Recently I had an Epiphany….

a Sudden Realisation that I was going to be a Paramedic!

We were called to a nursing home to a male with a report BM of 1.8 (this is a low blood sugar level that could result in unconsciousness)….

…on the way we were informed that we were being backed up by a Paramedic on a Response Car for Paramedic Skills.  The gentleman who was a known diabetic had been seen by a Paramedic that evening and was given a Glucagon injection, an injection that releases the bodies natural sugar store, but can only be given once until the body has had time to replenish its sugar stores.

He was now showing a similar low blood sugar level and had also been admitted recently for a similar episode.  Its quite evident that there is something going on here that the Doctors and diabetic specialists have not managed to control.  He needs to go back in!

He is conscious but is refusing to eat sugars due to the fact that he keeps vomiting – I can understand that! We can’t give glucagon, so the only option is to give 10% IV glucose.

I am now at the stage of my Paramedic Science Degree that allows me to practice Cannulation (and soon intubation) whilst under supervision of another health care processional.

“So, you going to Cannulate then?” says the Paramedic on the response car..

With a bit of advice as I’m cannulating, the cannula goes in well.

I turn around to get the vecofix (a plaster that holds the cannula in place) out of its packet, to find that its already been done and is being handed to me….. Thanks!

Next I turn around to get a syringe, and some flush so that I can draw it up…. this has been done too and handed to me to flush my cannula…. Thanks!

So what do I do next?  Get the glucose out, check the date and that its fit for use and then pass it to the Paramedic for confirmation, then insert a giving set, prime it and hand it to the Paramedic….. This has been done, its handed to me to clarify its date and clarity, promptly taken off of me and the giving set is being inserted….

…whilst this is happening I feel a bit at a loose end, these are all the things that I am used to be doing, and yet I have nothing to do.  I find that I am stretching the non-latex glove that I am wearing and its making a bit of a clicking noise..

“alright, alright, I’m going as fast as I can” says the glucose holding assistant..

..I very quickly apologise “I wasn’t clicking my fingers and being impatient, I am just used to doing what your doing and am a bit of a loose end”

..the giving set and glucose is handed to me ready to go by the now “smiling” assistant.

Its at this point it dawns on me – I will be a Paramedic soon!