I'm back again! (part 1)

Sorry that I have not updated for a while, but with my paramedic in hospital clinical placements, looking for a new house and making sure Kal is still relaxed (not sure if I'm managing that one) about his course things get a bit hectic.

Anyway, here I am so I will try and fill the gaps...


After completing my college based training for my paramedic qualification I had 5 weeks back on the road as a technician (with paramedic knowledge) I worked mostly nights and this was good because the shifts were such that I was rostered with another Qualified and Experienced Paramedic (State Registered in HPC Terms). My first night back started with a cardiac arrest; which had been an urgent GP call for a male with difficulty in breathing, then a couple of genuinely unwell patients and a male in his 50's having a full blow MI, which eventually caused him to go into cardiac arrest following Thrombolysis in the back of the ambulance (in fact he arrested as we entered the lifts to go to CCU!).

For the other 2 nights we were back and forward to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, dealing with lots of genuine patients and having a good time.

The other 4 weeks seemed to bring out all the genuine patients for me to deal with and my colleagues seemed to be left to pick up the drunks, this was good because it gave me a chance to work with some highly skilled Paramedics and learn from them along with using my new found knowledge to allow me to care for the patients in a more in-depth manner than before.

I received a phone call from the Training Department Queen (Administration officer, she is the woman who sorts your career basically) telling me that she has managed to get a space for me to start my in-hospital clinical placements to finalise my training requirements and that the placement starts on the 26th of June...."Oh I see" is my reaction, I explain that I am on annual leave that week as it's my Birthday and I have a friends wedding (which I am an usher and Kal is the Best Man)... Right she says, well the next placement is probably going to be the end of AUGUST, "I see" I think quickly and offer to cancel my leave for three days if that would be of any help, she says that should be ok and I have to clear it with my station manager. I call into the station that day, speak with my boss, who tells me that's fine and to claim Overtime for the three days I am in hospital on my placement and wishes me luck! Score, I get my annual leave payment and now time and a half and travelling for going into hospital! ££££

My first week of the two on annual leave it taken up mostly with the Royal Highland Show (Big agricultural and food fair etc) over 5 days including a day setting up, I work in the Communications centre, out on patrol and then on the Saturday I work with Kal, now we have only worked together once before and even then it was slightly different, we walk around on patrol and get a patient who is unconscious (through alcohol) and as we arrive I tell Kal that "Your attending" meaning that he is looking after the patient and I will do all the radio work, gathering equipment etc. I do this to see two things (1) how he has developed whilst at the college and (2) if he can cope with sudden change in situations... he performs well, and even when I am taking the piss out of him for his airway management he remains calm. (If all the future Technician's are all as confident and competent as him then Scotland will be a safe place to live).

Having arrived at the hospital for my first day I am shown around the Theatre suites (which is where I will be based for the first 3 out of 5 weeks), I'm introduced as the "Trainee Para-headache" to the staff and then pointed towards the changing room to get into my theatre greens. I meet up with my ODP mentor and stand sheepishly in the background as the patients start arriving. My ODP (J) is brilliant, now she is not full time staff, she is employed by an agency but has worked in the theatre for the last year, she is bubbly, chatty, full of information and so willing to teach, by the end of the first day my head it thumping, but I am already 1/4 of the way through some of the necessary procedures that I must achieve whilst on placement.

I inform J that I am off for two days annual leave later in the week and she notes this on my theatre schedule and gets her senior to amend the master sheet, I have my two days off and enjoy them (down at Ambex which may sound dull but is an international ambulance conference and exhibition) meeting lots of friends and colleagues and on the day of my birthday I am drinking vodka with breakfast!!!

I arrive home and start preparing for the wedding on the Saturday, I go with Kal to the pre wedding friends and family get together in Pathhead (which not two hours previously I had driven through on the way home from Ambex) I am fed lots of food, offered alcohol (which I decline as I am driving) collect the necessary items that still require dropping off at the hotel for the reception and with Kal we take the Groom to be to his hotel for the evening, depositing him at Midnight Kal and I roll back to his and collapse into bed, exhausted and set the alarm for an early start the next day.

The day of the wedding, we wake at 7:30am, roam around the flat getting ready and not really talking as we are still half asleep and the coffee machine has not finished spitting out the black nectar of life yet!

We both have things to do; I drop Kal off in town, head home and get into my kilt, drive back to Kal's and collect him.... WOW how hot does he look in his Purple kilt mmmmmmm, drive to the hotel and collect the Groom, who is looking pale and slightly nervous. Driving around to the church we confirm that rings are with Kal? Check, G you had food? Nope, stop off at shop and buy supplies, Water, Bananas and ready salted crisps etc (all non staining foods since we are all in white shifts and kilts) Onward to the church again, we arrive G and Kal are getting things sorted in the back and myself and the other Usher are discussing tactics, who sits where etc.

Everyone is now in the church and the Bride arrives (Groom is BRC and Bride is St. Andrew's so plenty first aiders in the guests in case of accidents) She looks stunning, slightly nervous as well, but totally stunning. Her father and also her Maid of Honour and bride’s maid’s who are all in lovely purple dresses escort her in. The wedding goes well, the pictures are taken (G is project manager and R the bride is a teacher so everything is set out in time tables and schedules for us to follow). Time for the reception, lovely drive in convoy to the hotel in the Scottish Borders, beautiful weather, lots of alcohol, gorgeous food, more alcohol, Chocolate fountain, great music and ceilidh band. The evening goes on, the buffet comes out.... Bacon rolls Mmmmmm. More music and dancing and drinking. I dance with Kal to a song that summed up how I was feeling (Yeah you know the one boy) and the guests all drift off home. Only a small number of us were booked into the hotel, we all meet in the bar, tired, slightly tipsy (some more than others) and start to unwind with another drink. The Midnight munchies (hunger) arrive around 0130hrs for most of us and we get some pringles from somewhere, just as we open them the manager walks in with a tray of hot bacon rolls.... the pringles are left and the rolls vanish in seconds with moans and groans from the group now demolishing the hot food to soak up all the alcohol.