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Play the Medic

How ironic! You're delayed on your way to a code because 2,000 senior citizens decided to protest the quality of healthcare. You're just hoping the mercenary per diem of the day that they partnered you up with does not kill you driving to the job.

Valerie: "So... how long have you been working as a medic?"

Partner: "It's been fourteen now.... time flies!"

Valerie: "Fourteen years! That's great - I didn't even think you looked old enough to be on the job that long."

Partner: "Err.... no. Fourteen days. My medic number is 5,349,321. I'm still waiting on my card from the Dept. of Health."

Oh great... Jim Florio Medical Center has been so desperate for medics that the units have been "less than appropriately" staffed lately.

Valerie: "OK. I'll work the first job and you can watch. Then we'll switch and I'll watch you. Deal?"

Partner: "Right!"

You pull up on the ambulance. BLS 2 is stopped on the road - you figure they are probably shocking the patient. You hop out of your truck, grab a gear bag and the monitor, and proceed to the unit. Your partner seems to be fumbling in the truck.

Partner: "Go ahead - I'll be right in. I dropped my pen light."

Sheesh! You open the back door of the ambulance to find an EMT ventilating the patient. He looks up from his AED and gives you a quick report.

Bob: "Hey - thanks for coming!"

Valerie: "Hey - thanks for not waiting at the scene! What have you got?"

Bob: "Roughly 35 years old, collapsed with no explanation at work. Bystander CPR started almost immediately, I would guess less than a minute of anoxic time. Zapped him once at 200 about 6 minutes into the event with a return of spontaneous circulation. He just refibrillated again and I hit him again at 300 with similar results. It's been a while, but don't you guys usually come in pairs?"

Valerie: "My partner is new. He'll be along as soon as he learns where the door handle is on the truck."

Bob: "Yes, I know the feeling..."

OK Lisa, what do you want to do first?