As emergency services leaders, we always wonder why some people wait for so darned long before they call for help or why others simply refuse help until it’s far too late. We work on our emergency notification messaging. We examine our use of social media. We conduct customer service surveys. […]
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Pandemic Revisited – David A H Newman [Sep 6 07] The great flu pandemic of 2007 hasn’t happened yet. But don’t go away! The pandemic flu knows no seasons, and isn’t a once-a-year event. Bird flu is spreading – mostly among birds so far, and in many places. What we […]
A nugget of Big Medicine for your consideration from the late David AH Newman. #93 To be a first responder My late father, David AH Newman, originally wrote this piece for Big Med in 2007. It is an interesting take on what makes a first responder and seems particularly apropo […]
A nugget of Big Medicine for your consideration from Norm Rooker. #92 Just what do you say? Vicki, my bride of 29 years and counting, and I were making good time on Interstate 10 across Alabama on our way to Galveston, Texas. 2012 has been a very active year for […]
A nugget of Big Medicine for your consideration. #91 Christmas Jew Long before the Brunelle Family introduced me to the joys of celebrating Christmas in the company of family at the foot of a beautifully decorated tree, I was a Christmas Jew. For on Christmas eve ‘tis the moment when […]
A nugget of Big Medicine for your consideration. #90 The bet Michael Smith still owes me a case of beer. The beer is the debt on a bet made between paramedics rolling the ju-jube dice and hoping for excellent vibes. Michael threw it down as a measure of extra karma […]
A nugget of Big Medicine for your consideration. #89 Tzedakah I wrote this piece a number of Christmakahs ago. I thought about it yesterday when I heard about the heartwarming story of Larry DePrimo, the NYPD cop who bought a homeless man a pair of shoes. We like to hear […]
A nugget of Big Medicine for your consideration. #88 The union we deserve I’m not a union guy but I once started a wildcat strike. Mike ‘Elwood’ Crowley and I reported for work about 45 minutes early, as per usual, at the Western Sector garage of Urgences Sante (Montreal EMS). […]
A nugget of Big Medicine every day. #87 C’est tiguidou As a semi-pro breaker of bad news I should have seen the signs. Ambulance Mike calling relatively early on a Sunday morning. No attempt at striking a Monty Pythonesque accent as per the previous hundreds of calls between us. Straight […]
A nugget of Big Medicine every day. #86 First person – Bike crash Writing in response to #84 Professional Indifference, my sister Susan said, “When I had that bike accident a couple of years ago, amidst the chaos and confusion one woman sat down next to me and calmly held […]