Newman | Not a butcher, not a baker.. but I am a cabinet-maker
Stanstead QC | 9 Feb 2012
“I’m 36 years old, I love my family, I love baseball, and I’m about to become a farmer. But until I heard the voice I had never done a crazy thing in my whole life.” – Field of Dreams
It’s funny how life happens while you’re busy making other plans – and making plans for other people. As you know, my whole professional career has been connected in some way to emergency health services, emergency preparedness, or emergency management.
In lieu of a midlife career crisis, the crash of the American economy overtook almost all of the opportunities I had to express myself as an emergency services leader or mentor. The grants sundowned, the budgets dried up, and a lack of catastrophes shifted thought patterns to a happier time prior to 9/11 or Katrina.
Which leads me to telling you about my apprenticeship in a wood-working shop.
Recently, I’ve been learning the custom cabinetry & furniture design biz from the ground-up with Gerry Goodsell and Bruce Buzzell of GBH Custom Cabinetry of Stanstead QC. It’s unrelentingly tough, old-world, passionate work that requires a mix of wisdom and skills that can’t be jam-packed into a smartphone app and dispensed on-demand.
My hair (not much left after the latest buzz cut) and clothes that have gone through repeated wash cycles still reek of stain. I’ve come to the conclusion that somehow the smell has nestled into a corner of my nose and just won’t come out no matter what I attempt in terms of remediation. When I shake my clothes off on the porch there’s an indelicate shower of sawdust and splinters that tumble to the ground. And while my fingers are still all attached to my hands, many of them have the marks left behind by splinters or nicks or both. My friend Matt Fortin says that given enough time my skin will toughen up. Oh good.
Not long after we first moved out here I was out scouting for land my friend/neighbour Howard Peterson could lease to plant soybeans and I had a memorable conversation about how relatively unblemished my hands were with one old-school farmer up the road. “You’re not a farmer are you?”
“No, sir. Is it that obvious?” I’d worn my best farmer gear so I wouldn’t stand out as a recently transplanted city guy. “Well, your hands are soft, those jeans sure are pretty, and no self-respecting farmer would drive up a dirt road in a little rice-burning vroom-vroom car like that one.”
Hmmmm. A few more weeks with Gerry & Bruce and I’ll be able to head back up the road and present a wood-torn handshake, some seriously distressed jeans, and a – still need to borrow a pickup truck – to complete the proper portrait picture.
Back to the cabinet shop. Gerry and Bruce specialize in custom one-of-a-kind antique reproduction pieces. They use wood prepared for them by another ‘old-school’ guy with his own sawmill who lives up in Ways Mills – a tiny town disguised as a picturesque backwoods crossroads complete with beautiful old churches standing mirror-like on opposite sides of the road.
Some of the wood is relatively new while other pieces are built from wood that has been recycled after a previous lifetime as a barn, a farmhouse, or a shed. They’ve amassed a great collection of vintage square nails and other bits and pieces of hardware – and have introduced me to the joys of leafing slowly, very slowly, through catalogues from companies specializing in antique reproduction hardware.
Earlier this week, we ‘cooked’ a newly-delivered latch in the wood furnace for a full day to achieve just the right combination of rust, ash and wear so that it would match the one-hundred-and-something-year-old hinges destined for an armoire in the process of coming together in the shop.
Gerry and I sat down over cappuccino and examined a box of antique reproduction hardware which he had ordered. The attention to detail was incredible and as Gerry demonstrated how each could be used – holding them up against pantry cupboard doors and kitchen cabinetry – it was clear just how personally invested he is in the design and build process. “Just look at these rat tail hinges, they’re a work of art. Look at them up here on this door. That’s a great look and feel.”
Today is ‘reveal day’ for the latest armoire nearing the end of the build phase and headed over here for the finishing phase. Finishing will include the application of butcher’s wax, the wiring for the lighting and the UPS system, and the integration of the locked secret cabinet that will contain, according to the client’s specs, a bottle of Don Cuco Sotol Suave and two glasses. I learn something new every day and sometimes it doesn’t have anything to do with the art of working with wood. Trust me when I tell you that Sotol is not an easy thing to find far North of the Mexican-Texan line. And don’t even think of suggesting Tequila as a replacement to someone who specifies Sotol as their secret-compartment stress-relieving drink of choice.
Bruce & Gerry are perfectionists. The armoire was supposed to arrive yesterday. Gerry showed up at our place with a coffee in hand but no cabinet in the pickup truck. He explained that he just wasn’t satisfied with the overall look and was going to lay on another thin coat of stain. Each piece of furniture goes out with their heart and soul added for good measure. They have been building things out of wood for a long time and have built their name and reputation on the beauty and functionality of each piece of cabinetry or furniture that comes out of their shop.
My old friend Jim Stephens is a serious craftsman – pottery, blacksmithing, scientific glassblowing, and carpentry. When I told him about my apprenticeship in the BGH work shop, he told me, “A shop is a great place for the mind to rest, for the internal dialogue to rest,for the ego to take a rest. When you do good work and make a nice thing of quality and beauty, it speaks for itself as it speaks for you, it is a little part of yourself that goes out into the world. The shop is a place of action, and few words... The best strong emotions in a work shop are awe, joy, serenity, peacefulness and focus.”
Indeed.
Be well. Practice big medicine.
Hal
BGH Custom Cabinetry & Furniture | T: 819-704-0662 | E: hnewman@tems.ca
Newman | Chicken humour
Stanstead QC | 11 Feb 2012
Chickens are interesting little creatures. Who’d have thunk it? If you live long enough in the city with no exposure to farm life, you can be forgiven if you begin believing that chickens are egg-laying automatons. And then one day you find yourself walking out to the chicken coop in your backyard, insulated red plaid L.L. Bean shirt providing a much-needed layer of protection against the early morning chill. Yes, I am the caretaker of three hens named Minnie, Shania and Becel.
Shania is an Easter-Egger. She’s part Araucana and so when she lays eggs they are a delicate shade of blue. It’s quite amazing to behold when one of Shania’s eggs graces the palm of your hand. Tastes the same as other fresh-laid eggs.* Just looks entirely and extraordinarily different. Shania’s plumage looks a bit like she’s wearing an extravagant costume with golden feathers on her neck. She’s not the friendliest of the crew. Actually, Shania is downright ornery when given the opportunity to express herself with beak or feet. Picking her up is always an interesting exercise in faked assertiveness – because, really, I’d just as soon get the heck out of there.
I don’t pick the chickens up on a regular basis however sometimes it’s a necessity. This summer they had a mite infestation in their nesting box and the only way to off the little buggers was to provide them with a pesticide powder dust bath. And that involved me donning a mask and gloves, pouring some of the powder into a plastic garbage bag, and then picking up a chicken and wrapping her in the bag – with her head sticking out. A good shake and the pesticide powder was well applied to her feathers. I managed to emerge from the process with only a few scratches and a new-found respect for just how quickly and powerfully a hen can bring her beak and feet together to inflict pain on one’s hand.
Minnie is a little Silkie hen. Silkies are known for their fluffy plumage. Minnie is an almost always elegant little chicken. Except, of course, when she’s enjoying the benefits of a dirt bath. Chickens dig their own outdoor spa-bowls in the ground and then use the loose dirt and dust to clean their feathers of any unwelcome bugs. When Minnie emerges from her dirt bath she’s a surreal mix of earth tones, bright white plumage, and her super-chicken blue earlobes. No, really, Minnie has blue earlobes. She’s a super chicken. And a supermom.
Minnie is the surrogate mom of Becel.
Becel is a hen raised from an egg by Minnie. Minnie went broody and we provided her with three fertilized eggs from our friends Jacques & Brigitte’s chicken coop. Minnie was absolutely dedicated to those eggs. She sat on them day and night for nearly a month – climbing off her eggs only long enough to eat, drink and poop. All of which she accomplished in a short break every day. Only one of the eggs hatched and Becel (the colour of margarine) was born. She climbed under Minnie and slept beneath her Mom’s tummy until she eventually graduated to sleeping beneath one of her wings. Becel grew quickly and soon dwarfed her mom but she was always seeking comfort and protection by trying to tuck in under Minnie’s wings. That’s Becel on the far right in the picture below taken in their winter quarters – the newly renovated and insulated shed/chicken coop.
This piece is titled ‘Chicken humour’ because of a peculiar incident which occurred earlier this week as I worked inside the coop to spruce it up, rake through the shavings, shovel out the poop, refill their water tank (heated), and change their heat lamp for a new bulb. Normally the ladies are quite content to explore the shed while I work in the coop. I’ll leave the outside door open and they stand on the sill contemplating the snow and the ice outside but for whatever reason are not tempted to hop down and explore the frozen landscape. This time however the hens took turns climbing onto the toes of my huge Sorel boots and riding them around the coop while I worked. So I got my chores done amid a raucous display of cackling, clucking and wing flapping. It was very silly. Right out of a Monty Python skit. Walk this way, I said to myself as I flapped my arms like wings and wandered about with a chicken on each boot top. They didn’t leave any poop as a deposit so I’m guessing it was all just a bit of chicken humour among friends. I feel honoured.
Life in the country.. with chickens.
*PS. Once you’ve eaten a farm-fresh egg there’s no going back to the egg-like objects in those cartons in the supermarket. Wow. The taste is amazing and your scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, sunny-sides-up, hard-boiled, chopped egg sandwiches, omelettes, quiches, and french toast will never be the same. I’ll let you know when we’ve got a few more hens in ‘the house’ and we’re ready to sell some of our eggs down at the end of our drive.
Newman | Stranger Danger
I won’t miss 2011. It was a rugged year and I don’t mind saying that I’d have kicked it into a pig-manure-slurry-filled ditch if the option had presented itself. Hell, I’d have put the year to bed in late November because right after that is when I became aware of a whole new meaning for the words ‘Stranger danger.’
‘Stranger danger’ is how many parents teach their children about why it’s not a good idea to talk to a stranger. “Don’t talk to strangers.” “Don’t tell a stranger your name.” “Don’t help strangers.”
Of course, one of the big problems with teaching kids about ‘Stranger danger’ is that if they’re in real trouble they are unlikely to seek assistance from ‘strangers’ who can help – i.e., paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. They will, quite intentionally, run away from rescue.
In March, I became a part-time firefighter in a little town near where we live.
I went through the agility test, the police check, the medical, and the interview process and lo and behold I was accepted as a part-time firefighter. I was excited and proud to have returned to the fire service at the tender age of 51. And then the reality of stranger danger set in.
Nothing I could do brought me any closer to being accepted as a member of the team.
While I was fairly comfortable with the idea that my tactical entry days were over (the young guys were busting for the opportunity to battle the dragon I had already met in a previous life ‘on the job’), I figured there was a role to play as a mentor, a subject matter expert, a community advocate, an instructor, a coach, or as an ambassador.
I was, briefly, appointed to being responsible for the health & safety of our firefighters. It was a great fit given my extensive background in EMS and fire. I began collecting as much information as possible on the dangers of rural firefighting. I talked with colleagues from ‘the job’ to gather their thoughts on rehab protocols that would work in a small-town FD.
Within days I was stripped of the position because the senior officers decided that the responsibility should rest with an officer. No one assumed the role. The message was crystal clear: Far better to maintain a vacuum than allow an outsider the opportunity to lend a hand.
I went to practices and responded to emergency calls. I tried my best to learn the SOPs in a department where there are no published SOPs (or if there are they are not shared with the rookie firefighters). I tried to learn all of the back roads and addresses of the large first-due territory so I spent a good chunk of time exploring, visiting possible water sources, and creating personal maps of properties I envisioned as being particularly high-risk.
I tried hard, probably too hard, to do some good. I found grant opportunities. I talked with private donors willing to step-up to help finance new gear. I searched for training opportunities for my fellow firefighters. I called old friends to see if anyone had any openings for up-and-coming firefighters or medics.
At emergency scenes, I was often relegated to directing traffic. At one high-impact RTC with injuries I found myself about half a kilometre from the scene of the crash standing on a dark highway juggling flares. On another all-hands call, I was instructed to ‘BA up’ and then was told to hike down the road to direct traffic (complete with my BA on my back). I was the rookie no one wanted on their scenes.
Two of my brethren took an interest in becoming my mentors in the department and they walked me through all the gear, the rigs, and the local approach to fighting fire. One of them did so discretely but the other was quite open about helping me out. The latter received an official reprimand for helping the rookies (although, I suppose, in retrospect the intent was to shut me down lest I actually begin to fit in with the rest of the crew).
Truth is, I’d have probably resigned at the probationary review meeting had the officers openly expressed the fact they really saw no way for me to play a meaningful role in the fire department. The feeling of forever being the stranger in their midst had already begun to take its toll and for the first time in a long professional life in emergency services, it was no longer fun. It had become just another part-time job. Each time I attempted to show initiative I was forcefully advised to only do what was expected of me and nothing more.
Problem was that as the calendar wound its way down toward Christmas, the fire department leadership didn’t voice their disappointment or concerns. Instead, I went to more training sessions and emergency calls and they invited me to become more involved. I remember standing around with a few of the officers, each with a beer in hand, casually chatting about trying to get the team together for a fundraising run next summer. The duplicity of that moment still leaves me awestruck.
I volunteered for extra duty and special events and in the end after a meeting wherein I thought I had successfully passed my probationary period, the Chief and the officers voted to have me terminated. They sent their recommendation to the town and the town council voted on the measure and – presto – I was no longer a part-time firefighter. Only problem of many was that no one thought it was important to tell me what was happening.
I had been fired without so much as a word from the leadership of the department. Nothing. No warning. Just like the proverbial deer in the headlights I had been blindsided by an oncoming fire-engine-red Ford F-150 Turbo pickup truck.
Ironically enough, I was fired hours after helping out at the scene of a working incident in our own hometown (something I wrote about it in Leadership Lessons).
So, my local fire service career ended the first week of December 2011 less than a year after it began.
In an era when volunteer and part-time departments are struggling to find the human capital necessary to wear all the hats (or helmets) required to properly staff an emergency service, how does your organization handle the concept of tapping into local human resources? Do you have a Wisdom Corps of folks who are waiting and willing to lend a hand? How do you recruit for non-emergency role players?
Feel free to share your own best practices and lessons learned.
PS. There’s a 2012 update. Sorry I don’t have better news to report. I volunteered for the community first responder program in my own new adopted hometown. I was rejected without even going through an interview process. Actually, no one could even be bothered with calling me or writing me to tell me I had been rejected. They just started the training program and I wasn’t invited to take part.
So I went out and re-certified as an emergency medical responder back in Montreal on my own time and dime just because I believe that out here it is essential to have some degree of self-reliance.
In the meantime, the community first responder project was having trouble getting off the ground so they held a meeting at town hall. I attended the meeting and they invited me to become involved in trying to recruit people for the team – right up until when I asked if I would be considered for the group. “No thanks” was the reply. No explanation required, apparently.
And so, sadly, the first responder project has been cancelled by community leaders quite willing to cut off their nose if it means being able to spite a relative stranger.
We moved out to the country where I hoped to be able to lend some of my EMS and firefighting wisdom to the community. It didn’t work out that way. I hope each of you can find a way to be kinder to the newcomers in your midst. My guess is that each of them can bring something valuable to the mix you have created over the years.
Thanks for your consideration.
Be well. Practice big medicine.
Hal
Newman | Leadership lessons
Stanstead QC | Lessons in leadership often are unexpected.
This past summer, our daughters Emma and Sophie played soccer in Stanstead.
Stanstead is a small town. In Pointe Claire, where we used to live, there were more than 2,000 kids in the soccer program. In Stanstead, there were probably less than 300. So the girls played on a mixed team – boys and girls – aged 12 to 16 years. That’s one helluva stretch.Boys and girls – some just finishing elementary school and others going into their senior year of high school. Together in one gang for a summer soccer season that culminates with a one-day three-game tournament for the championship and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
The girls’ coach was Jen and her assistant was Sarah. Jen was headed off to grad school in psychology after the season, Sarah was in college. Each of them have a love of the game and they seemed to have a plan that included transferring that love of the game to the team during the course of the season.
The first few games were pretty rugged. The coaches were focused on working with the players to think of themselves as a team. Winning games would have been a nice bonus but it clearly wasn’t the screaming priority as the summer began. They practiced technique. They practiced passing. They ran. And they had a lot of fun.
And Jen and Sarah asked the kids to each write his or her goal for the season on a piece of paper. Jenn gathered the collective aspirations and continued her focus on building this group into a solid cohesive team.
She and Sarah would bring home-baked goodies [cupcakes and cookies] to games for the players. They had meetings on the pitch after the games – after-action briefs – and would talk about what they could do better next time out.
And the kids responded to the love, the respect, the appreciation and the real leadership of their coaches. The team that couldn’t buy a win early in the season began to gel into a tightly-bound group that moved the ball down the pitch with skill. They began to distribute passes while creating space. They called ‘man on’ while communicating between one another. They held their ground.
Emma’s season ended early when she blocked a ball booted by a 15-year-old boy on another team. She broke her arm in two places and finished the summer in a cast. However, she continued to be a part of the team. Jen and Sarah recruited her to provide her impressions of each half from the sidelines. Emma was included in the pre and post-game ritual team cheers and in the high-fives with the other teams after each game.
Though she was no longer an active player, Jen and Sarah saw to it that the team’s spirit carried well beyond the soccer pitch to include Emma – and other players who were forced to ride the bench due to injuries.
The team that began the season as a ragtag collection of seemingly mismatched kids who would never imagine themselves in the company of their teammates ended their improbable run with three straight victories in the championship – defeating the favorites in the final.
It was a fitting end to a magical season. At the end of the summer, Jen and Sarah gave each one of their players those notes they had written at the beginning of the season – with their own compliments and best wishes added for good measure.
–
On Monday afternoon, Matt and I were on our way down to the local hardware store to buy some ductwork supplies. Matt was driving when that my Montreal red light reflection instinct kicked-in. “There’s an emergency call,” I said and a few seconds later the Stanstead Fire Dept officer’s SUV rolled through the intersection running hot.
Matt said something about following him in case it was a medical call so we could lend a hand. He was driving so we did, turning right and following the SUV into the parking lot of a truck stop. The officer got out of his vehicle and headed toward the building. We followed at a respectful distance.
I kept thinking that there’s no way he’s going to want any help from a couple of ‘free agent’ firefighters from the next town up the road.
As we walked into the building, I immediately realized it wasn’t a medical call. The smell of something burning was in the air. Matt asked the Stanstead FD officer if he could use a hand – and seconds later we were assisting – first by helping to evacuate the building and then by securing the perimeter outside.
Stanstead FD units began arriving and one after another the firefighters BA’d up and began operations investigating the source of the burning smell. Matt and I ended up lending a hand on-scene for a couple of hours. We didn’t do anything special. We were just an extra couple of sets of hands and we took care of the traffic and perimeter issues – which in Matt’s case meant dealing with the drivers of several semis lined-up to refuel.
The investigation led the firefighters to an electrical problem and the scene was secured and cleared. As Matt and I were packing up to return to life as it was regularly scheduled, the PC came over to thank us personally for our help. It was a really nice moment and we both remarked to one another how good it was to be appreciated.
It was one of those emergency services-affirming moments where an eclectic group of professionals gather together at the right time for the right reasons. There’s something wondrous to be part of a dedicated team. It was Big Medicine.
–
Leadership is about instilling that sense of teamwork - that feeling that we’re all pulling in the same direction – together as one. Great leaders inspire, build confidence, enable compassion and creativity. They make us believe we can achieve the impossible. And often we accomplish improbable goals that no individual even thought was within our collective grasp.
Be well. Practice big medicine.
Hal
Newman | Playlist for The Big One
Stanstead QC | December 13- Big Update to Announce:
The quest to build The Playlist for The Big One now includes an opportunity for artists to submit their tunes to Big Med on Sonicbids.
http://www.sonicbids.com/BigMedicine2
For those of you who don’t know, Sonicbids helps bands get gigs and promoters book the right bands. The list of folks who are booking great music on Sonicbids is pretty damned impressive – SWSX 2012, Canadian Music Fest, bonnaroo, MTV – and, of course, Big Medicine.
We’re going to feature two or three new artists every week as we build out the Playlist for The Big One. I’m hoping the next Big Med Porch Party will include a few special guest appearances.
You can visit the Big Med Music section to listen to/watch new artists already added to The Playlist for The Big One. If you’re a musician or know a musician whose work should be considered for The Playlist for The Big One, get hooked-up with Sonicbids and submit your EPK for consideration.
Music often serves as an escape hatch from the high-end stress that is a constant companion for life on the job. Music provides a soundtrack for our memorable calls. Here’s Norm Rooker on working a code in 1986…
“Like running hot to a cardiac arrest call to Jefferson Starship’s “We Built this City”.
It was early 1986 in east San Jose. Cindy Petretto and I were running hot through mid afternoon traffic for a cardiac call, CPR in progress. And what job isn’t made better with a good sound track in the back ground?
We had a classic rock station cranked up, radio KOME (yes, that is a real call sign and they’re still on the air) and while they played a number of rock classics as Cindy threaded us through the just out of school afternoon traffic, the song that was playing as we pulled up on scene was that Starship classic.
Like so many of our cardiac arrests, first responders were already on scene and CPR was in progress. The patient was in a coarse v-fib so we did what we always do, gave her a 200 watt second ride on the lightning and, surprise of surprises, shocked her right into asystole.
Unfortunately a not all that an uncommon but unintended outcome for this V-fib treatment. So now our patient is flat lined and we were attempting to stimulate her heart back up with various chemicals so we could shock it again. Hopefully with a different outcome.
I was on my A game that day and not only got the tube on the first shot but also turned around and sunk an EJ, as the patient had nothing for veins peripherally and Cindy wasn’t having any luck in either arm.
We worked that code to the point of calling it and Cindy was on the telephone with a Base Station Attending getting permission to do so when the patient’s heart said “enough already” and decided to rejoin us. I have never seen this before or since but our patient’s heart spontaneously converted from Aysytole to a perfusing sinus tach. (4 rounds of Epi 1:10,000 and 3 mg of Atropine tends to make the heart beat a little faster, when it chooses to respond.)
“Wait a minute doc! Forget the pronouncement, I need a Dopamine order!”
“What????”
Cindy and I brought our patient into Valley Medical Center, The Big Valley, where she was admitted to ICU but did not survive her event and passed away for good two days later. We received a nice thank you note from the family not only thanking us for our efforts, but also for giving their family a chance to get together and say their good byes to their mother, grandmother, sister, beloved wife, etc..
It was signed by what we guessed was the entire family. While Cindy and I had succeeded in telling the Grim Reaper “Not Today!” for our patient, and had a fantastic, make that great field save, we were humbly reminded both that it is not a true save unless the patient is able to resume their normal life and that we had not anticipated how many lives our efforts were actually making an impact on.”
I’m still building The Playlist for The Big One.
The Playlist got its start when I invited readers to submit their suggestions for the ultimate soundtrack to listen to while responding to The Big One.
We received a lot of references to mainstream classic artists and tunes however we also were ref’d to some outstanding emerging artists and little known musical gems.
The blog piece continues to morph and has evolved into a complete music section on Big Med.
Now, I’m asking for more of your suggestions and this time around I’d like you to attach specific meaning/context/memories to each piece you submit.
Think of this as the soundtrack for a TV series never made.
The original Playlist for The Big One:
If you’re going to be really prepared for The Big One you’re going to need some great tunes. So, I asked people to send me their suggestions.. the list continues to grow.
Simple Minds–Alive and Kicking
Glenn Frey–The Heat Is On
Men At Work–It’s A Mistake
When In Rome–The Promise
- The previous four tunes were added to The Big One list by Norm Rooker on July 13 2009
Molly Hatchet–Flirting With Disaster
Stevie Ray Vaughn–Couldn’t Stand The Weather
Loudness–Hurricane Eye
The Scorpions–Rock You Like A Hurricane
The Talking Heads–Burning Down The House
ACDC–Thunderstruck
Jimmy Buffett–Volcano
Santana–No One To Depend On
The Rolling Stones–Gimme Shelter
Jerry Lee Lewis–Great Balls of Fire
Johnny Cash–Guess Things Happen That Way
Al Green–Let’s Stay Together
The Dells–Oh What A Night
Big Joe Turner–Shake, Rattle, and Roll
The Animals–We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
REO Speedwagon–Ridin’ The Storm Out
Sara Groves–Tornado
Kenny Loggins–Danger Zone
Jimi Hendrix–Fire
Barry McGuire–Eve of Destruction
Tracy Lawrence–Texas Tornado
Fontella Bass–Rescue Me
James Taylor–Fire and Rain
Bruce Springsteen–Across the Border
Bruce Springsteen–Fire
Bruce Springsteen–My City of Ruins
Tragically Hip–New Orleans is Sinking
Led Zeppelin–When the Levee Breaks
KISS–Firehouse
Chicago–Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?
Hank Williams, JR–A Country Boy Can Survive
Elvis Presley–All Shook Up
Jimmie Dean–Big John
Bing Crosby–White Christmas
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown–Fire
Katrina & The Waves–Walk on Water
REM–It’s The End Of The World As We Know It [And I Feel Fine]
Gordon Lightfoot–The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
ACDC–You Shook Me All Night Long
CCR–Have You Seen The Rain
Tears For Fears–Mad World
Moby–The Rain Falls and The Sky Shudders
Live–Lightning Crashes
Beck–Earthquake Weather
The Alarm–Rain in the Summertime
Gnarls Barkley–Run [I'm A Natural Disaster]
Jars of Clay–Flood
The Cure–Shiver and Shake
The Smiths–Panic
Depeche Mode–Shake the Disease
New Order–Confusion
Richard Wagner–Ride of the Valkyries
Billy Joel–
Land of Despair
Only the Good Die Young
Pressure
We Didn’t Start the Fire
Phil Collins–
Against All Odds
Land Of Confusion
Roof Is Leaking
Electric Light Orchestra–Concerto For A Rainy Day
Standin’ In The Rain
Big Wheels
Summer and Lightning
Mr. Blue Sky
Bad Company–Burning Sky
The Talking Heads–Life During Wartime
CCR–Bad Moon Rising
The Bee Gees–Stayin’ Alive
Bad Company–
Shooting Star
Downpour in Cairo
Lynyrd Skynyrd–Smokestack Lightning
Call Me The Breeze
Dead Man Walking
Gimme Three Steps
Rocking Little Town
Life’s Lessons
Need All My Friends
Alison Krauss–Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby
The Whites–Keep On The Sunny Side
The Allman Brothers–Blue Sky
Ritchie Blackmore’s Night–
The Storm
Mid Winter’s Night
Gone With The Wind
Blue Highway–Still Climbing Mountains
Bonnie Raitt–Deep Water
Cate Brothers–There Goes The Neighborhood
Doobie Brothers–Black Water
Lonesome Road–Higher Ground
George Strait–Ready For The End of the World
By The Light Of The Burning Bridge
The Dixie Chicks–
Landslide
Top Of The World
Chris Thile–Brakeman’s Blues
Alison Krauss & Union Station–
Dark Skies
Bright Sunny South
Rain Please Go Away
John Anderson–I Fell In The Water
John Hiatt–
Cold River
Wintertime Blues
The Grascals–
Keep Me From Blowing Away
Rolly Muddy River
Nickle Creek–Why Should The Fire Die
Rhonda Vincent–Drivin’ Nails in My Coffine
Ray Charles–Heat Of The Night
Red Thunder–
Water Night
Heart Beat
Steely Dan–
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
Everything Must Go
Trace Adkins–If I Fall [You're Going With Me]
Van Halen–Judgment Day
The Greencards–Weather and Water
Whiskey River Band–Dancing Around The Fire
Enya–A Day Without Rain
Johnny Paychek–Take This Job And Shove It
The Bloodhound Gang–The Roof Is On Fire
Golden Earring–
Twilight Zone
Radar Love
Deep Purple–Smoke On The Water
The playground song ‘Ring Around The Rosie’
Green Day–Warning
Twisted Sister–We’re Not Going To Take it
The Who–
Who Are You
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Santana–Oye Como Va
Peter Gabrial–Red Rain
Seals & Crofts–Summer Breeze
Jonathan Edwards–Sunshine [Go Away Today]
Paper Lace–The Night Chicago Died
Johnny Nash–I Can See Clearly Now
Little Feat–Texas Twister
Rush–
Between The Wheels
Manhattan Project
Force Ten
High Water
Workin’ Them Angles
Yngwie Malmsteen–Blitzkrieg
Cold Chisel–Cheap Wine and a Three Day Growth
Thin Lizzy–The Boys Are Back In Town
The Foo Fighters–In Your Honor
Edwin Starr-War
Rose & The Arrangement–The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati
Bobby Russell–The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
A. Sevison–Give Me Oil For My Lamp
Kingston Trio–This Little Light Of Mine
Al & Willy Simmons–It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
Queen–Another One Bites The Dust
Peter Seeger–All My Trials
The Beatles–With A Little Help From My Friends
Johnny Cash–Goin’ By The Book
Train–Calling All Angels
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds–[I'll Love You] Till The End Of The World
Men Without Hats–Pop Goes The World
The Doors–Riders On The Storm
KT Tunstall–Miniature Disasters
Neil Young–Like A Hurricane
Johnny Cash–
Ring Of Fire
Five Feet High And Rising
Jimi Hendrix–The Wind Cries Mary
Billy Ocean–When The Going Gets Tough
Pat Benetar–Hit Me With Your Best Shot
U2–Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Destiny’s Child–Survivor
Reba McEntire–I’m A Survivor
Gloria Gaynor–I Will Survive
Rihanna–Emergency Room
Foreigner–Urgent
Ultravox–Reap The Wild Wind
Blue Oyster Cult–Burning For You
The Trammps–Disco Inferno
George Winston–New Orleans Shall Rise Again
Bruce Springsteen–The Rising
Gypsy Pistoleros–Livin La Vida Loca
The Psychedelic Furs–Heartbeat
Aurora & Zon del Barrio–Revolu
The Gitanos–Que Loco Mundo
Michel Rivard–Toute Personnelle Fin Du Monde
Monty Python–Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
Jen Nelson–For What It’s Worth
Steadman–Wave Goodbye
Parks and Gardens–You Are Dead
Grace Potters & The Nocturnals–Ain’t No Time
Jenn Franklin–What Took You So Long
Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ Blues Band–Angels Sing The Blues
Karen Kosowski–We’ll Find You
The Crystal Method–Keep Hope Alive [There Is Hope Mix]
Norman Greenbaum–Spirit In The Sky
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers–Free Fallin’
EMF–Unbelievable
Love And Rockets–Ball of Confusion
Belinda Carlisle–Heaven Is A Place On Earth
The Fixx–One Thing Leads To Another
Elton John–Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
Echo & The Bunnymen–People Are Strange
Van Halen–Runnin With The Devil
Bill Noonan Band–Get Off My Land
Hot House Flowers–Hallelujah
Joshua Lebofsky–The Redemption Song
Richard Seguin–
Chanson Pour Durer Toujours
Ice Comme Ailleurs
La Maison Brule
Les Temps Changent
Ten Toes Up–Trip On Troubles
Patti Smith–Are You Experienced?
The Clash–Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Queen–Keep Yourself Alive
Bon Jovi–Wanted Dead Or Alive
Stephane Wrembel–Water Is Life
Kool & The Gang–Emergency
The Lovin’ Spoonful–Summer In The CityThe Eagles–Hotel California
Earth, Wind & Fire–That’s The Way Of The World
Tom Fenton & Ice Nine–Don’t Go Down To The Fallout Shelter [With Anyone Else But Me]
Tom Lehrer–
Pollution
So Long, Mom [A Song for WWIII]
We Will All Go Together When We Go
Prepared
The Brothers Johnson–Get The Funk Out Ma Face
The Foo Fighters–Times Like These
Newman | You can hear it in their voices
You can hear it in their voices.
They are the first of the first responders to reach the scene.
You can hear something in the tone of the first few seconds of their first update transmitted from the scene. No matter how polished and professional they may be just a hint of adrenalin sneaks into that practiced radio voice.
And sometimes the first one to arrive is a raw rookie with lots of heart and booksmarts but precious little time dealing with life-threatening emergencies in real life.
The call was dispatched as a possible car crash. The caller heard something strange in the woods up the road. “It sounded like an impact with a tree. It might be nothing but I’ve got a bad feeling. It’s awfully sloppy out there tonight. Do you think you could send a crew to check it out?”
And so the call comes out as a possible car crash. No word on injuries. No details on what type of vehicle may be involved.
Three fire/rescue crews leave the station en route to the call. One of the firefighters lives just up the road from the reported location and so he heads to the scene on his own in his personal vehicle.
His mates on the firetrucks are still ten minutes out when the first first responder arrives on the scene.
He attempts his first update. “Damn. We’re going to need the Jaws… they’re all….” His voice breaks just as the transmission breaks into intermittent static.
Another prolonged burst of static with no voiceover.
“Firefighter Smith, do you have an update?”
“Uh..this is Firefighter Smith…it’s a passenger van that’s gone off the road, rolled over and hit a big tree. There are five occupants who were completely ejected, three who were partially ejected, and four who are still inside the wreckage. They’re all unconscious. All of them.”
“Firefighter Smith, can you confirm? There are 12 victims at the scene and they are all unconscious?”
“I confirm 12 victims that I can see. I can’t get all the way inside the wreckage without causing further injury to the occupants trapped underneath the van. There might be more victims.”
Raw rookie gone straight to hell.
When the responding Captain calls in with an initial size-up from the scene he declares a Mass Casualty Incident, requests a two-alarm EMS assignment, and finishes up by asking that the COPE Team respond to the scene because he’s got at least one firefighter who’s already in a world of hurt.
You can hear it in their voices.
–
You should learn more about Critical Incident Stress by visiting the Tema Conter Memorial Trust online at http://www.tema.ca
Be well. Practice big medicine.
Hal
Newman | Unrepentant believer in the impossible
Stanstead QC | Back when I was the newly-minted director of a small EMS service, my boss called me in for my six-month evaluation. He said, “I’ve got good news and bad news.”
I told him to give me the bad news first.
“As a leader you’re a real disaster.”
Damn. What was the good news, I asked.
“It ain’t terminal – yet.”
And with that bit of exceedingly sage advice, I learned that there’s nothing more empowering than allowing someone with a better approach, a better idea, a better way to bring the project home.
I’ve learned how to become a strategic thinker with the ability to achieve tactical wins and the wisdom to know that often you need to get mud on your face in the battle to figure out the right way to get something done.
As a former paramedic/firefighter who was trained in the time of Look, Listen & Feel, I know that’s a darned good way to stay in touch with your team, your clients, your suppliers, your stakeholders and your community.
I love working with small and struggling emergency services and organizations. I still enjoy the company of a solid global network of much smarter folks than me. Thank goodness for that as the challenges facing smaller emergency services are increasingly complex.
I am an unrepentant believer in the impossible – and subsequently have managed to be a part of teams who have pulled off a series of improbable successes.
I delight in being able to convey the heart and soul of EMS – all over the world – via the digital pages of Big Medicine. It’s been more than a decade since Big Med was launched and it still amazes me when I consider all of the amazing connections made via such an unlikely hub.
Big Medicine = the right people coming together at the right time for the right reasons. When all is right with a given situation, it will be Big Medicine.
If I can be of service to you and yours, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line via email hnewman@tems.ca
Be well. Practice big medicine.
Hal
PS. While some people will tell you that it ain’t over until the fat lady sings, I will tell you that if she appears on my doorstep I’ll invite her in for a cappuccino and we’ll find a way to make it work – together.
Priorities
I am stubborn. My wife warned me not to try and change that lightbulb on my own. She told me I ought to ask our neighbour from across the street to lend me a hand. I waited for her to go over to one of her friends for tea and muffins and then I decided to give it a go.
“I have fallen and I cannot get up,” I said in slow and determined fashion to the emergency operator who answered the call I placed to 911. I remembered that series of television ads and winced at the realization I had just used the same line to call for help.
“No, I am not having any difficulty breathing. Yes, I hit my head but no, I did not lose consciousness. No, my neck doesn’t hurt. No, no chest pain to speak of. Yes, I do have some terrible pain in my hips. I am 81-years-old. No, I do not take any prescription medications of any kind. No, I am unable to get up on my own. The pain in my hips is quite intense and it gets worse when I try to move.
“Yes, I understand there might be a lengthy delay before the ambulance gets here. I know it’s very cold outside and I understand you must be very busy. I would not have called if I could get up on my own. I fear I have injured my hip otherwise I would not be calling for help.
“Pardon me for asking but I thought we had first responders in our town who might be able to help me before the ambulance crew is available. Oh, I see. They only respond to higher priority calls. Well, I do understand. I will do my best to stay comfortable until the ambulance crew arrives. Yes, I will certainly call you back if anything changes or I feel worse in any way.”
The light of the afternoon faded into the early darkness of a winter evening and the ceramic tile floor quickly lost any of the heat it had retained. I struck up a conversation with the cat but the cat lost interest and walked away. I watched the time on the microwave clock move slowly minute by minute. I fought the urge to pee.
I concentrated on looking at the photographs of our children and grandchildren we had proudly hung on the livingroom wall. I couldn’t remember the phone number at my wife’s friend’s house. I wanted to cry.
I couldn’t believe that I was all alone, had called for help, and no one was on their way yet. I wondered what level of priority my call for help was for that first responder team.
Were they only concerned about life and death? Were they so busy they could not even spare a moment to check on a resident of the community who had confirmed he was in a spot of trouble?
Had they no idea how important it was to provide a physical presence for someone in a time of extraordinary need?
And so, I lay alone on the kitchen floor with a badly bruised hip for more than forty minutes before the ambulance crew and my anxious and bewildered wife arrived simultaneously.
___
Right. The preceding was just me, Hal Newman, trying to imagine what it would be like to be all alone and waiting for emergency medical assistance after having been classified as a priority Two or Three call on a day chockfull of priority One calls.
Calls of every priority should be responded to and not only by an ambulance crew.
Actually, I believe it would be rather interesting to have a first response team specially trained to respond to calls of a lower priority to determine whether or not those patients actually need to be attended to by the much scarcer ambulance-based paramedics.
There should never be a monopoly on saving lives or helping people in an extraordinarily difficult moment of their lives.
The clock begins ticking when someone calls for help. The primary consideration should be who can get there quickest to render aid – not which response organization has a ‘claim’ to the territory.
It’s not about what uniform the responder is wearing. Every EMS organization should take an enormous leap of faith forward, work with all of the stakeholders and establish a model that ensures everyone in the community gets the EMS they deserve.
Be well. Practice big medicine.
Back on my path
“Each of us has a special contribution to make to the human world. Each of us is born with the package of assets, deficits, problems and blessings needed for that work. Each of us struggles to understand what our task is and how the package with which we have been born suits us to our work.” – Rabbi Nachum Braverman
It took me a long time before I realized EMS represented my calling and not just my job. I did everything I could to rebel against that realization. I abandoned my early work as a paramedic to attend a small Disciples of Christ College (Bethany) in West Virginia. It was as far as I could get from my home environment without actually leaving the planet. I left the mainly Jewish neighbourhood I had grown up in to live in a town where I was one of eight Jews. Which brings us to this little bit of free verse.
“If I die in Bethany who’ll say Kaddish over me.”
Kaddish is the Jewish prayer for the dead. Ten Jewish men must come together to pray. Bethany would have required religious mutual aid if any one of us had kicked the bucket.
The late great pastor Hiram Lester once sat me down on the porch of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity house and asked me what I needed to do after I graduated from Bethany. It was mid-summer and we were watching the sun turn crimson red as it dipped into the horizon. I paused and answered, “Well, sir, I’d like to be a journalist. Maybe write for a big-city newspaper one day.” Hiram looked at me. “I didn’t ask what you wanted to do. I asked what you needed to do. There’s a serious difference, you know.”
I graduated from Bethany College with a bacclaurate degree in Communications. That’s not to say I negated entirely my need to continue carrying an EMS banner of one sort or the other. The siren song of the Bethany Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department drew me down the hill to the firehouse. The folks of the BVFRD adopted me and taught me an appreciation for the art of caring. They invited me into their homes and made me a part of their lives and shared their backwoods comraderie. When I left Bethany I actually believed I was going to be a big-city journalist.
Before I lit out for parts unknown I stopped by to pay my respects to Hiram. He told me a story about hitchhiking home after the Second World War and catching a ride in a beat-up old pickup truck. The driver asked Hiram penetrating questions about his life and his love and what he intended to do now that the war was over. Hiram said he told the driver he wanted to be a farmer but that he needed to be a pastor. The driver stopped at a crossroads in the middle of nowhere and told Hiram he could do anything he wanted if he gave up on what he thought he needed to do. Hiram told me it was the Devil driving that pickup truck. He says he got out of that old pickup truck and walked out of those crossroads and went home.
Hiram told me I had enough passion at my core to have the courage to listen to the sound of my soul crying out and realize that what I needed to do was be a paramedic.
I have never looked back. An old preacher man from West Virginia taught me the most important lesson in life: be true to yourself—once you realize what you need to do–pursue it with all of your strength. Don’t stop for anything other than food and water.
And so here I am in the Town of Stanstead [Quebec] where the powers-that-are have refused to allow me to play an official role in the first responder program that isn’t, or the fire department that is, or the emergency preparedness plan that needs to be better. In this small town, there is a cost that comes with passion, principles and freedom of speech – and that cost is borne by the community when people with something important to contribute are continually pushed away.
I’ve come to the realization that sometimes you just need to be the unwanted camel outside that pisses into the tent and hopes to bring about needed change through awareness and advocacy. Any good political strategist will tell you that it’s far better to invite the camel inside so he can relieve himself outside the tent. However, it’s been eighteen months and I’m fairly certain no invitations to the tent, the ambulance house, or the fire station are forthcoming.
Thanks to the inspiration provided by old and relatively new friends, I’m back on my path… and listening carefully to the siren call of EMS.
Be well. Practice big medicine.
Hal
First aid essentials
So, I’m building out a home/farm emergency med kit/sack/box and thought it would be a good thing to draw on the wisdom of the emergency management/services crowd.
What are your absolute must-have real-world-practical essential individual items for such a kit? What has worked really well? What’s waste of space? What did you once use in a fix that turned out to be an unexpected bonus? Any really cool tools that you’d recommend everyone should have in a designated drawer?
I’ll update the replies here:
From Derek – “I would recommend, beyond what your provincial regs state you must have: pocket mask of some sort, safety glasses, protective Nitrile gloves with Ziploc bag, and a space blanket.”
From Greg – “I am in the ski patrol and teach among other things back-country skiing/camping. I have seen all the input and there are a few things I would add (which I don’t think I saw):
Many outdoor stores and even pharmacies now sell these cute little tweezer/magnifying glass combinations – sure comes in handy for grabbing splinters with old (bad) eyes.
Little baby suction bulb – when you need suction for fluids or blood there is no substitute for a device which can do it – this is small/portable yet does the job.
penlight/headlamp – always good to be able to work hands-free
moleskin – for blisters if folks are walking/hiking (can make due with duct tape if you need to
SAM Splint”
From Shannan – “My personal rule is nothing bigger than a snickers bar or it has to have more than 5 uses.
One of the essentials I have is a product called “vet wrap” which is a self adhesive tensor bandage product used to bandage animals. It clings well, holds its shape, holds pressure (doesnt get loose or tight over time) and is somewhat water proof. I believe it is a 3M product. I have used it for bandages, as a tensor on sprains/strains, and to secure a splint on suspected fracture. Its very light weight and compact.
Duct tape works really well in place of steri-strips if you need to.
It also does well to put pressure on a bandage made of 4×4 gauze – it sticks very well to skin and is waterproof. Duct tape also does great things for warts (smothers them if you put a piece over for a week) and to protect your ankles against painful
I keep about 100 meters of parachute cord in my kit as well. I started when I created a wilderness kit – 100M is enough to secure a tarp on an injured person to sled them out. it works great to secure splints.
Tea bags help draw infection out of an open wound (place a warm and wet teabag – i usually make a cup of tea first) and wrap with celophane (to keep wet in) after a few hours the bag will change color (as it draws the infection out to the surface) – wash the wound with soap and water and repeat daily as necessary.
Honey packets and jam packets (I usually steal a couple extra from a breakfast place once or twice a year) are very useful in my kit as one of my nephews has diabetes. I used to carry icing tubes (which is basically the same stuff we carried on the ambulance) but it tasted like crap – the jam/honey goes down nicely and is packed with sugar.”
From Kathleen – “My first aid is also combined with survival, so I always ensure that I have at least 2 ratchet straps, bungee cords of various length and a tarp. I also find it useful to have a good knife. I own a Leatherman multi-tool, but have never found it particularly useful when working with cold hands in extreme weather. A basic knife fits the bill in most conditions – it cuts, pries, can be used to dig and sometimes doubles as a screwdriver.”
From John – “Having been a Fire Chief and EMT I can relate to you the items that have served me best from where I have stood. A Gerber Responder knife is my favorite tool because it comes with a case/sheath that also holds the included accessories such as screwdriver tips that attach to the knife making it a multi-purpose tool. I used to carry 1 of those multipurpose tools that were similar to pliers but found they were not as useful as made out and take up wasted space. This knife is not cheap; around $80 at Firestore.com to over $130 at other fire service suppliers. Gerber also makes a black version for tactical (SWAT) teams, but I preferred the fire service red because it is easier to spot if you put it down or drop it while using it. I have had people tell me that they have found this knife on the Internet for less than the Firestore but you have to be careful that you don’t end up buying the version without the accessories and sheath. The other items I feel that are essential are a COUPLE of rolls of 2″ medical tape, 4×4 gauze pads, a gauze sling (can be used to tie stuff together or cut up to make more bandages) and 15′-25′ of webbing. Webbing can be used to tie stuff together, to retrieve items out of reach, to hold doors open, you can make a rescue “drag” device out of it, oh heck, google webbing and you’ll probably find at least a hundred uses for webbing between the military, fire service, rescue teams, etc. The only other item I would suggest is a pair of Channelock brand model 88 pliers, they have multiple uses that they are designed for and heavy enough to use in a pinch (experience talking here) as a hammer. While this is not an all inclusive list as to what I carry in my kit since leaving the Fire Service, it does represent what I have started around when I assembled kits for my wife and 2 kids for their cars. I also took the time to show them some of the uses for each item in their kits.”
from Bruce – “Farm setting mean sometimes dealing with major emergencies without professional assistance. My equivalent is a scuba diving trip, where professional help is minutes to hours away. Here are some ideas I have seen in homemade emergency kits, except the last two…..which I think would be very helpful when dealing
with a major emergency in an austere location.
Exam gloves
Eye protection
Paper towels
One way CPR mask
Knife/ scalpel
Tourniquet
Hydrogen peroxide
Magnifying glass
Sterile/filtered water
Can be used for cleaning or fluid replacement
Two 1 oz (airplane size) alcohol (to relax the victim)
One vial temazepam (to relax the responder)”
From April – “I think you have to consider some differing circumstances, and not assume this would be a one-victim, one responder (pro or not). Probably also best to assume prolonged waits for further assistance, and the reality that whoever is locally responding may not be able to be at the side of any victim(s) each minute of the entire duration.
I’m assuming you are already contemplating a lot of the usual array of
compresses, gauze rolls, and bandages, and probably fluids such as saline, sterile eye wash etc. It might be useful to consider throwing in some pouches of Coast Guard Approved drinking water. While not officially sterile, they still can be used for wound cleansing in a pinch, have a 5-year life even in the heat of a vehicle, and are far less likely to fail and leak like many of the other bottled fluids. If stashing some CGA pouches, I’d probably throw in a collapsible cup and some pre-measured powdered electolyte mix of some kind as well.
Some items that come quickly to mind that I don’t believe I’ve seen yet in the chain of emails and that may not have come to the mind of some of the list readers are:
Space blankets
SAM splint
Sea bands
Sandbag tarp
Duct tape
Magnifier/tweezer combo
Headlamp
Whistles (especially ones that require less air power from the victim)
Extra freezer-weight zip bags, various sizes
Extra-large, extra thick trash bags (I generally buy 1.2 mil 45 gallon at Costco)
“WAG” bags (Clean Waste)
EMT shears
Ring cutter”
From Joshua – “Hal, pick up some quick clot, an Israeli bandage and a tourniquet. These three things have individual uses but in the worst case farm accident, together they can literally be a life saver. Quick clot is available from medical supply houses but can also be purchased at outdoor gear suppliers like Eastern Mountain Sports or REI. I keep these three things bundled together in each vehicle and every medical pack I own personally and use professionally.
On a side note, quick clot served me well while I was out making maple syrup this past spring here in Maine. Chopping some kindling with a brand new ( and did i say SHARP?) hatchet, I had an unfortunate ricochet and the blade punctured my boots. Hit a pretty major artery in the top of my foot/ lower ankle and bled like a stuck pig. Quick clot served me well, and was back sugarin’ the next weekend after 12 stitches an updated tetanus and a round of antibiotics.”
From Jeff – “Hi, did not see kling, triangulars, space blanket, compact size water purifiers. (camp supply store)”
From Brendan – “Duct tape”
From Rene – “Sharp scissors and seat belt cutters to gain access to wound site. Flashlight, bright, things always happen at nite Blankets, warmth and splinting so 6 or so Triangulars Cold Packs Band Aids, soap, water, gauze, crepe usual Gloves (Large) so they fit anyone Stethescope I would say this is what has taken care of my family and pets 95% of the time All my other paramedic equipt, I rarely use, so it’s up to you to outfit for the outside of the norm events It’s a good project and a great question, so let us all know what comes back at you.”
From Jerry – “Celox or one of the other hemostatic agents in granular and bandage form is a must have.”
From Lou – “Given this is for a farm and the distance to definitive care may be an issue I would include a good tourniquet (I prefer the CAT) and perhaps a Quick-Clot type dressing.”
From James – “I spent several years taking groups over to Russia on mission trips – mostly high school/college kids and young ‘professionals’. I carried two kits – a small one for my carry on pack and a larger one that went in checked bags. Anyway here is my list:
First Aid Kit – small for pack
Advil
Airborne
Aleve
Anebsol
Bactine
Band-aids plus fingers & knuckles
Bayer Aspirin
Benadryl Allergy
Benadryl Insect Bite Pens
Burn Cream
Butterfly Strips
Carmex.
Cough Drops
Dramamine.
Gloves
Glucose Tablets
Gauze Bandages
Hand Sanitizert
Hand Warmers
Iodine Pads
Imodium AD Tablets
Joint Wrap Tape
Medical Tape
Nyquil Tablets
Penicillin
Pepto Tablets
Sudafed
Super Glue
Thermometer and covers
Tiger Balm
Trauma Bandage
Tweezers
Tylenol
Tylenol Allergy Sinus
Tylenol Cold and Sinus
Vaseline Intensive Care
Visine A/C
Larger Kit:
Advil
Airborne
Aleve
Aloe Vera
Anebsol
Bactine
Band-aids plus fingers & knuckles
Bayer Aspirin
Benadryl Allergy
Benadryl Insect Bite Pens
Burn Cream
Butterfly Strips
Carmex
Chigger Treatment
Cough Drops
Dramamine
Feminine Products
Gloves
Glucose Tablets
Gauze Bandages
Hand Sanitizer
Hand Warmers
Ice Packs
Icy Hot Patches
Iodine Pads
Imodium AD Tablets
Joint Wrap Tape
Lice Treatment
Medical Tape
Midol
Moleskin
Nyquil
Off
Penicillin
Pepto Tablets
Peroxide
Safety Pins
Scissors
Snake Bite Kit
Sudafed
Sunscreen
Super Glue
Suture Kit
Thermometer and covers
Tiger Balm
Trauma Bandage
Tweezers
Tylenol
Tylenol Allergy Sinus
Tylenol Cold and Sinus
Vaseline Intensive Care
Visine A/C”
From Dominic – “Essential: pocket mask, any model/any size & Trauma shears. Worked really well: irrigation fluids to clean up bloody/dirty wounds and Dex 4 products for diabetics. Waste of space: cardboard/plastic speedsplints. Unexpected bonus: popsicle sticks make for great finger splints, and cost less than tongue depressors. Recommend that everyone should have in the car glovebox, some sort of rescue tool with a knife blade/seatbelt cutter and window punch… you never know when you get caught in your vehicle and need to cut your way out of your seat and require possible window breaking to get out.”