Rumour has it that a much loved ambo – out the east side of Melbourne – has handed back his MICA pips and picked up his “regular” ambo ones, for good.
While this is an obvious loss to the MICA community, it’s a great thing for the road crews in Melbourne.
With his experience and approachable demeanour, new students and experienced “roadies” will stand to benefit from his knowledge.
I know this from personal experience.
Good luck and best wishes.
Despite the number of “aids” that paramedics have to help them transfer patients from one place to another it sometimes comes down to moving someone quickly and damning the risks.
Or does it? Is it worth it?
Would the public eye us with contempt if we save ourselves before others?
I spoke to an ambo the other day and she said that her back was so sore that she was probably going to have to head home and take some time off. She said that they had to move a voluminous patient from beside a toilet. It was a difficult move for them because the patient had an obvious fracture to her leg. The stretching and lifting at the same time had caused her some lumbar back pain and a couple of hours later she was “feeling it”.
Injuries like these can seriously limit the lifespan of a paramedic.
What can we do?
We use the aids as best we can but sometimes we just can’t. I suppose that’s the price we pay for the privilege of doing what we do. Helping others.
What do you think? Do we have to risk ourselves sometimes? Is it a matter of further training? What other “devices” could we utilise? Should we use the “spoonful of concrete” approach to patients?
‘Tis the conundrum.
Be safe peoples.
With Melbourne mourning the tragic loss of life on the roads of Mill Park it does make me wonder. Where are the true deterrents and what can be put in place to keep our novice drivers safe?
Although this road safety report from Western Australia states that restricting the power-to-weight ratio is not proven to have a statistical effect on road fatalities involving the “yoof”, you’d be fooling yourself if you believed that hoon cars don’t beget hoons. Nanna drivers don’t usually drive Godzillas, XR6s, SSs, or 200SXs. They drive 1979 ‘Rollas or 92 Pulsars. So what should be done – in my humblest of opinions?
I agree with the new P-plate licensing including the passenger and alcohol restrictions. They’re logical. But to truly deter the rapscallions I think the devilish details should read something like this:
Simple to understand and would act as a deterrent. These fools of drivers really need to understand that actions have consequences. Time for them to grow up I reckon and get out from behind mummies skirt.
And a quick message to those parents out there that buy little Johnnies first car – and make it a “go faster” expensive one. This habit does not teach little Johnny to value the privilege of driving. Get him to save up his K-Mart wages and buy something himself.
The 1990 Barina ain’t so bad.
I’ll leave you with a couple of thoughts.
The first is with regards to the recent tragedy and comes from a paramedic on the scene. Paramedic Ron McLeod stated – “It was just carnage everywhere”, and that it was the worst he’d seen in 30 years. Those images will haunt Ron and the other attending emergency services personnel for the rest of their lives. That is not fair to them or their families.
And lastly – to the families of those affected by this and other tragedies. Try not to dwell on what has past (it goes without saying that this disaster will stay with you forever) – instead use those feelings as a catalyst for change. Educate anyone you meet. You can and will make a difference.
To all of the paramedics who worked in Melbourne’s oppressive heat yesterday – Well done and thank-you.
40+ degree heat (104F) is truly hard and dangerous work. It’s not just the sweating Nannas that appreciate the hard work.
I think this is a great place to start again. A time to leave my vitriol behind and be positive.
From this point forward, until I change my mind, we’ll natter about ambulance, medicine, science and associated topics in a positive way-ish.
I promise. Honest. Besides, only half of Victoria’s ambos bothered to vote in the latest EBA ballot. So whats the point of fighting something that people obviously don’t care about. I promise that was the last of it…
