One of life's surreal moments

[kazz]

It is one of the most surreal experiences I have ever encountered, talking to someone and minutes later, seeing them collapse and watch them . . . . I guess, die.

It was @ The Big Day Out at 1:35pm today on Epsom Rd. Drugs, most likely GHB. Scott had been punching out at walls, cars, abusing people. When we got to him, we knew he was in a rapid decline, luckily for him the St Johns (Ambulance volunteers) were only minutes away. The colour drained from his face, he went cold and clammy, it was a bloody hot today (38C/100F) ~ then he crashed.

The expression on the faces of the St Johns people when he stopped breathing and there was no pulse. .their intensity went up 6 notches . . . the controlled rhythm of their CPR, it felt like 5 minutes of life/death was compressed into 60 seconds, time stood still. The look of elation when he threw up and spluttered . . . all their training, their willingness to help others . . . paid off. I don't think young Scott knows just how lucky he is to be still alive . . . a brief moment of lucidity and all he could do was call them c***s. *sigh*

I know I didn't like the helplessness feeling . . . it was gnawing at me. I hexi-foamed the poor St Johns blokes . . got them water, for me, I couldn't do enough for them. Scott on the other hand . . . all he could do was abuse his life savers. That sort of pee'd me off.

Watching someone breath after there was nothing . . . just surreal & the feeling of relief!!! Seeing the sheer joy of the faces of those that have trained for that very moment.

[SANE-A30]

Kazz, I know the feeling you described very well before I went to nursing school this is a blog that I wrote in 2009 and posted on my facebook..now i am part of that aura.... there truly is no greater calling then to save a life...there have been moments when I clocked out and cried all the way home b/c we lost one, there have been moments i closed my eyes and silently thanked God for giving that poor soul another chance...it truly is a humbling experience to hold life in your hand and either grasp it or watch it fade away, it is a CONSTANT reminder like a tape on rewind in my head to appreciate my life you never take things for granted like the average person...here is the blog I wrote two years ago:

while sitting at the ER waiting on Ct results and lab work for 12 hours, I just sat in awe as the people flooded in I soaked up their stories, their fears, their traumas, their caustrophe, I felt suffocated by the presence of illness and death as it circulated the lobby, the sounds of heliopters could be heard overhead, several ambulances waiting in line on the ramp one a cardiac arrest, one found down at home , I guess when you have this type of abundance Hippa goes out the window the ER was slammed crawling with nurses, eMs , Police etc.... I looked into the solmn sad eyes of those hurting in distress. passing among the white doors the bodies grew greatly in number and I quickly realized why the extended wait time was so crucial one lady had been hit by a car that left her for dead 18 hours later she was finally found, she lay strapped to a back board waiting in the hall for a possible empty bed , a newborn baby hooked up to numerous machines lay sleeping in her carrier, and right next to me a young girl that walked in five minutes prior began seizing full blown convulsions, the nurses and doctors ran to her aide one male nurse lifted her and carried her convulsing body to a bed...I watched a lady getting baker-acted cussing those trying to help her , her words might as well been a razor, she was pushed out in a wheel chair handcuffed screaming profanity the whole way.. I listened to one lady vent about how her daughter that is dying of ovarian cancer can't get any medical assistance, that this hospital was her last and only hope, a tragedy in waiting. . I sat there watching in awe at how fast their hands worked, I studied the tired faces of the nurses and Emt's, despite the overflow of the sick they pushed on searching for empty beds, it was then in that moment I realized, how blessed I was and how fortunate my neighbor is.

I don't see how these nurses, EMS, police do it for 12 and 13 hours, I thought my job was intense...
After 12 hours of sitting and listening and absorbing the aura of what this world is becoming by 1030pm , I was in overload, with my name next on the list to be called I pulled out my INT and walked out. I resigned my place for the person next to me waiting .... Amazing how strong the human spirit can actually be and just how far we can carry one another if we just try.

[kazz]

Yes, there's many nurses/doctors/paramedics that witness this day in, day out. No doubt there's quite a few members on this forum that have experienced similar events. I'm accustomed, as one can be, on seeing death after being in the job for more than 3 decades . . . . . It's the 1st time I've been fortunate enough to see life. =]

[SANE-A30]

Yes, there's many nurses/doctors/paramedics that witness this day in, day out. No doubt there's quite a few members on this forum that have experienced similar events. I'm accustomed, as one can be, on seeing death after being in the job for more than 3 decades . . . . . It's the 1st time I've been fortunate enough to see life. =]

with my job I've become immune to it sort of every now and then I become human again and my emotions get stirred...to be able to restore life is a powerful thing and a major workout!!! I remember once we was coding a patient and we always have few people who volunteer to do chest compressions... so here I was next in line a new nurse I was very nervous so far we had no success..being the short stature person I am I had to put one knee in the bed.. and so it started..... within a minute of compressions I hear them say we have a rythm....it was a awesome feeling knowing that I had saved a life... many codes later you just go in and give it your best... in most cases where i work they are better off by " not saving" b/c their quality of life is so poor so it makes it easier when you are not successful.

[kazz]

I know one or three nurses/paramedics that have been thankful that they didn't revive someone, as you say, quality of life is one huge consideration.

Many people are able to physically cope with the life/death/inhuman acts that we deal with, the focus being on the job, getting a result etc . . but sadly the mental overload does take a toll. I know a policewoman who dealt with sexual offences, many involving kids, for 15-16 years. . . . totally burnt out. We, as a dept, failed to equip her with the right tools to deal with the horrors she had to deal with. They tried once she was off on extended sick leave, but the horse had truly bolted.

You may feel 100% or even immune, but as you said, every now & then one gets to you. . . . its so important to find ways to cope with the negative crap that can be overwhelming . . . and of course that's not in the bottom of a bottle or becoming dependant on prescription or illicit drugs as sadly some emergency workers do.

Maybe your writing is one such outlet.

=]

[Chef_Au]

Hang on, didn;t the police minister insist there were no drugs at the BDO because it was a rock festival and not a rave??

What a schmuck!

[kazz]

Hahahaha, that's right, there weren't any drugs there mate . . . nor drunks or lots of scantily clad young women standing under sprinklers like a wet t-shirt competition trying to cool off in the 38C/100F in the shade temps. That never happened!!!!

=]

[marinepilot]

Hahahaha, that's right, there weren't any drugs there mate . . . nor drunks or lots of scantily clad young women standing under sprinklers like a wet t-shirt competition trying to cool off in the 38C/100F in the shade temps. That never happened!!!!

=]

I'm sure glad none of that happened, 'cause I would have hated to have missed it!!

[MikeG]

Hahahaha, that's right, there weren't any drugs there mate . . . nor drunks or lots of scantily clad young women standing under sprinklers like a wet t-shirt competition trying to cool off in the 38C/100F in the shade temps. That never happened!!!!

=]

38C is hot. 38DD is hotter. Better shade too.

[SANE-A30]

38C is hot. 38DD is hotter. Better shade too.

Oooh geez....typical male perspective....:D.....how funny I think you need some cookies!