with his breathing, and had just fallen over. No problemo, I thought, he's just slipped over, easy enough.
I started going through the triage system, the first question of which is 'Is the person responsive', which I normally ask in two, 'are they awake', and 'are they talking to you' (which can then be expanded upon if need be)... she replied with something along the lines of 'no, he's on the ground, and oh... I don't think he's breathing'.
So, we got into starting CPR. I never thought instructing someone to do CPR over the phone - on a relative - would be that hard, until I started this job.
Just under 10 minutes later, the crews arrived, luckily, as the caller was incredibly tired (as was I!).
Alas that was where my involvement ended - and it was something we'd discussed during training - the lack of closure on jobs like this.
Luckily I overheard the crew on the radio saying they were heading into the hospital under lights & sirens, and also got to listen to their notification to the Emergency Department at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
I was satisfied they'd brought him back, and had more than likely made it there OK. (Of course his long term outlook won't be great, but at least he might be able to say goodbye to family).
Later in the morning I got a call from one of the crews that attended, wanting to pass on thanks from the caller for all the help I gave.
It made my morning.
-Nick
*000 = same as 911 in the US
