First responders of lemmy, do you ever find yourself hating the people you're saving when you're constantly dealing with easily-avoidable catastrophes?
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I have a friend who's a volunteer EMT and has basically the same story. Lots of repeat customers, and some people get all pissy after Narcan because it killed their high.
wrote last edited by [email protected]In New York City, they hand out Narcan for free. They also provide free training for people just in case you happen to see someone overdosing, which isn’t terrifically uncommon.
I used to carry around a dose of Narcan for just such a situation. Once, about four or five years ago I think, I saw some guy ODing on the A train platform. Hit him with the Narcan.
Since it’s a nasal spray, I’m all up in his face when he suddenly (and violently) wakes up and pukes on me. I was
on my way to work… after about 2 seconds, he looks right at me and sucker punches me. Just laid me out on the platform.Some big dude who was standing close by drags me away from the guy as he starts screaming at me about ruining the best high if his life (yeah, whatever asshole) before running off.
Thing is, I used to be a junkie myself. I’ve been off that shit for 21 years now, but I still very much remember. I get it. I feel somewhat obligated, as a service, to do what I can to help when I can. Was that guy shitty and an asshole? Absolutely because I can. Am I glad I probably saved his life? You bet. Am I gonna keep doing this? Absolutely. Why? Because it makes the world a better place, and the benefit far out weighs the cost.
Addiction isn’t a “weakness“. It’s a legitimate illness, and this country vilifies it rather than treating it as the medical condition that it is. Obviously, money is the motivation here. Or, rather, I should say: profit.
The world could deal with more kindness. If I can put more kindness in the world without it really being that big of a deal for me? Why shouldn’t I?
Edit: spelling and grammar
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P.S. Mentioning COVID-19 is considered cheating in this thread (just kidding, fire away).
Religious people are the bane of my existence.
I won't type out the details. Try to keep it short.
Many years ago a religious woman called her "birth coach/midwife" or whatever the hell it's called for her religion. Instead of calling 911.
The umbilical cord had come out first. And the baby obviously compresses it.
She let her FULL term baby die inside her belly.
Fuck religion!
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P.S. Mentioning COVID-19 is considered cheating in this thread (just kidding, fire away).
Not a first responder, but it's called compassion fatigue: https://www.cma.ca/physician-wellness-hub/content/compassion-fatigue-signs-symptoms-and-how-cope
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In New York City, they hand out Narcan for free. They also provide free training for people just in case you happen to see someone overdosing, which isn’t terrifically uncommon.
I used to carry around a dose of Narcan for just such a situation. Once, about four or five years ago I think, I saw some guy ODing on the A train platform. Hit him with the Narcan.
Since it’s a nasal spray, I’m all up in his face when he suddenly (and violently) wakes up and pukes on me. I was
on my way to work… after about 2 seconds, he looks right at me and sucker punches me. Just laid me out on the platform.Some big dude who was standing close by drags me away from the guy as he starts screaming at me about ruining the best high if his life (yeah, whatever asshole) before running off.
Thing is, I used to be a junkie myself. I’ve been off that shit for 21 years now, but I still very much remember. I get it. I feel somewhat obligated, as a service, to do what I can to help when I can. Was that guy shitty and an asshole? Absolutely because I can. Am I glad I probably saved his life? You bet. Am I gonna keep doing this? Absolutely. Why? Because it makes the world a better place, and the benefit far out weighs the cost.
Addiction isn’t a “weakness“. It’s a legitimate illness, and this country vilifies it rather than treating it as the medical condition that it is. Obviously, money is the motivation here. Or, rather, I should say: profit.
The world could deal with more kindness. If I can put more kindness in the world without it really being that big of a deal for me? Why shouldn’t I?
Edit: spelling and grammar
My dude, as a random Internet stranger, let me just say that the world needs more people like yourself. Thank you for being you and contributing to the world what you do.
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I thought for a second I was a first responder, since I am the first person to respond to your post. I am a bit drunk and very sorry for my useless comment.
wrote last edited by [email protected]Ngl, this is the first definition of "first responder" that came to my mind as well.
Also a bit drunk for what it's worth.
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There's a patient that we would see a couple of days per month. They'd OD on heroin, we hit them with narcan and an electrolyte IV to hydrate. He'd eat something and leave. We would give him resources to get some help. Each time I'd get more and more angry.
6 months of this and I finally asked why he'd OD almost like clockwork. He said the good stuff sold fast and he'd only get enough for like 2 maybe 3 hits(?highs, fixes?) The guy's life was just waiting on his dealer to get it. He would figure out how to make enough cash to keep his withdrawals at bay while saving up to buy up as much as he could when the good stuff arrived.
The last time I saw him, day shift told me he came in, got hit with narcan twice, this was after EMTs had given him narcan as well. when he was steady enough, he left AMA(against medical advice). He came back 3 hrs later for another OD. Doctor came in and told him he's killing himself. this organ is damaged, this one has this, blah, blah, blah. He responded that he'd be fine if we would stop killing his high. I did the usual and he left sometime the next day.
We haven't seen him in 4 months. I guess he finally got to enjoy his high.
I didn't expect a happy ending, but I'm glad it sounds like he cleaned up and got his act together.
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My dude, as a random Internet stranger, let me just say that the world needs more people like yourself. Thank you for being you and contributing to the world what you do.
wrote last edited by [email protected](311 will also help obtaining naloxone kits)
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P.S. Mentioning COVID-19 is considered cheating in this thread (just kidding, fire away).
911 dispatch if we want to count it
Look, stress and adrenaline and all of that are a hell of a drug
Not to mention actual drugs
And people have all manner of mental health issues
And I get that
And obviously since I work the job I do, I can handle stress and crazy bullshit better than most, so my own standards are all kinds of skewed
And I really try not to hold that against my callers
But holy crap am I glad that there are usually miles between me and them because if they were right in front of me I might strangle some of them.
It's usually not even the real frequent flyer problem callers that get me. Don't get me wrong, they're obnoxious, but at least I know that 99 out of 100 times, there's no real emergency, and they are clearly not in their right minds so they really can't help it. They're almost an enjoyable distraction from all of the people who should know better and just won't not be an uncooperative belligerent asshole who refuses to listen to anything we say.
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P.S. Mentioning COVID-19 is considered cheating in this thread (just kidding, fire away).
wrote last edited by [email protected]Worked Fire and EMS all though college and still do some part time.
The people I will never ever understand are the ones that have multiple cats and do not clean up after them. I'm talking walking into a place and EVERYTHING smells like rotten cat piss.
Now its one thing if you're unable to care for them and I somewhat understand that (give them away to a good home!), but those who are able? Hate. They simply don't care enough about it to take care of their home or their animals and it shows what kind of person they are. I know its a bit off topic, but those are the ones I cant stand. Easily avoidable things are just part of humans being stupid. Only other one that makes me shake my head and feel no empathy for is drunk drivers hurting others. -
There's a patient that we would see a couple of days per month. They'd OD on heroin, we hit them with narcan and an electrolyte IV to hydrate. He'd eat something and leave. We would give him resources to get some help. Each time I'd get more and more angry.
6 months of this and I finally asked why he'd OD almost like clockwork. He said the good stuff sold fast and he'd only get enough for like 2 maybe 3 hits(?highs, fixes?) The guy's life was just waiting on his dealer to get it. He would figure out how to make enough cash to keep his withdrawals at bay while saving up to buy up as much as he could when the good stuff arrived.
The last time I saw him, day shift told me he came in, got hit with narcan twice, this was after EMTs had given him narcan as well. when he was steady enough, he left AMA(against medical advice). He came back 3 hrs later for another OD. Doctor came in and told him he's killing himself. this organ is damaged, this one has this, blah, blah, blah. He responded that he'd be fine if we would stop killing his high. I did the usual and he left sometime the next day.
We haven't seen him in 4 months. I guess he finally got to enjoy his high.
The last time I saw him, day shift told me he came in, got hit with narcan twice, this was after EMTs had given him narcan as well. when he was steady enough, he left AMA(against medical advice). He came back 3 hrs later for another OD. Doctor came in and told him he's killing himself. this organ is damaged, this one has this, blah, blah, blah. He responded that he'd be fine if we would stop killing his high.
Situations like this are what make me occasionally go “society should be able to 5150 people for addiction, to keep them locked up long enough to detox and get clean.” But I know that:
A) forced rehab wouldn’t actually work, and they’d just go right back to using as soon as they got out
B) It would likely result in higher OD rates after detox, because addicts would lose their tolerance and then go right back to whatever dosage they were using last time
C) it would likely be rife with abuse, with cops using to hold people without formally charging them.
D) it would deter people from seeking help, out of fear of being locked up instead. -
I didn't expect a happy ending, but I'm glad it sounds like he cleaned up and got his act together.
wrote last edited by [email protected]That's... not what they're implying. They're implying that he died, and that's why he's not coming in
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I didn't expect a happy ending, but I'm glad it sounds like he cleaned up and got his act together.
That’s not the message I took from the ending. I read it as “he likely ODed and was probably found dead in an alley two or three days later.”
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In New York City, they hand out Narcan for free. They also provide free training for people just in case you happen to see someone overdosing, which isn’t terrifically uncommon.
I used to carry around a dose of Narcan for just such a situation. Once, about four or five years ago I think, I saw some guy ODing on the A train platform. Hit him with the Narcan.
Since it’s a nasal spray, I’m all up in his face when he suddenly (and violently) wakes up and pukes on me. I was
on my way to work… after about 2 seconds, he looks right at me and sucker punches me. Just laid me out on the platform.Some big dude who was standing close by drags me away from the guy as he starts screaming at me about ruining the best high if his life (yeah, whatever asshole) before running off.
Thing is, I used to be a junkie myself. I’ve been off that shit for 21 years now, but I still very much remember. I get it. I feel somewhat obligated, as a service, to do what I can to help when I can. Was that guy shitty and an asshole? Absolutely because I can. Am I glad I probably saved his life? You bet. Am I gonna keep doing this? Absolutely. Why? Because it makes the world a better place, and the benefit far out weighs the cost.
Addiction isn’t a “weakness“. It’s a legitimate illness, and this country vilifies it rather than treating it as the medical condition that it is. Obviously, money is the motivation here. Or, rather, I should say: profit.
The world could deal with more kindness. If I can put more kindness in the world without it really being that big of a deal for me? Why shouldn’t I?
Edit: spelling and grammar
wrote last edited by [email protected]In New York City, they hand out Narcan for free. They also provide free training for people just in case you happen to see someone overdosing, which isn’t terrifically uncommon.
I work for a city, and we (try to) do the same. Our current issue is that the nasal spray keeps vanishing out of our kits. They’re kept with the AEDs, which are stored in publicly accessible areas in case anyone needs it. But someone keeps taking the narcan out of the cases. It seems like every week or two, it vanishes again. On the one hand, we hope they’re actually getting put to good use. But our local political demographics make us suspect that some asshole redneck is just stealing them to “teach the druggies a lesson” or something equally depraved.
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Religious people are the bane of my existence.
I won't type out the details. Try to keep it short.
Many years ago a religious woman called her "birth coach/midwife" or whatever the hell it's called for her religion. Instead of calling 911.
The umbilical cord had come out first. And the baby obviously compresses it.
She let her FULL term baby die inside her belly.
Fuck religion!
I work in 911 dispatch
Back when I was still in training I delivered my first baby, was damn glad to still have my trainer hanging out over my shoulder for that.
It was almost a perfectly by the book, no complications delivery
Except that they had their doula on another line giving competing instructions to me.
In general unless there are complications, our instructions are pretty much the classic birth position, woman on her back, knees bent, legs spread
And the doula had her on all fours, which is something we instruct for certain complications
But again, everything they were telling me was that there were no complications.
So eventually I basically had to say something like "our instructions are to have her on her back, I can't make you listen to me, but I have to give these instructions, so I'm going to proceed as if she's on her back"
Phrased maybe a bit more diplomatically
I have no idea what position she was actually in when the baby finally popped out, but he was healthy, so that's all that matters I suppose.
And they made me do a photo op with the parents and baby. I don't like babies. Not much of a fan of having my picture taken either. Not my favorite day at work. I'd rather take a call for a shooting. No one makes you take a picture with a shooting victim.
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P.S. Mentioning COVID-19 is considered cheating in this thread (just kidding, fire away).
I was a first responder for a while. Not sure I ever hated a patient. I sure as shit got mad when the call came over, and my annoyance was reinforced when I showed up and assessed the patient. But even the most malingering of folks were sad at best. Despite how I come off, I've always been empathetic to a fault probably, and while sometimes that wars with my short fuse for bullshit, I'd still ultimately just feel bad for some of these folks.
I was only a volunteer though, maybe 100-110 calls a year for about seven or eight years (non-consecutive). I hated being the treasurer of my rescue squad a lot more than any patient.
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I work in 911 dispatch
Back when I was still in training I delivered my first baby, was damn glad to still have my trainer hanging out over my shoulder for that.
It was almost a perfectly by the book, no complications delivery
Except that they had their doula on another line giving competing instructions to me.
In general unless there are complications, our instructions are pretty much the classic birth position, woman on her back, knees bent, legs spread
And the doula had her on all fours, which is something we instruct for certain complications
But again, everything they were telling me was that there were no complications.
So eventually I basically had to say something like "our instructions are to have her on her back, I can't make you listen to me, but I have to give these instructions, so I'm going to proceed as if she's on her back"
Phrased maybe a bit more diplomatically
I have no idea what position she was actually in when the baby finally popped out, but he was healthy, so that's all that matters I suppose.
And they made me do a photo op with the parents and baby. I don't like babies. Not much of a fan of having my picture taken either. Not my favorite day at work. I'd rather take a call for a shooting. No one makes you take a picture with a shooting victim.
wrote last edited by [email protected]The primary reason for birthing on one's back has been often cited as due to it being more accessible for the medical staff. The doula's job is to make it more comfortable for the woman, which happens to contradict your training that prioritizes the comfort of the medical staff.
I'm not saying you were wrong for following your training, I get that and appreciate that the job is diffcult, just wanted to offer an explanation for what would've been a frustrating situation for you.
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In New York City, they hand out Narcan for free. They also provide free training for people just in case you happen to see someone overdosing, which isn’t terrifically uncommon.
I work for a city, and we (try to) do the same. Our current issue is that the nasal spray keeps vanishing out of our kits. They’re kept with the AEDs, which are stored in publicly accessible areas in case anyone needs it. But someone keeps taking the narcan out of the cases. It seems like every week or two, it vanishes again. On the one hand, we hope they’re actually getting put to good use. But our local political demographics make us suspect that some asshole redneck is just stealing them to “teach the druggies a lesson” or something equally depraved.
wrote last edited by [email protected]Not unheard of nor even unusual.
You can start by trying to put the word out that you’re willing to deal with this person, reasonably. Try to help them get what they need in a way that works better for everyone.
Just an idea to start. I don’t really know much about your situation, so I’ll leave it there for now.
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I can't undo what happened, I've seen such shite before, but I was walking my teeny tiny dog and when I saw what was inevitably happening, I took my dog on my arms and turned around 180 degrees. Yeah, it was horrible what happened, I was close to the person getting hit, but not close enough. Even if I ran, not a snowball's chance in hell. Sometimes you can't do anything.
But yeah, I am okay. I've seen shite like that before, jumpers. My dog is sleeping on my chest now and didn't see / notice any of it.
EDIT: Also, thank you for being concerned, but I'm okay.
Do not worry about me.This is similar to what they train Swedish train drivers to do if they are about to run someone over.
They are taught to close their eyes hard, cover their ears and scream as loud as possible.
This to distances themselves from the impact as much as possible
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This is similar to what they train Swedish train drivers to do if they are about to run someone over.
They are taught to close their eyes hard, cover their ears and scream as loud as possible.
This to distances themselves from the impact as much as possible
Oh my gosh, that is so messed up, did not know that. But yeah, thinking about it now, it makes a lot of sense.
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The last time I saw him, day shift told me he came in, got hit with narcan twice, this was after EMTs had given him narcan as well. when he was steady enough, he left AMA(against medical advice). He came back 3 hrs later for another OD. Doctor came in and told him he's killing himself. this organ is damaged, this one has this, blah, blah, blah. He responded that he'd be fine if we would stop killing his high.
Situations like this are what make me occasionally go “society should be able to 5150 people for addiction, to keep them locked up long enough to detox and get clean.” But I know that:
A) forced rehab wouldn’t actually work, and they’d just go right back to using as soon as they got out
B) It would likely result in higher OD rates after detox, because addicts would lose their tolerance and then go right back to whatever dosage they were using last time
C) it would likely be rife with abuse, with cops using to hold people without formally charging them.
D) it would deter people from seeking help, out of fear of being locked up instead.Actually, instead of 5150-ing people the solution that works in other countries is to provide medical access to drugs. So basically allow someone to live a life with their illness after treatments have failed to cure them: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canada-now-allows-prescription-heroin-in-severe-opioid-addiction-1.3753312
