Car 54! Where are you?

So I had Saturday and Sunday off work and I was supposed to work so I did something a little different. I went on a ride along with the Hamilton Police Service. I opted for Saturday night because "B" Squad was on and these are the folks that I usually see in the course of my regular work. I have to say I had a GREAT time!

Ever since I was a young kid (I don't usually say 'little') I have always held police officers in a very high regard. I was taught that if you were in trouble you could always go to the police and they will help you. You also always treat them with the greatest respect because their very job is to protect and serve the citizenry.

So because of this and because I wanted a better understanding of the job they do is why I tried for this opportunity. I see and talk to many officers fairly often and it never hurts for one emergency service to have a better understanding of another. So off I went.

So needless to say I was thrilled to no end to ride along for awhile. When I was in the parade room at the start of the shift and all of the familiar faces were surprised to see me and seemed genuinely pleased that I was taking my off time to do this. I was assigned to ride with constable Cathy. Last name shall remain vacant. I've seen her dozens of times on various scenes so we already knew each other somewhat.

So first is find the cruiser. No luck. We have the keys to a car, but the car is MIA. No worries, we go get keys to another car. She first shows me how she "runs" a plate. I'm told that she will often run a plate for any number of reasons; such as the car seems out of place, is trying to avoid her cruiser, or just because she's stopped at a light. I am stunned at how fast she gets this info. It takes literally about 5 seconds from transmitting the plate number to getting all the info in the computer. Who owns the car, license number, address, any and all problems they have had with the police, restrictions if any and tons more info. She even let me run a few plates.

On a side note, you will be happy to learn that neither myself, Jaci, or her Aunt Wendy are wanted by the police!

Shortly after we are investigating a report of youths fighting and we have a young man (16 years old) who's exceptionally drunk in the back of the cruiser. He dodges some questions about his age and name and finally comes clean. I didn't know this, but it is actually a crime to not identify yourself to a police officer. You may have the right to remain silent, but you still have to tell them who you are.

This young man pukes ALL OVER the back of the cruiser. Nothing but and orange juice smell mixed with vomit. Lovely. Off to the lock-up where he's booked for "drunk" and back to the key board for a new car. Turns out there is a service that cleans out the cruisers when people release various body fluids.

So with a new car we are off to a bomb threat. Our job is to watch over the pay phone where the threat was made to make sure it stays intact so it can be fingerprinted. CSI is crap, real police work takes time and legwork. This I have learned.

While we are doing this, two other cops (which is short for Constable On Patrol) respond to an allegedly unconscious man who at one point hits one of the officers. I see both of them at the station, Tim and Frank (Frank got hit and he's fine). This one incident and the obvious arrest that ensued will occupy these two officers for seven to eight HOURS with the paperwork.

There aren't NEARLY as many cops on the street as there should be and each arrest generates literally HOURS of paperwork. I was stunned. Nothing like EMS. We have such a small amount to do that I sometimes forget how the rest of the world works. Ridiculous.

At any rate we are off to an MVC (Motor Vehicle Collision). We got there well ahead of the ambulance so I did my thing and did some triaging and one of the victims was a little girl (she's fine) who was understandably upset. None of the responding police had any Teddy Bears (Optimists Club provides them) so the call went out and within minutes there arrived some more police to drop off a teddy bear to the girl and one for her sister. Turns out it was a tactical van. My funny bone was very tickled to see soft brown teddy bears coming out the window of a SWAT truck.

We did a lot of other things as well that night and I will sum up some of the things I have learned.

1. In EMS, our dispatch calls us on the radio using our truck number. With police, they use the "beat" number. Ours was 1377. Right in the downtown core. This means that if a call comes up in our beat and we are available, we go and we take the lead. This does not stop us from responding all over the place.

2. Ever see a cruiser drive fast without its lights on? I have but I have since realized the hard way that often police want to approach a scene in "stealth". Lights and a siren will scare away the prowler in your backyard but catching them red handed is better.

3. The amount of paperwork that has to be done if an arrest is made is obscene. This takes cops off the road for long periods of time.

4. We need more cops. Lots of them. Toronto is five times the size of Hamilton and has ten times the cops. Do the math.

I am very grateful to Cathy for taking me around and showing me the ropes. My eyes have been opened wider and I have a much better understanding. My respect for police officers has grown even greater.

It's hard to fully understand until you try to walk a mile in their steel-toed boots what it is they really do. I have only spent 11 hours on the police side of things and I still have only scratched the tip of the ice berg. It really is hard to understand the mindset of the average cop.

For example, gun shot goes off, what happens? People duck and run, if they're smart. I as a paramedic still duck, but will approach with caution to see if I can help only after the scene is made safe. Not cops. Cops run toward the gunshot and will first put themselves between you and danger, before doing anything else. They are first in harm's way for you. You have to respect that.

If any read the Hamilton Spectator on August 29th, you may remember Susan Clairmont's article about the free coffee. All I can say is that if I owned a coffee shop in this town, no street cop would ever put their hand in their pocket.

To sum up, even knowing that not all cops are the best of people; I respect them as an occupation even more than I ever have. Thanks again Cathy.

Be well.

Definately a wreck; try not to stare.

Third post in a week; I think I may be setting a new personal record!

Anyhoo.... Do you ever get the feeling that you need to be doing something else? Something different? Put a new spin to an old method maybe? Not change everything, just tweak things a little; or add something new. I don't quite know how to explain it but I have been feeling for a little while that there might be something missing or incomplete in my life.

Don't get me wrong, I know that I have a wonderful life and am truly blessed. I have my health (reasonably so at any rate), I have a beautiful wife that I love more than anything else, I have a career that I love, great friends, cats who ignore me and a dog that likes to dive bomb my nads. What else could there be? There will be kids at some point but not now, Jac and I are still exploring the husband and wife bit and kids will come. So I don't know what it is.

I just feel that there's a hole where something ought to be. I cannot, however quite put my finger on it.

What I have done is added some new outings to my (and our) schedule. Jen and I are starting up the pup nights. I would say "again", but I have never had the chance to attend one so its all new ground for me. I have also volunteered to be the "point man" for the Wednesday night FRWY dinner/discussion group.

In addition to this, I sent an email to Fred Eisenberger volunteering to help in his mayoral race. Mainly because I know Fred and he's a good guy. I also think he's the best man for the job. To date I haven't heard back from him which is disappointing, but c'est la vie.

Tonight I was talking to Mark in our usual bi-weekly meeting and the idea came up for a "Bible Study for Dummies" which I would be interested in attending. He tells me that it is distinctly possible for this to occur.

So where am I going with this train wreck of a blog? Really, I have no idea.

My life is busy, and it will get intentionally busier; but I still feel like there is something not there. I have thoughts on the matter but they are, thus far, far too personal and new to share in this kind of format. I still haven't thought everything through in my own little mind.

Onto a somewhat relevant tangent. I was listening to music while walking tonight and the following lyrics from a Wicked song stuck with me:
"It's time to trust my instincts / close my eyes and leap!
It's time to try defying gravity."

Stay tuned.

Parent Trap

The local newspaper has been filling column inches with information about the tragic happenings in Montreal. Journalists are speculating as to why a young man would try to kill so many young people in a seemingly random and senseless act. The news reports are making a big deal with his association to a "Goth" lifestyle.

I have often seen many youths who call themselves "Goth" face ridicule because of the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, or how they present themselves. I think that's unfair. While it's true their clothing tends to be dark, at least their pants are pulled up and you can't see their underwear. As far as music interests go, speaking as an avid fan of Neil Diamond and John Denver, I can not criticize anyone's choice in music; even though Goth music does not appeal to me in the slightest. Really though, can anyone who used to buy and listen to NKOTB is in no position to point and snigger.

Which brings me to my first point. Goth is largely just a group of people that shop at the same stores. In my highschool days you could easily point out the preppies, skids, skaters, stoners and band geeks to name a few. In case you are wondering, I was a Band Geek (intentionally capitalized). It has been my experience in my years working with teens that Goths are basically harmless.

They are for the most part young people who don't feel like they belong to any other group and like most people they want to have friends and belong. By and large, gothic style provides an outlet for these folks to express themselves without fear because everybody does their own thing within a larger group. Some hide behind false personas but I have found many to be creative and at the same time very introverted.

So from an armchair point of view, it's unfair to blame a gothic existence for violence. So where does it all come from? Violence, particularly with teens has been on the rise for the last 10-15 years, and it has risen sharply in the past few. Why? Is the problem societal? Parental? I believe there are many factors involved that by themselves are harmless but taken together produce lasting harm.

Parenting for me is the big one. There is a large lack of responsible parenting. Kids need to be taught that yes, you are going to fall on your face and it will often hurt quite a bit. You still need to stand up and say "Oops, ouch, my fault, won't happen again." Too many people are quick to blame others for their problems.

"McDonald's made me fat" but apparently it had nothing to do with you cramming Big Macs down your throat without even chewing. "I spilled coffee on my lap and burned myself. Tim Horton's should have told me it was hot." Really? You didn't know?

Working downtown it would shock and amaze you at how many teens, and young teens at that are wondering the streets at all hours. Even four in the morning. Where are the parents?

As to video games. Yes they are often graphic and violent. They are continually getting more graphic and more violent, why? I'll tell you, because people keep buying them. If the demand exists, someone will supply it. Where are the parents to say "no"?

I am the product of a single parent home and my mom had to work every day to pay bills and keep food on the table. I did get to spend time with Dad but it wasn't as often as either of us would have liked. With this single parent upbringing, I turned out OK (so far as I think!) Where's the difference?

I was taught right from wrong and when I was wrong I had to own up to it. As well I had friends whose parents treated me no different from their own children; they had no problems hugging me or scolding me depending on what I had been doing. The parents in my townhouse complex, same thing. I did something wrong and they would let me hear about it, THEN they'd tell mom so I'd get it again. Granted that was all 20 years ago now. Have times changed that much, and why?

I don't think it's the times, I think it's the parents. Prime example. My two brothers-in-law, Gary (19) and Ian (17). I've known them now for almost three years and each time they are in a crowd of kids their own age they stand out. Want to know why? They are both VERY tall. Also, they are both kind, considerate, helpful, polite and just good old fashioned nice guys. I have no doubt it's the parenting; with a small side order of genetics.

I say all this knowing that I currently have no children. However, based on my experience, parents who take an active part in kids lives turn out better kids. Making an effort to go to football games, sitting in the audience listening to high school bands, discussing the ups and downs of the day. I firmly believe it makes all the difference in the world. I'm sure it isn't easy, but what that is worthwhile is?

I don't think I have ever thanked my mom enough for doing all that she has done for me, and does for me still. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be as wonderful as I am (no comments please!).

So to tie this all together; is parenting the cause or solution to all of the worlds problems? No. However as a general rule, good parents make good kids, who become good parents etc etc etc. There are exceptions to that, but they are few and far between.

Be well all.

Reflections

I've never really felt that January first was the new year; it's usually been September first. That's when school starts up, cadets start, television programs start their new seasons and so on. So I always look forward to September as starting something anew.

This year things have changed and it has caused me to reflect inward as I took note and stock about my life and its varied and very diverse components. Also, as I am wont to do, I thought I would share some of the thoughts that have come across my little mind. These are in no particular order.

First is cadets. I have been actively involved in cadets since I was 12 years old. Literally more than 18 years of my life I have been active with a unit. This year I have decided to take some time off. The reasons are numerous. One is that the area detachment (middle management) is frustrating me to no end and with no end in sight. Two is that I didn't have much fun with cadets last year which is not a common occurrence. I always have fun and I wasn't so maybe it's time to take some time away to reset and determine priorities. Another reason is church. There looks to be some very interesting programs maybe running this year and I would like to take more of an active role in participation and maybe even facilitation.


Second is my beautiful bride. This is the first September we are married. This month is the first month in our new home. Oddly enough we were both commenting last night how this house in two weeks actually feels like our home much more than Dundas ever did. While we are still gazing at each other, we are starting to look outward together. Before we were married it was a conscious thought to make sure I said "we" instead of "I", now there is no longer an "I", it is only an "us". It feels weird and great at the same time.

Not that I have lost any individuality, far from it. Only that we talk everything through, and look to the future together and plan for our life. By far the most exciting thing I have ever done. I have recommended marriage to anyone that asks how married life is but I don't know if I can really do that because there is only one Jaci, so only I get to know what life with her is like. I think I will still recommend it though.

Third is work. I have been contemplating attempting ALS training next September. While I have not completely made up my mind, right now I am leaning against it. I don't know if we will be ready financially, I don't know if I am ready professionally, and I'm not sure I really want to do it. I am thinking that maybe I want to focus more on doing more of the history at Mac.

I also think that I am going to get away from the night shifts. I am 95% convinced that I am going to go straight days for the next calendar year. I like my base and really enjoy my partner, but I am really disliking nights. Also with Jac in school and (hopefully) teaching after, she will be home each evening and I want to be there with her.

Last but by certainly no means least is the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It's time to move on. Mourn the lost, celebrate the heroes of the NYPD and FDNY, let go of the rest. Be vigilant but not paralyzed. Life does go on. The birds still fly, the babies still cry, life will go on.

Two quotes to share with you. The first from Anne Frank:
"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."

The second from Henry James:
"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact."

Be well all.

What's old is new again.

So yesterday I was in class. Three times a year we at Hamilton EMS have to do our CME (Continuing Medical Education). Twice is done by the service, and once (yesterday) by the Base Hospital.

The Base Hospital is where we as paramedics get our certification. it is headed by a doctor (Dr. Michelle Welsford) and these are the folks that give us our drug protocols that allow us to give drugs in the field. So our Base Hospital CME in a nutshell tells us about upcoming new protocols, or changes to existing protocols, and does a Q&A session.

So yesterday was it and for the most part, it was pretty boring. They had three hours of material they stretched into an eight hour day. Do the math. While I have never had my brain anesthetized, I'm pretty sure I now know what it feels like.

The good news that came from yesterday was the changes coming up to our defibrillation protocols. Just in case you aren't aware, there are Cardiac Arrest protocols for the following:

a. Medical Arrest
b. Traumatic (Blunt) Arrest
c. Traumatic (Penetrating) Arrest
d. Hypothermic Arrest
e. Foreign Body Arrest

And while most of these are very similar, there are differences in each and every one. Each time we do a VSA (Vital Signs Absent), our actions are scrutinized by the Base Hospital to make sure we have done everything right.

So soon our arrest protocols will change and by and large they will simplify. Not just because it will be cheaper and easier with the changes (it will be, by the way) but because of evidence based research. Focus will change from following elaborate procedures to more of a "back to the basics" approach.

So with the changes we will be targeting with good, solid, old fashioned C.P.R. with a small defibrillation protocol just in case we can shock something. So what makes this somewhat exciting (as exciting as this stuff can get anyway)?

Like I said before...evidence based research. They're using more than an educated guess. Decisions are being based on solid, firm research.

So what does it mean in the long run? Less time on scene, less farting around. Better chance to actually do something effective. So what's the lesson for those of my readership who are not of the paramedical variety? Learn CPR.

Studies are now showing the fast and effective CPR is the absolute best chance a cardiac arrest patient has. I have personally seen two patients and heard of a third have there heart start beating again because of good quality CPR.

Also knowing that 70% of all CPR done by the general public is performed on a loved one, makes a compelling argument to spend a weekend learning or re-learning this stuff. And for the record, there is usually no difference between Red Cross and St. John Ambulance other than price.

So to sum up, changes are good. What's old has become new again; and for reasons I will never understand, I can't keep the damn dog out of the kitty litter.

Be well!