12 Days of E-Hall Challenge

Jenny and I are taking a challenge, the 12 Days of E-Hall Challenge. Now there are no prizes or winnings other than being able to say that we went to E-Hall all 12 days. E-Hall is one of the nicer dining halls on campus and during the first 12 days of December they are featuring a themed food item. The first day was cheese, the second was chocolate, and today is well, I have no clue...It might seem like this challenge is easy, just go to get dinner every night. But really, it is quite difficult. So Jenny and I are going to take the plunge and make the trek to E-Hall for the following 10 more days.

Finals week is about to roll in and the library is already crammed. It doesn't really make sense why so many people come here when the dorms would probably be quieter. I mean, in the past hour, I have seen more than 10 people that I know. I've now been here for 3 hours and am burned out from chemistry.

Tonight is my second shift for the rescue squad, another night shift. This time, I have an 8am tomorrow morning. Hopefully I wont get a call at 6:55am and have to bring my backpack on the ambulance with me. I guess if that happens, I would ask to get dropped off at my class..... I hope that doesn't happen! Last time I had a night shift, the next day I took a 2 1/2 hour nap. We'll see if I get to go to bed before 3am tonight( should I say morning?). The nice thing is that I will be able to get my toothbrush back that I left conveniently in the bunks. (Don't worry, I had a spare in my dorm room.)

Updates on tonight/tomorrow morning will come shortly.

Continuation of My first run. 12/5 - 12/6

Continuation of C shift. 12/5 - 12/6

7-9:45pm: Everyone hangs out in the day room which has a big tv. Harry Potter marathon was still on, and I was trying to work on an essay.

9:45pm: The chief informs all of the C shift that we are going to Chipotle because it was closing in 15 minutes. I was told that the rescue squad takes many frequent trips to food places.

10:15- We get back and within 5 minutes we get our first call. The patient had a chief complaint of difficulty breathing. I just observed the patient care and got to set up an IV drip bag.

10:30-11:00- Transport to hospital and restock ambulance. At this time we just wait around while the AIC (emt in charge) writes out the report.

11:25- Before the report was finished we get our 2nd call. Another patient with difficulty breathing. I got to practice taking vital signs.

12:00-1:10: Transport to hospital, then return to the squad

1:10-1:20: I got ready for bed. I learned that if there was a call in the middle of the night, a red light would turn on in the bunks, a buzzer would ring, and we would have to get up. I turn off the light and start to go to sleep.

1:25: We get a call. Patient with complaining of chest pain. We show up on scene, pick up the patient and transport him. We "highly" suspect he is intoxicated.

1:45-2:40: Transport to hospital, fill out call sheet and return back to the station.

3:00am: I finally head to bed!!

Thankfully there were no more calls that night. I left the station at 7:30am and was welcomed by my suitemates. I made it to chemistry class although I was quite tired...I was so tired that I forgot my toothbrush in the bunks. I return to the station on Wednesday night for another night shift (C shift).

The first day! or should I say the first night.

6:40pm: I head to the rescue squad to be on time (which actually means 15 minutes early).

7:00pm: I awkwardly meet the few members in the station and look like I have no idea what I am doing. This is the weird part.

7:05pm: Check off ambulances and wash them.

7:20pm: Sit around the tv which watching Harry Potter and attempting homework.

So now I guess I wait it out and see if there are any calls for the night. I am glad to know that if there is a call that a light goes off and the alarm buzzes. I want to sleep through the night, but I also really want to go on a call! We'll see if thats still my thought tomorrow morning at 9am in Chemistry class....

(a picture of me in my uniform will come later!)

Before the craziness starts...

Two weeks left before winter break, one week before finals begin, and I still have 48 hours of rescue squad to squeeze in somewhere. I decided to go ahead and start this blog to journal about my life. Mainly my time spent at the rescue squad. Juggling schoolwork, EMT shifts, choruses, and scouts will become really busy, and I think keeping a blog about it all would be quite interesting.

This Sunday will be my first shift at Harrisonburg Rescue Squad. I am required to pull 48 hours or 6 shifts every month. Because of winter break, I have to make sure I have completed all of my shifts before I leave for home. I am currently signed up for 3 night shifts (7pm-7am) and 2 B shifts (1pm-7pm). I'm pretty excited and don't really know what to expect!

So here is my schedule for the next upcoming days:

Saturday- Reckless adventure to Charlottesville with Jenny, Chorale Holiday Fest concert in the evening.

Sunday- Green Valley Bookfair with the family and grandparents, 2nd concert of Holiday Fest, first rescue squad shift (night shift!!)

Monday- just another school day...