Made my heart happy....

There is a young woman named Stephanie Brooks. She is alive today and she is a miracle. July 23, 1999 is her alive day. She survived a horrific crash and battled for life and won. I remember this day. I was sitting at McDonald's eating with my partner Cory when they toned out the call. We responded and arrived to find a young woman in the mangled wreckage of a car. She had been struck in the driver's door and was obviously in critical condition. We did our job and took care of her as we are trained to do. This call was my first involving a kid that was something more than a skinned knee. In the days that followed Cory and I visited her at the hospital every chance we could. I saw a tiny body struggling for life.... and winning. She had a long road and I knew it would be difficult. Back then that is all I knew of her story. Last week, she called me. This never ever ever happens. She said she was doing good and that there were still struggles in her life but she is thankful for everything she has. It made me believe once again that there are miracles and she is the ultimate proof of one. She told me thank you and a little about how her life is. What she doesn't know is that she has had a profound affect on me and my partner. While we realize how precious life is and that sometimes we do hold the power over life and death we often don't claim this in our personal lives. We should always remember that life is precious and that every minute is an opportunity to fulfill your life potential. No moment should be squandered in unhappiness. We should all strive to find our smile. To find our reason for our hearts to beat. Everyday I am reminded that there are simple ways to make life beautiful. Sometimes it is something as simple as a thank you. Thank you Stephanie.

Breaking NEWS!! SELF CPR does not work!! Whoda Thunkit?? However PRECORDIAL THUMP (the ultimate Paramedic Ninja Skill) is still APPROVED!

Self CPR is a coughing procedure that has been widely publicized on the Internet since 1999 and was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1976. Since it is widely publicized, it needs to be mentioned by well-known CPR authorities - see the American Heart Association's stance and the American Red Cross's stance on this topic. Both of them acknowledge that self CPR is possible, but limited to clinical situations.

The thought is that forceful coughing puts pressure on the heart, forcing it to pump blood. This may work for a few seconds while an abnormal heart rhythm passes, but only on a conscious, responsive person in specific situations. This topic is not taught in CPR classes for the simple reason that CPR intervention is based on a victim's unresponsiveness and coughing CPR would just be additional data to remember with virtually no application in the field.
This may change as more is learned over the years, but for now the best thing a person can do when he begins to experience cardiac arrest or heart attack is to call 9-1-1. If there are any people around, get their attention so they know you need help too.


On a serious note....well sort of serious PRECORDIAL THUMP is still recommended by the American Heart Association for Witnessed Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia when there is not a defibrillator immediately available (keep in mind it may take forever...like a whole 15 seconds to charge!)

What does this mean??? Go out there and practice your ninja skills!!!!