Mendham Borough First Aid Squad
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The end of the beginning

6/6/2016

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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
-- Laozi, Chinese philosopher (also known as Lao Tzu)
I've had a couple of weeks now to reflect upon the completion of the EMT course, and my successful certification by the state of New Jersey. I want to again thank my wife and son for their patience with me, and to everyone that offered their support and well wishes.

The experience was both easier and more challenging than I had expected. In all honesty, the course material wasn't particularly difficult to understand, even with the use of medical terminology sprinkled throughout. The hands-on and practical skills weren't particularly difficult either, whether it was applying trauma bandages, inserting airways, performing CPR, or just moving and lifting patients.

On the other hand, I was challenged to overcome an initial desire to simply 'help' a patient with what appeared to be an immediate discomfort or pain, and rather to slow down and assess the entire situation, looking for those more hidden issues that actually posed a greater life risk. It took a bit of time for me to not just understand the importance of this, but to actually internalize it to the point that it became natural to slow down rather than speed up in times of crisis.

Not that I was always perfect at it.
While the class and state test may be behind me, my journey has only begun. The last few months have been but the first step, and in order to re-certify in 3 years time (under NJ State rules), I will have to complete a number of additional optional and core Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

In fact, my first optional CEU class will be later this month, as I plan to attend an "EMS For Fire Scene Support" course (aka "Fire Rehab"), in order to have a better understanding and readiness when the Mendham First Aid Squad is called to support our local fire departments at the scene of a structure or other fire. 

While the EMT class covered the basics of care for burns, this additional course will cover operational and organization details, including how to assess and evaluate fire personnel who may have been battling the blaze and are in need of rest and recovery, before they can be released back to duty to continue their own activities. I'll be back in a couple of weeks to talk about that course, and perhaps share details later this summer when I help support the Mendham Fire Departments' own training activities, putting this new knowledge in to action.
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    Author

    Jon Alperin, one of our MFAS volunteers, shares his journey to becoming an NJ certified EMT.

    Picture

    from the Start

    Here is Jon's journey, presented in time order:
    • T-30 & counting
    • A look back at my first year with this squad
    • 1500 pages of EMT know-how
    • Class is in Session!
    • We pick things up, we put things down
    • The head bone is connected to the neck bone...
    • Questions? We've got a million of them...
    • Practice is vital, and vitals take practice
    • Getting ready for the 1st test
    • Taking a breather
    • Be still my beating heart
    • Gearing up for mid-term exams
    • A peak inside a PSAP
    • Urgency, not emergency
    • Paramedics - Our partners in success
    • Under pressure
    • Around the bend, the end is in sight
    • From beginning to end
    • A grim way to learn
    • The toughest lesson
    • One behind, one ahead
    • Tom Petty had it right...
    • Just gonna let this speak for itself
    • The end of the beginning

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