Rock The Boat: IA Coaching

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Oh, man, but it's soooo tempting," Kelle laughed, "some people just need some things stuck in 'other places'!"

Man, wouldn't that be a deterrent to the 'frequent fliers', to know that if they called 911 they were likely to have a thermometer applied there?!

"And I have to try not to forget which thermometer is for which species at home." There was another laugh. "Open wide and say, 'AHHHH'!"

Glancing at him, she raised an eyebrow. "Anything fuzzy and cute, huh? Guess that rules out the hedgehog. Dang!"

Medic 58, respond code three to 433 South Seventh Street for a 32 year old male patient, unresponsive.

"Are you kidding me?" Rolling her eyes, Kelle sighed, then laughed. Barely fifteen minutes left of the shift, but no...more work. "Gotta love it!"

She shook her head in resignation as they headed toward one of the seedier neighborhoods of their zone.

Steven Hudson

[Steven Hudson]

“Yes they do, can imagine the lady who always thinks she is having a heart attack might change her mind when we go... today ma’am we’re attaching this here... I’m not going to lie... it’s gonna hurt. Trust me.” Steven said with a smirk, honestly there were some people who needed that jolt of reality in life. Thermometers applied to the places that would be most uncomfortable.

Steven laughed as he nodded, “Oh my gosh yes... no one would want that to be wrong... like hmmm does this taste like... to you.” He said chuckling as he nodded again. “Hedgehogs could have a place in my heart, they are spikey but cute and have really cute faces so they are a good.” He added before he heard the call.

No way, not right now fifteen minutes left on shift and a guy had to be unresponsive. He felt like telling the dispatcher to make the guy responsive themselves for a second. “Love it... more like kick the guy up the backside and threaten him with one of those thermometers from a dog.” Steven stated, sure enough he was a reasonable person and yes no one had a clue when they were going to need a paramedic.

But just before shift end, right when he was happy enough driving back after food and thinking of sleep. That was just really bad timing. Still turning the ambulance around and heading toward the less picturesque neighbourhood Steven rolled his shoulders. “Eyes open and doors locked.” He said not meaning anything bad by that but then they wanted to get out alive with a patient. “Fingers cross he just grazed his knee. Ready for the last fifteen minutes that might take three hours?” Steven joked grinning as he knew that overtime came with the territory.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Hopefully it's nothing Narcan won't cure." After all, the patient was young, really kinda of young for most of the long-term medical problems that lead to being unconscious. "Well, or maybe diabetic."

Both of those would be quick ad easy, maybe even treat-and-release.

The house was dark, not particularly unusual in this area, many ran power from an extension cord run from the neighbor's house, and after hours were cut off.

"Flashlights, too," Kelle sighed. Bad enough a late call, and in this neighborhood, but they were going to have to function under whatever light got into the house from their unit's side flood lights and hand-held flash-lights...'hand-held' being the problem...they took up hands that needed to be used for treatment.

She hopped out and trotted around to the back and opened the doors, then waited for Steven to help her unload the gurney with all the equipment on it.

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

“Fingers crossed... and we all know what we’re like with no sugar.” Steven said with a grin, “I think I would lie in the middle of the street if it wasn’t for that coffee and chocolate.” If it was a treat and release then maybe they might make it back to the fire house only a few minutes of over time.

Then again were they ever going to be that lucky? He hoped so though when he glanced at the house and pulled the ambulance to a stop the house was dark. The area was well up and coming maybe though the power cords that ran from the neighbours houses were a little bit of an issue as he nodded to Kelle about the flash lights.

Steven hopped out making sure the keys were in his pocket as he glanced around at the street for a moment before helping Kelle with the gurney. “Listen, keys are in my right pocking. Anything happens grab them and go.” He said deciding that if Kelle knew where the keys were at least she could get out of there or had a fighting chance if it turned into a bad call.

He knew his father had died during one of those calls and repeating the process with his new partner, no it was never going to happen. “And if in doubt, stick the flash light under your chin and scream... we’re bound to scare someone that way.” He joked grinning, “You ready for out possible sugar victim?” He asked her.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

“I think I would lie in the middle of the street if it wasn’t for that coffee and chocolate.”

"They'd haul you off with the garbage." Kelle grinned. "'Send Me to Glory in a Glad Bag'!" She wasn't sure if he'd heard that song, but she'd make sure he did.

“Listen, keys are in my right pocking. Anything happens grab them and go.”

"Oh, man..." Kelle rolled her eyes. "This was supposed to be a set-up to get rid of you, but now that you're on to me...dang!" She laughed as they headed toward the door.

“And if in doubt, stick the flash light under your chin and scream... we’re bound to scare someone that way.”

"Hey! I resemble that remark!"

“You ready for out possible sugar victim?”

Kelle nodded, taking a breath, then immediately regretting it...the distinct stench of human urine, feces, mold, alcohol and any number of delightful substances assaulted them before they ever made it inside.

"Oh, man..." She pressed her nose against her sleeve for a few seconds, then glanced at Steven and knocked on the door, standing to the side with him.

No answer, so she knocked again, and this time there was a muffled call.

"All right, then." Another glance at Steven and she gingerly tried the doorknob, turning it and pushing the door open. "Paramedics!"

"Back here!"

Ugg! Even without being able to see much, she could tell this was going to be ugly.

"Are the walls moving?" she muttered to Steven. They had to go in, but she would let him go first.

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

“Ouch now that hurts.” Steven said sniffing as he pretended to wipe away his fake tears. “No don’t sing me that song... but yeah I think I’d like to be left out for the bin man. A last surprise for him.” Steven said though yeah likely a bad idea in case he was found by anyone else first. Then again it would make that person’s day interesting at least.

Steven laughed shaking his head at Kelle. “You think that I can be gotten rid of? Aww so innocent, not a chance I’m here to be a pain in your butt forever. No plan can ever bring me down.” He stated heading toward the door with her. Oh there were a lot of things that could bring him down but getting bumped off at work, no that he wanted to avoid as hechuckled.

It was by the door that Steven had the first whiff of what was to come. Instinct kicked in and he started to breathe through his mouth but he felt he could almost taste the smells. Something he hated more than anything else and now he would spend a week in a shower trying to get rid of it. He laughed lightly regretting the sudden need to breathe through his nose.

“Sure you’re okay?” Steven asked her watching her push her sleeve against her nose. “Because you can do all the talking.” He added grinning as he heard the voice of back here. Why not a crank call because that would have been better than trying to focus on things that were moving that never should move.

“I... urm...” Oh he wanted to throw up he thought trying to focus. “Nope, just maybe stay away from the walls on the way in... I don’t want to find out.” Steven said as he took a few steps into the house only for the smell to get stronger as he could hear something squelch on the floor under his boots. “And watch your step.” He said trying not to look down to see what it was.

Steven Hudson,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

Oh..Kelle just hated squishy carpet! And the sticky-squishy was the worst! There was no telling what sort of combination of human and animal waste made up the goo, and judging from the aromas, there was a good deal of both beneath their feet. She just hoped they didn't have to actually kneel in the stuff.

"Back here!"

Of course, always 'back here' -- as far away from the door, down the impossibly narrow hallway, probably wedged between the bed and the wall, or worse, naked in the bathtub. No one ever seemed to collapse on the couch next to the front door!

God, she hated it when she was right. Well, maybe not about the exact details, but there he was, a man of about 400 pounds, nearly naked except for his skivvies, looking up at them in the beam of the flashlight.

"I've fallen and I can't get up," the guy muttered with a crooked grin, then he looked at Steven. "You bring anyone else. That girl isn't going to be able to help you."

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

Steven could have cried the moment the voice said back here, why could people not fall by the front door. It would make life so much easier or even fall into a chair or a position where moving them was well easier. Was it too much to ask? Apparently yes and the fact that the squishy carpet was just, no there were no words for some places.

Maybe in his time off he would deep clean the house to make sure that his carpets never made the same squishing sound. Oh he was burning his clothes when he got home too; there was no use in even trying to wash this scent out of them. Walking down the narrow hallway, Steven could just about see what they were going to be in for.

When the flashlight beams ran across a nearly naked man, four hundred pounds and grinning at them as if they were going to be able to do much of anything. “That girl, you’d be surprised by what she can do.” Steven stated though breathing was a really bad idea even though he had to do it. “So do you think you have hurt yourself or simply cannot get up?” He asked glancing at Kelle, yeah they were going to need help unless the guy could help them out some and stand on his own two feet. What was it with this day that had him wanting to sleep more than ever before. Welcome end of shift.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"No, I'm not hurt, just...my knees are weak is all. My son takes care of me, but he's at work and won't be home for a few hours." The man shrugged. "I can't stay here all that time."

"No, of course not." Kelle managed a smile as she nodded. "So, um...here..." She grabbed an oversized towel from its rod, glancing at Steven then back to the man. "So, if we get this under your arms and pull from the front, do you think you can get on your feet?"

It was a trick that worked most of the time, provided the patient had the strength in their legs, and it would save them from the ire of an engine company disturbed at the end of shift to 'help the medics'.

"Yeah, I think so." The man nodded, then shook his head and looked at Steven again. "You'll need more then that girl, I'm sayin'."

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

Steven wanted to say something sarcastic to the man but he bit his lip instead. Say nothing and live to fight another day, all they had to do was make it through shift without getting suspended. Simple right. Steven wanted to consider telling Kelle to leave the guy but no, he needed their help so they had to do something.

Steven held out his hand for one end of the oversized towel. It would work but they needed this guys help too. Then came the comment about needing more than the girl, Steven rolled his eyes and sighed. “Okay well if you can help us then we can do this with just the two of us. Unless you want an entire fire department out here tramping through your house and trust me. Those guys would sooner dig a hole in your wall to get in rather than used the front door like we did.” Steven added.

So he knew that they would never just bust a hole in a wall for the sake of it but it never hurt to tell someone else they would. “You need to work with us and Kelle is a woman, not a girl and she knows how to do this. Trust her; she’s good at her job.” Steven said deciding to reinforce things a little. “So are you ready to do this sir?” Steven asked before looking toward Kelle. “Are you ready?” He asked her wanting to know if she thought she could do this as well.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

Kelle grinned and nodded, she'd show the guy! Besides, she was still amped up on caffeine and chocolate!

"Good things come in small packages, right?" Grinning, she flexed her 'muscles', then grabbed her side of the towel, wrapping it around her wrist then bracing her foot against the man's so they wouldn't slide from under him when (if) he managed to get to his feet.

"All right, now, everyone ready? On three. One....two...three!"

Leaning her weight back, Kelle tugged on the towel along with Steve, and with a little work the man rose and then was on his feet, and Kelle wasn't sure if she was glad that the droopy bulk from the guy's abdomen sagged down to cover his jewels or not!

"Team work!" Kelle ginned, then asked, "So, are you hurt? Do you want to go to the hospital or can we just help you to a chair?"

"No, no, I think I'm fine." The man teetered a little but managed to stay standing. "If you could just get my walker."

"Um, yeah, sure...Steve..?" Kelle was relieved that he didn't need to go to the hospital, and once Steve found the walker, they could be on their way home.

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

Steven chuckled as he watched Kelle flex her muscles before grabbing the towel. Steven had a the other side of it and really if they managed to do this for the guy, the end of shift was a very good thing.

Tugging on the towel with Kelle, after a bit of work and manoeuvring they managed to get the guy onto his feet. The fact that the bulk from the guys abdomen saved trying to find another towel. Yeah this was a shift he wasnt going to forget for a while. If he ever got to the stage where he was found naked on a couch, yeah he wasnt going to make that call.

“See knew she’d do it.” Steven said grinning at her as Steven tried to look over the man as he teetered a little. “Yeah, I’ll find the walker.” Steven said as he went to wonder around the house. He could hear his feet squishing still and after the walker he was going to throw his clothes away. Maybe that was the way to go, drive back to the house naked after burning what remained of his uniform.

No washing machine needed to be tortured with that. With his eyes scanning around he finally came across the walker as he made his way back to Kelle and the guy. “Here we go, should be able to get around a little easier now.” Steven said as he slide the walker to the guy to he could lean on it. “So if you’re not wanting to take a trip to the hospital, I’d say we are done here.” Steven said looking at Kelle, he wanted fresh air and a shower with lots of soap. Along with a place to burn his stuff which right then could have been the guys porch.

Kelle Lindsay, EMTP,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"Thank you so much." The man started to totter through the rubbish toward the front room, smiling as he waddled along. "I have some cookies in the kitchen," he continued, "and some milk, if you'd like to stay a bit...strong gal like you needs to keep those muscles up, right?" He shot a wink at Kelle.

"Oh, um...that's a nice offer, but we just ate," Kelle gave a slight lie, "and we need to get back out there...it's pretty busy for this time of morning." Glancing at Steven, she shrugged. "Right? I think dispatch is looking for us."

She didn't want to be rude, but she did want to escape!

Steven Hudson,

[Steven Hudson]

Steven tried to hide the terrified look on his face when the man offered them cookies from the kitchen. Oh he never wanted to see what the kitchen was like nor did he want to eat anything from that house either. Steven tried to debate if the man was flirting or if really that was everything he had thought he wink at Kelle sent that a horrific shiver down his spine.

Busy, well it was when every call seemed to disturb their trip back to the fire house to finish shift. Then again he was going to commit the address to memory so if the call came again, he knew to hand it off to another medic. Just to share the love, squishy floor and cookies around. “Yeah, dispatch will be looking for us.” Steven said as he clicked on his radio and announced they were done with the call.

Oh they were so done with this as Steven motioned to the door and for Kelle to go first. “We should restock and make a med run.” Steven said hoping that was enough of a reason to make a fast exit away from the creepy guy. He still wanted to burn his clothes and frankly the more he stood on squishy carpet the more he wanted to surgically remove his feet and eyes.

Some calls just gave him the creeps and this call was doing exactly that, cookies and milk from a guy whose carpet housed who knew what. Nope, it was like the gingerbread house in the middle of the woods. There would be a really good reason not to go anywhere near it, this one he could smell a mile off.

Steven Hudson,

[Kelle Lindsay, EMTP]

"At least he didn't want to go in," Kelle whispered with a grin as they made a hasty exit, "and you have to admit, he has good taste in ladies!"

Laughing, she got into the passenger seat, then pulled the bottle of antiseptic gel from the pocket in the door and slathered the alcohol-based cleaner up her arms and over her hands before handing it to Steven.

"You have to wonder how people get like that," she mused, "I mean, it's one thing to be poor, but filth is a choice...and I wonder if he even knows anymore that there's...well, normal, you know?"

She chuckled and shook her head. "Man, what a crazy job, huh? But you gotta love it!"

Steven Hudson,