My Resume/CV

So I'm a writer, and as a technical writer by practice, I'm writing resumes for a nominal fee. Below is a link to mine. Feel free to comment and send me a message if you'd like a resume written.

Resume/CV

Visit my OTHER blog...

http://threesixtyfivein2010.blogspot.com/

PTSD, you're a bitch. Thanks.

Who would have known? PTSD exists. I'm a man, and I don't like admitting I suffer from it.

Remember the post about the the 4 y/o? CPR? Yeah, it still fucks with me. Some days I can't deal.

Every time I see a kid.

Every time I hear an ambo or firetruck going code 3.

Every time I sleep.

Sometimes when I'm awake.

Sometimes when I'm short of breath.

Sometimes (all the time) when I see an AED.

It wakes me up. I'll find myself doing CPR on my matress. Cold, clammy, sweaty. Dyspneic.

Help me. I'm six feet from the fucking edge and I'm falling.

Your Best Weapon

Here's a riddle:

-A little bit goes a long way
-It's not a Basic skill, or a Paramedic skill
-Anyone is capable of it, even with no advanced training or education.

What is it?

Compassion.

Compassion is your best weapon to treat your patients, and is often your last resort. But it should always be your first.

Compassion is greater than any drug or therapy. It has the power to mend hearts and give hope. And the best thing about it? Compassion inspires compassion. It's a vicious circle, and a vicious cycle. Do you set the example?

I don't know how many of you have ever heard the old adage, "A little oxygen, a warm blanket and a few kind words can go a long way." This couldn't be any more true.

I can't count the number of lives I've saved using invasive procedures or complex therapies. I have no tally for the number of patients I've seen die, or the number that have lived. But I can count the number of times my company has helped better a patient (or family member's) day, because I use it with every patient.

Compassion is funny. Sometimes you see the results, and sometimes you don't. Like all therapies, not all patients are accepting of it. Sometimes, compassion doesn't work. But more often than not, it does.

And the good thing about compassion is that you can pay it forward. Doing a simple favor such as refilling your patient's water pitcher or holding their hand, can come back to you ten-fold in the future. You do a good deed, and you get one in return.

Every day, new therapies and new medications are developed. Advances in treatment are made. But the one thing that has been around since the beginning is sure to work in your favor. Remember that.

Technology is great, but in the mix of numbers and values, we often forget that we are treating a person. A human being like you and I. Treat the patient, not the numbers.

I promise you that if you try it today, you will be a better provider. So what are you waiting for?

EMS Today, Part II: All about the memories

(To read the first part of this post, click here.)

As I sit down to write part two of my experiences at EMS Today, I realize that I have a lot to say, but it is difficult to put my emotions and feelings to words. As I have been a blogger for almost two years now, that's not something I'm used to dealing with.

I tried for a while to figure out why I was having this dilemna...why I couldn't share the sheer epicness with my readers. Then it hit me.

For the past few years, I've made friends with some of the coolest people I know. Friendships, networking, and connections were all made via blogging, Twitter, or other forms of social media. Any time I found myself struggling with school, I reached out to this amazing community of people. People...that I've never met. Until I was in Baltimore.

(L to R: Justin Schorr, Myself, Meris, Ted Setla, Mark Glencourse, and Chris Eldridge)

People my own age, who are just as passionate about EMS as I am:

(Nate Malecki)

(Meris)

And being able to sit face-to-face with those who inspire us:

(Meris, Justin, and Mark)

These were people from all different age groups, different walks of life, different beliefs, and different outlooks. As friends have, we've probably all had outs with each other from time to time. But, we share one thing in common:

(L to R: Kelly Grayson, Mike Ward [@Fossilmedic], Mark Glencourse, Stephanie, Epijunky)

From states, and even entire countries apart, we share a love for EMS. A tie that binds us, if you will.

So, looking back on EMS Today 2010, what was the best part of entire gathering? There is no one thing that made it so great. It wasn't simply seeing all the latest products relevant to the field at the exhibit hall, it wasn't just what I learned as a new EMT student and very much a rookie in EMS, nor was it solely being able to put a name and face to someone's Twitter handle.

It was all about the memories. Being able to look back almost two weeks later and say,

(On EMS Garage LIVE with Chris Kaiser, Jamie Davis, and Chris Montera)

"Holy crap, I was a part of THAT?"

Realistically, I should be able to look back and say I made a lot of new friends and colleagues. But the fact of the matter is, we already knew each other. And in meeting most of these people for the first time, albeit an amazing experience, I feel as though I had known them all already.

Therefore, I can't say I made new friends. But the memories? Those will last a lifetime.