The December Handover would like your input

Well, since I've gotten in to this Handover thingamajig, we'd better keep it rolling!

Pop by to Just my Blog and submit your chrissie stories!

The Handover, #21

Burnout.

I had a recent rant (see my earlier post), and so have a few other bloggers out there.

Go see for yourself what everyone has contributed!

And take a break every now and again.

The October Handover - Wearing is Caring!

Another month has passed by on planet earth - which means it is time for another edition (number 20!) of "The Handover"!

This time we wanted to find out what everyone wears whilst they're on the job...uniforms, gadgets, the lot. Thanks for all who contributed!

We'll start off nice and casual with EMS Chick, who has the liberty of wearing what she wishes at work. Well, suspenders would be taking it too far I believe, but read for yourself:
http://emschick9.blogspot.com/2010/10/pockets-but-i-have-rookies.html

Cruising along the volunteer highway, let's have a look at how to save for a hot tub. I believe this is ancient ninja technique: a) remove spare change from pockets in order to be able to move stealth-like towards your opponent, and b) wear a ballistic vest for an extra super mario life. Is EMS really that dangerous up there?
http://justmejustmyblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/pockets-jingling.html

Jonathan B takes variety to a new level...from uniform over evening dress to...boy scout uniform? Hell, that's way cooler than I'll ever get to dress up when going on calls. Honestly, I would pay to see that. Kinda kinky too ;-)
http://jonemtp.blogspot.com/2010/10/things-i-carry.html

Follow the accessory maturation process of a EMT-P (P for Primate this time), over at Life of a Transport Monkey. Like the evolution, keeping it down to the minimum as you realise you don't need everything. Going through that process myself (no offence to those who carry more though!).
http://transportjockey.com/2010/10/21/are-those-shears-in-your-pocket-my-handover-post/

The Ditch Doctor takes it to an even leaner level. And I have to quote his three main items: "education, clinical knowledge & experience". Well said, Jonathan.
http://futureditchdoctor.com/2010/10/20/my-handover-submission-wearing-is-caring/

Firing it up again, Ronnie swings us a 180, and explains why he does like to carry equipment on his person.
http://gatesofintegrity.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-duty.html

James Chadbourne, a.k.a. mack505 shares great ways how to fight the obesity pandemic that is currently flooding the western world: Empty your pockets!
http://notesfrommosquitohill.com/2010/02/im-not-overweight-im-overequipped.html

Last but not least, InsomniacMedic takes an entirely different approach on the subject. I really like the post, and can't sum it up nicely, so please just have a read yourself. And don't forget that we are all human at the end of the day.
http://insomniacmedic.blogspot.com/2010/06/suit-of-armour.html

- ~ -

And so to answer Transport Monkeys question: I don't carry shears in my pants pocket. I'm happy to see you guys and gals contributing here.

Sorry for the long wait. I'd nearly finished typing up version 1 when the interwebz went kerbonkers on me, and lost everything in the ether. Exams came and went, and finally I sit myself down now in between night shifts to re-wrte everything. So many apologies if this read a little twisted/warped. Purely (un)intentional.

The Handover - Wearing is Caring!

Here I am, trying to become more regular...you know, more fibre in your diet and...erm, I mean more bog blog posting...

So I've teamed up with the wonderful troupe down at The Handover for this months Handover...

*insert drumroll*

"WEARING IS CARING"

Tell us what you wear to work; your uniform, your gadgets, even trusty friends like Simon the Sturgeon (a colleagues stuffed fish who always rides on the dashboard).
Or Geoffrey.



So - write up a post, or start a blog if you need to (with blogger.com, wordpress.com or any other popular blogging platform) and send me the link of your post to me:

flobach at gmail dot com

Deadline is 30th of October, so get cracking and writing!

Here's my post, something to get started on (but by no means a guideline - get creative, people!).

Cheers in advance for you contributions, and a big hooray for the blokes who started and continue to look after the handover!

My First

Outside forces are recalling memories. These forces stem from Mark at Medic999, asking the simple question: "What was your first ever emergency call?".

Here goes:

We were having a grand time. I was with a group of long-time friends, and the whole inner city had been blocked off because of the festivities going on. Beer, Wine and Spirits were flowing in generous amounts around me (mind you I take it pretty easy on that stuff), and a good time was being had by all.

A mate of mine and I decided to catch up with another group of friends; we had heard they were sitting in the nearby park. So off we trundled in to the dusky evening, leaving the merriness of the streets behind us, and just talking about random things that came to mind. We entered the park, walking in the presumed direction of our mates, when a bunch of spotty teenies cross our way, and surround the two us. It it completely dark by now, and the bastards shine torches directly in to our eyes.

Spotty Teenie Kids: "Hey, we are police."

This is followed up by some primate-type grunting/laughing, a la Beavis & Butthead. Yeah right of course you are police. You can't even wear you cap around the right way. They continue:

STK: "Hey, you, how are you going? You got a mobile on you? We have to check it."

I silently consider my options. Running away could be tricky - my friend just came out of hospital from a hernia operation 3 days prior, quick movements are out of the question. I myself only had thongs on, not the best of running gear. Plus, there are about 10 of the buggers surrounding us. So far they only have torches, but I do know what these types of kids often carry around with them...and I didn't want to push the limits to find out. So, in a bit of an anticlimax for you, beloved reader, we hand over our mobiles and my mate also has to hand over his wallet (I somehow got out of that). And off they run in to the darkness.

Now, all that built up adrenaline comes rushing out in to my system - my mind and body are free to work again, without the fear of knives being produced. I need the police here, pronto. But don't have a phone to call them.

I need a bystander with a mobile phone.

Running off towards the edge of the park, I find a couple sitting on a bench. I note they are doing something, but I am focussed on getting police assistance ASAP: "I need your mobile phone to call the police, quick!" I shout. They look startled. "Do you have a mobile on you? I need to call the police, we just got robbed!". The guy slowly pulls a phone out of his pocket with a 'What the hell is going on' look on his face. I dial the number for the police, and hand the phone back. Startled couple still look startled, and hush off.

Well, it turns out I missed a vital bit during those few moments, my mate tells me later. The couple on the bench were just preparing a line of cocaine to snort, when tunnel-vision-me comes running up and demands their phone to call the cops.

I would love to know what thoughts were running through their mind at the time...