Some of you eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that I haven't posted for a while. Why? Well, mainly because I haven't had anything to write about. I haven't been on holiday (apart from a weekend in Holland - more about that in a moment), just haven't been called out to anything. Nothing. Sure, there have been some serious incidents in my area; someone falling out of a tree and landing on his head, a couple of fatal accidents on my stretch of the motorway. But no calls.
You may be wondering why. Well, so am I. I call the Desk regularly, they thank me very much for letting them know that they can call, day or night, and get me running. But they don't. I ring and ask them about the call the night before, and no-one can tell me why I didn't get a call. So, I begin to wonder: have I upset someone? Nope, I'm just out of the radar.
Cut to this weekend: a great break in Holland with the whole family, visiting more family. Let me tell you something; 8 children between the ages of 16 months and 17 years in one house isn't conducive to sleep!! We get back at just before midnight from the airport. The kids are tired. The adults are tired. The phone rings as I open the door to the house. Yep, nothing for almost 2 months, and then a call at midnight on the day I get back from holiday.
It's a call for assistance to a man who has rolled his car and is now deeply unconscious. Sounds reasonable. And yet I am looking for excuses not to go. This is so unlike me. How far away is it? Oh, that would take me at least 30 minutes to get there - they shouldn't wait for me, just scoop and run.
This isn't like me at all!! Whatever the distance, wherever the call, I would normally be out of the door like a rat out of an aqueduct!! But not this time. I know I have just got back from holiday, but it was only a weekend, and I'm not that tired. And I have been complaining bitterly about not being called. I get off the 'phone wondering what has happened to me, why I am feeling so jaded for the first time about driving out at all times of the day and night.
And then the 'phone rings again. Control tells me that the crew are running to the local with the patient, and I breathe a sigh of relief. But they continue: can I run to an alcoholic who has fallen and hit his head? It's a close one this time, so I shrug my shoulders, jump into my suit and drive off to pick up the pieces of an overindulgence at the pub.
How To Get Affordable PVC Paste Resin
2 years ago
With that many kids under one roof, I might've ended up in need of a sedative at the very least! Or a good lawyer ...
ReplyDeleteAs for the badly-timed call, well, be careful what you wish for?
A fine example of the Law of Sod, and the conspiracy of the forces in the universe to get you when you least expect, and don't need it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you might see that it may be a blessing in disguise. As we enter the sillier than usual season, perhaps a rested, and recharged RRD on cover might be what the Dr ordered.
Welcome back.
About time too!! I look every single morning, sometimes as early as 5.30am. Makes a very frustrating start to the day to read the same old stuff!! As someone else has said, Welcome back!! (Sunshine! or Mush!)
ReplyDeleteAbout time too!! I look at your blog every single morning, sometimes as early as 5.30am!! It makes for a very frustrating start to the day to have to read the same stuff over and over again!! As someone else has said, 'Welcome back' (Sunshine or Mush. Private joke!)
ReplyDeleteGlad you are back posting. Sounds like calls come like buses. None, then all at once!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there are two possible reasons as to the lack of calls.
ReplyDelete1) HEMS is running more 24 hour days. It used to be that they'd fly only in daylight (still the case), and in cars during the hours of darkness, but only at weekends. I'm fairly certain that it's now 24/7.
2) There are many many new student paramedics and recruits. HEMS is high profile in the LAS, and for many recruits it's a goal to aspire to. Therefore, often they are the first port of call, as well as being a part of the education process. BASICS, on the other hand, isn't quite so obvious. Maybe that's something that needs changing!!!
It's hard to keep motivated when you're dealing with drunks all the time; and in your line of work, you deal with a lot of them.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm starting to feel jaded, I remember what it's like to be in the family's position. I remember that I got into this business to help those people; the ones who never got a say in the matter.
'Like a rat out of an aqueduct'! I get it and I really hope that the other bloggers appreciate the 'source' too? Rock on RRD.
ReplyDelete