If there is one thing in life that I’ve learnt. People over complicate things.

Back in the day I had a hell of a time passing my university degree. I always had questions floating around in my head about everything I’d learned. To many whys and not enough acceptance. All this did was to brick up any further learning. Then I’d start falling behind.

I vowed never to go back.

Then I did.

This time I accepted what I was told. I kept up. I went home and read. I answered those questions in my head, in my own time, at my own pace. The simplicity of it all just clicked.

This is why, if I can, I break everything down to its most simple form. Even being a paramedic.

So here’s the theory:

• When you meet the patient find out first if they’re alive, dying or dead. This should be fairly obvious.
• If they’re gasping give them oxygen. If they’re not breathing, start CPR and pop the defibrillator on. If they look like they’ve had a big trauma, have someone stabilise their neck. If the blood’s pouring out, stop it. Otherwise take a breath.
• The next step is to find out what’s wrong. I reckon the best way is to ask them. See, simple is nearly always the best.
• Get a baseline. Conscious state, blood pressures and heart rates, see how well their breathing is. This’ll give you an idea as to whether they’re getting worse or if your treatment is working.
• Treat what you can treat and transport.
• Done, QED, keep it simple stupid.

This is just the standard clinical approach. Don’t over complicate it.

You’ll fix the diabetic hypos, and the heroin overdoses. But if they’re sick I say leave it to the folks that earn the big bucks. There’s only so much you can carry anyway.