EMSWorld Expo Day 2 wrap up

And now, the story continues…

Morning started with a class on Unraveling Tachycardia by Kelly Grayson which turned out to be very informative and humorous.

Then the day in the exhibit hall (why do I even bother scheduling myself for classes?).

Started off getting caught by one of the ladies from the Zoll booth who spotted me in my kilt. Picture was taken and tweeted really quick (wow).

Once I got inside, I remembered a shortage of gloves in my Blackhawk bag, so I hit the first glove distributor I found and got myself about six or seven sample packs with various sizes in them.

The Laderal Sim Lab was my next destination. I looked at various items, and met up with some folks that I talked to in San Antonio back in May…visited 4 stations and got a t-shirt.

The fine folks at Rural/Metro Ambulance had a VERY stunning T-shirt on display at their booth. They asked me if I wanted one. Who am I to decline a freebie?

(Score for the week:  5 T-shirts)

I was looking for the National EMS Academy’s booth when one of the folks from VeinLite caught up with me. Evidentally, while they were at the EMS Conference in San Antonio, I referred enough Soldiers to them that they actually GAVE me one of these SWEET lights.

What the VeinLite does is illuminates the area that an IV is going to be stuck so the medic can actually SEE THEIR TARGET. No more poke and hope, as long as the AA batteries don’t go dead during the shift.

After a nice, long recharge in the Physio Control/ProMed Social Media Lounge, the big event of the evening (other than another kilted group picture in front of the Hilton’s Elvis statue)…Hollywood Nights.

The event was at the Planet Hollywood Restaurant on the strip. This party included a LIVE TWITTER FEED the entire time, and yes, I had my share of tweets on there.

Myself, Justin Schorr,and Kelly Grayson. Ain’t we just a PRODIGIOUS group?

The wrap up of the wrap up tomorrow

Take care, Stay Safe.

EMSWorld Expo 2011 Day 1 wrap up

Where to start where to start…
Let’s go with the events of just prior to the publisher of EMSWorld magazine. The Clark County FD Honor Guard presented the colors with the pipes. It brought tears to my eyes.
Then open the flood gates and let everyone on to the exhibit hall floor.  Ho-ly CRAP. That. Thing. Is. HUGE!!
Start off with a visit to the Zoll booth. REALLY LIT UP in pale blue lights—sort of like the background to this page. Our mission, collect the puzzle pieces and get a prize. The prize I ended up getting for that was…

My new Zoll portable monitor (good as long as I don’t hit a bump). I also took the CPR Challenge and received a relay tweet to get back to the Zoll booth. I hastily finished my cigarette and made my way back to the booth to find out that I was the hourly winner of a Zoll Pocket CPR. It’s an ingenious device that ensures proper CPR rate and depth. A nice new toy.
(couldn’t get the damn thing to rotate)
While I was at the Zoll both, I ran into the FRN (First Responders Network). I ended up getting half of my “uniform” to kick of Kilted to Kick Cancer tomorrow. I will post a picture tomorrow night with a couple of people getting a “very limited sneak preview”.
Today’s activities also included a visit to the EMS1.com booth and a visit with Kris Kaull. Ended up getting my badge scanned for a T-shirt and downloading an app for my phone.
Other cool visits today included:
Visiting the fine folks at The Barf Bib and getting a sample to go with the HURL-E that I have in my bag at home. The Barf Bib is made of a different material that is resistant to tearing off by a patient. We’ll have to see how well it works.
5.11 Tactical the fine folks there are giving out some nice pink trimmed ball caps as bling as well as giving us a chance to enter to win a very nice jacket. It’s reversible
Of course, the wonderful folks at MagnumBoots USA are giving away KTKC T-shirts. You just have to make a donation, which 100% will go to.
American Heart Association in Booth 2207 were expecting me (surprise) and I got a beautiful patch from them.  The patch is on their Facebook page (hint: click the link)
Ended up getting a nice looking patch from the folks at Tactical Tailor.com that I wish I could wear on my uniform for more than 20 seconds.
In the hall this afternoon, I got stopped by a gentleman from Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education at Miami State University. He gave me a deck of playing cards and told me that he gives them to all the Soldiers in uniform that came by. The deck has cardiac arrhythmias with the answers on the jokers. I wonder if that will help me in Kelly Grayson's tachycardia class tomorrow.
I also spent a good deal of time in the Social Media Lounge sponsored by the fine folks at Physio Control. They’re the ones that make our FAVORITE monitors, the LP 10. Of course, #MyPerfectMonitor would have a Keurig built in to it.
And I got a pair of nice challenge coins from MTM Recognition. One has a roulette wheel on one side and the LV sign on the other. The second coin is a St. Florian coin.
Not putting together a who’s who list yet…I’m still running into folks that I am meeting for the first time in person (Refer to my Baltimore post).
Until the Day 2 recap tomorrow…

Cool to wear…but I damn sure ain’t making another one

Let me start off by saying that I am NOTHING CLOSE to a tailor. I can barely sew patches onto my uniforms. On top of that, only one set of Battle Dress Uniform (BDUs) was completely obliterated in this project.

At least 5 days after I started, I for the most part have myself a kilt.

“OH, Dad, you’re making a MANSKIRT!!!” My darling daughter announced to the whole damn house as soon as I laid out everything on my bedroom floor. She has been corrected several times, and she still calls it that.  Damn kids.

I’m not sure what the ruling is at my job about wearing one. I’m quite sure that after I get asked the standard question of “what is on under that?”, I’ll be told to go put on some pants (don’t want the nice darling hooligans learning about male specific cancers, now).

Now, when I get asked (and I’m quite sure I will), I’ll not only reply with “nothing’s WORN under my kilt—everything is in perfect working order”, but I will also steal @theHappyMedic’s line and follow up quickly with a 1 in 6 chance of a disease that will kill over 33,000 men in a year.

With this knowledge, a couple of heavy hitters in the blogosphere, the aforementioned Happy Medic and his soul crushing friend @motorcop came up with an idea to raise awareness of the male related cancers during September…#kiltedtokickcancer. (By the way, September is actually prostate cancer awareness month…perfect timing.) They took their idea to the fine folks at Magnum Boots and alt.kilt, which was replied with a resounding “Boo-to-da-yeah”.

When they announced it, I said that someone from THIS HQ was going to also sport a kilt, but an ACU kilt at EMS World Expo. That idea was shot down after I started slicing and dicing an old set of BDUs for the project.

Considering that just some little old lady from Pokipsee reads my blog, if by chance some guys my age (30 1/2 + a couple) happens to read this scrawling, do yourself (and your family) a favor…get you ass to the doctor and get checked. Remember that 1 in 6 chance? Yeah, that should be enough motivation right there.

I know when we’re in the station, the barracks, the PX, the ambo, we make jokes about it, calling it “ass cancer” or “ball cancer”. This is no laughing matter.

Guys, if you don’t have the balls to sport a kilt for the month (whether it’s one that you bought or a home made one like mine (and mine’s UGLY)), do yourself the favor, all right?

I’ll post pictures as I get a few taken…right now, I have some hemming and trimming to do.

How long until I get my retirement orders?

“Welcome all to the A co, 801st Combat Support Hospital
keep this professional”

That’s the statement that welcomes the handful of folks that belong to the group for my unit’s Emergency Room EMT section on Facebook.

This statement was made by a nurse that is running the show since “Mom” got mobilized.

It’s a page for a unit, I get that. Normally when it comes to something like this, I’m completely professional—especially since I became the senior medic for the entire company until either some folks come back home or until I retire, whichever comes first.

Don’t worry, kids, my retirement will be AFTER Expo.

Now, being the senior medic (along with the trainer), one of the things I need to know is whether or not the certifications for my folks is up to date. That’s sort of an important thing. Ranks right up there with eating, sleeping, and coffee…just has to be done. I don’t use any spreadsheets or fancy programs to do it, but I make sure it gets done.

That brings us to last night…

Well, I'm asking everyone in the EMT section to bring some documents to drill, including a copy of their certifications relevant to their job, and a copy of their license, and a copy of the MEDPROS

John Broyles DET has documentation c “DAD”

I let the nurse know that my detachment has their documentation with our “Dad” (also known as the full time Training NCO).

Now this brought a reply stating that my Detachment’s information is outdated. I know better because I take care of my 30 medics.

Then this came along…

Bring it or I'll have <”Mom”> take you out on the range

That followed by a “LOL”.

I saw that and just sat in my seat, blood beginning to well up to shoot from my eye sockets. I had (in my opinion) just been threatened by a nurse.

My only reply was: “ o_o “

I ask any of the fine folks on the po-po side of the equation (read @motorcop1 ) was I right to perceive this as a threat or was she “joking”.

Remember what the opening statement of this entry (and the particular facebook page) said…”keep this professional”.

Um, yeah, it’s looking anything but that.

My retirement orders can’t get here fast enough.

Happy Independence Day

From 1-U-801 HQ

A message from the Army Reserve…

Two hundred thirty-five years ago one of history's greatest adventures began when a small band of patriots in Philadelphia resolved to stake their all--their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor--for freedom and independence. On that day America was born and our country has been an inspiration for free men and women around the world ever since.

Today we remember not only the day our country was born, but we also remember the indomitable spirit of the first American citizens who made that day possible. We remember how a small band of patriots declared independence from a powerful empire; and formed, in the new world, what the old world had never known-a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

It is that unyielding spirit which defined us then and continues to define us now. It is what led generations of pioneers to blaze a westward trail and extend the American experience; to persevere through internal strife and form a perfect union; to face an economic depression with vim and emerge victoriously; and to triumph in the face of tyranny from evil doers who attempt to suppress the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness from a sovereign populace. It, too, is what has always led us, as a people, not to wilt or cower at a difficult moment, but to face down any trial and rise to any challenge.

Across America as Family and friends gather to celebrate the freedoms we all enjoy, remember those, some far from home, who make this patriotic holiday possible. This is our opportunity to focus on our Families and appreciate their sacrifices and contributions to the liberties we hold so dear.

For those of you who are deployed and who continue to take the fight to the enemy in the high plains of Afghanistan or the deserts of Iraq, know that what you are doing in defense of this great Nation is in keeping with the spirit of Independence Day and America's military services. For those who are on the home front, your vigilance, courage and sacrifice provide us the opportunity to live in a free society and serve notice to terrorists and those who threaten the vision of our Nation's founders.

So, on this special day, the birthday of our country, in the midst of all the joyous celebrations, let us take a moment to remember the debt of thanks we owe to those who came before us and to the spirit of faith and patriotism which still makes America "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Thank you, God bless you, and may God always bless America.

Thank you 1SG Willie J. Moss (1942 (?)-1992)

Hey, Top

It’s been a great number of years since I saw you last. I think I was TDY at Anniston Army Depot in AL the last time our paths crossed. I never got the chance now that I’m an NCO to really thank you for what you taught me without even knowing it.

I remember there have been a few times that we’ve talked face to face (with your desk separating us) with not really the best of circumstances causing the meeting. I guess that was part of you teaching me that I am human and I am going to make mistakes—some of pretty good magnitude (I honestly didn’t know that was your truck, 1SG).

I remember the afternoon when you had all of the platoon sergeants down in the leaning rest in front of your office. While chewing them a good one you caught me watching and asking what the hell I was doing. I still remember my answer. “I’m learning that if you’re going to have a bunch of us junior enlisted (we were called lower back then) in the front leaning rest for screwing up, I know now that you’re going to do the same to senior NCOs.”

I also learned that there’s a time to pop the stripes off the collar and just enjoy yourself. I’ve seen it quite a few times at the Gasthaus at Ft. Eustis, and do it a bit myself.

Top, you were the one that basically inspired me to try to get that diamond. It took me 2 OCONUS deployments and a couple of CONUS mobilizations, and if it wasn’t for that damn PT test, I’d probably be running my own ambulance company right now.

I’ve grown a little, Top. I went from being the best forklift operator that the 119th ever had (that kid only beat me by 6 seconds on the course) to being a damn fine medic—with a little bit of grease monkey and recruiter thrown in for good measure.

I ended up being a platoon sergeant for about 3 years right after my 1st Reserve mobilization. I enjoyed it but ex-wife #2 hated the fact that even in the Reserve, it’s a 24/7/365 job. After the 2nd, I ended up being the lead trainer for my unit.

I know that in the time since we last crossed paths and I rendered you your final salute, there has been a “Yoda” to fill in the “Obi-Wan” role you took. Now, I look forward to retirement and hoping that I trained my replacement to take what he was taught and run with it.

Good talking to you again, 1SG

BUSTIN’ LOOSE