To sum up what has happened in the last five to six weeks would take too many words and more time than you or I are willing to spare. In all actuality I should be laboring over a paper which is due next Wednesday. However, I am not doing that. Obviously. I am sitting, watching the SEC Championship (Go Dawgs!), enjoying the snowy view out the window, and procrastinating.
Well, on to super short summaries and a look ahead.
Last Wednesday I took my written final for EMT. This next week we have our NREMT practicals, which do not impact our class grades but are required to be certified. I have no doubt I’m passing the class, I just hope to come away with an A (93%). Before the test I was sitting at 93.63% so I could squeak it out! I’ve really enjoyed the class and am sore to have it stop. On the other hand I am ready to be certified and begin to practice in the field and gain more experience. A couple of the more interesting things I’ve learned…
Guys are ridiculous – This class has been enlightening in more ways than one. My brothers are amazing, but weird. If my class is a cross-section of the general male population, then my brothers are weird. Really? That’s how guys think? Oh, okay. Good to know. Guys talk a big talk. About everything. Muscles. Girls. The gym. Drinking. Partying. You name it, they’ll probably tell a crazy story about it. I’m not saying guys go about lying about everything, but there are usually…embellishments added. Whatever, I could care less. Just something I’ve observed. Oh, and if you were to listen to them (this falls under the ‘embellishment’ category) girls need to be physically perfect or we’re not worth their time. This is the view you assume when we become nothing more than something to bang.
Good leadership often depends, not on yourself, but on the people under you – For our MCI (multiple-casualty incident) I was second-in-charge. On our org chart (military, anybody?) that meant I was directly in charge of everybody (except for the person above me). I was the information point for all the section leaders under me. What an experience! Loved it! Loved being in the situation, making mistakes, figuring what worked and what didn’t. Loved the pressure (perceived as it was), pulling things together and doing it! But as good as I “led”, it meant nothing if the people under me didn’t do their jobs. You can’t lead if there’s nothing to lead. I like the phrase, “Giving them to opportunity to succeed,” and that’s what my job became. Really good experience.
EMS and Fire are tight – On my ride-alongs with AMR the thing I enjoyed seeing the most of the community between these EMS people. It’s this crazy job that’s the basis for many a TV show, but for the EMTs and Paramedics on the job, it’s just that, their job. There’s no glamor or glory. It’s just their job. Simple as that. And these people who they spend 12 hours sitting next to, understand that. It’s kinda crazy to wrap your mind around.
A couple other things: 1) Nobody likes dispatch. Everyone thinks dispatch is out for them. I’m pretty sure it’s universal.
2) I will now always let an EMS person ahead of me in line. Chances are they still won’t get their food, drink, etc. But I will acknowledge that I understand and let them ahead of me.
See, this is getting really long and I’m still thinking of things I could say. But I will stop.
In the next couple of weeks it’s gonna be crazy!
Practicals next week
Leaving for the wedding in two weeks
Wedding in four weeks
NREMT written in five weeks (maybe)
Volunteering for Black Forest and Falcon Fire Departments (at least applying to volunteer)
I’m super excited for what’s to come and I’m ready to start! Yay!
