tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post6362223272452025595..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: soundtrackSpence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-89132832822448012042010-06-06T11:13:54.417+00:002010-06-06T11:13:54.417+00:00Thanks Jo.
The awful thing was, his wife didn'...Thanks Jo.<br /><br />The awful thing was, his wife didn't realise how serious things were for quite a long time. There was a marked change from the beginning, when she was calm and matter of fact, and the end, when it suddenly hit her and she went to pieces. Dreadful, really. But you do what you can. xxSpence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-59377731882803718862010-06-06T09:52:32.998+00:002010-06-06T09:52:32.998+00:00Hi Spence,
It must be so hard having to go through...Hi Spence,<br />It must be so hard having to go through the process, knowing what the inevitable outcome is....except when there is that 1% chance that the process might work. But to have the wife there is equally distressing.<br />Beautifully written.<br />x jolulu's missiveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00137536605784710186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-79904741384156824942010-05-30T17:43:34.884+00:002010-05-30T17:43:34.884+00:00Hi UHDD
I hope they think that. We did our best, ...Hi UHDD<br /><br />I hope they think that. We did our best, and I suppose it's a fact of life (difficult to accept of course) that sometimes people will reach a point from which they can't recover. <br /><br />I imagine they'll find it hard to get over the fact that they were out when he collapsed. But so many times it happens that someone dies a number of hours (or days) before being found, so it could be worse!Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-10960810735897897322010-05-28T19:53:59.018+00:002010-05-28T19:53:59.018+00:00Sigh........
I wonder, there must be a comfort fo...Sigh........ <br />I wonder, there must be a comfort for the family, later, when they can perhaps realise that everything that could be done was done....uphilldowndalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426833972060254592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-30781196287927381542010-05-28T15:54:56.304+00:002010-05-28T15:54:56.304+00:00Thanks Christine
I didn't know whether to use...Thanks Christine<br /><br />I didn't know whether to use that detail or not. When I read it back it sounded a bit made up. But sometimes it's those coincidences that stick. <br /><br />Sorry to hear you had such a traumatic time of it. I'm glad the crew helped out. Dean Martin is one of those performers who had such a strong identity, the mellow, boozy crooner. Fantastic! x<br /><br />Thanks Wren<br /><br />Quite often you start on a resus having a pretty good idea of the outcome. In Ray's case, at least he still had agonal breathing, which is some sign of hope however slim. The complication was that he'd aspirated a great deal - plus he had a range of health problems which in the end stymied our efforts. <br /><br />The coping thing <i>is</i> difficult, and I suspect the longer term consequences are more serious than the short term. But I think what I do to cope during the job is to wrap myself in a protective layer of super-normality. <br /><br />Actually, serious as a resus is, there's often periods - handling the ventilations or the compressions - when you're able to talk over the patient. Dull stuff, mostly: gossip, trivia, stuff that seems glaringly inappropriate out of context, but stuff that acts as insulation from the stress of it. <br /><br />You have to keep reminding yourself sometimes of the need for tact. And often you have to watch out that outside the address you don't stretch and look at the sky and make cracks about this and that and generally look like bus drivers on an outing. It must look absolutely awful sometimes if a crew is caught out acting like this, but the thing to realise is that they're not being callous or disrespectful. They're doing what they need to do to keep themselves grounded, and healthy enough to run to the next job. <br /><br />Of all the aspects of ambulance work, I think this is the most difficult to talk about. It doesn't easily conform to expectation. But I've seen it so many times, and use it myself to stay sane.<br /><br />Thanks for your comment - and for your support all this time, Wren. xxSpence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-5861130041292933022010-05-28T01:17:23.979+00:002010-05-28T01:17:23.979+00:00Being unable to save a person in Ray's situati...Being unable to save a person in Ray's situation must be very hard for you, too, Spence. I know that frequently the attempt at resuscitation really does come too late, or the illness is simply too far along for it to help at all. Still, you must try each time, and hope, just like the family members. Have you discovered a way to make this easier to take, yourself? I've been with paramedics, in my job as a reporter, when it was clear that nothing they did was going to give the injured person another chance or save their lives. They were, to a man, solemn, the pain clear on their faces. How do you work that through?<br /><br />Thanks for another beautifully written post.<br />-WrenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-47399239032769406892010-05-27T18:20:34.075+00:002010-05-27T18:20:34.075+00:00Lovely piece of writing, felt that I was looking ...Lovely piece of writing, felt that I was looking over your shoulder as the story unfolded. Then I got to the end and I filled up when you mentioned the poor man's CD of Dean Martin. He was my mum's favourite and we played his songs at her funeral. Ambulance crew were brill then too as I found her dead in her flat and had to call them. Keep up the brilliant writing xxUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13804503242061472498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-74464877232132405142010-05-27T10:15:26.083+00:002010-05-27T10:15:26.083+00:00Thanks Wayne
I suppose it is a tool, in many ways...Thanks Wayne<br /><br />I suppose it is a tool, in many ways. Over time you come to develop your own little phrase book, using bits and pieces according to the situation. Certainly that's one I've used in the past when we're on a resus and the relatives are around. What's more difficult is talking to them after the event, if you have to tell them them it hasn't worked and the patient has died. <br /><br />I'm very glad we don't do that many resus jobs (although what usually happens is you have a long period when you don't do any, then go straight from one to another!)<br /><br />Thanks for the comment, Wayne. I really appreciate it.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-69029969705456895802010-05-26T21:03:02.897+00:002010-05-26T21:03:02.897+00:00‘He’s very poorly at the minute, Anne. His heart’s...‘He’s very poorly at the minute, Anne. His heart’s not working properly. This’ll be difficult for you to see. Why don’t you go out into another room whilst we do what we can? Is there anyone around who can sit with you?’<br /><br />I am in awe of this simple ability: to tell the truth, leaving room for hope, if there is any, but not building up false hope. You probably think nothing of it, an ordinary tool of your trade. But I find the truth can be a very difficult thing to say in difficult times. I see this in your writing and that of other EMT workers, this ability to say the truth <i>just so</i>, with the same adroitness a practiced expert might exhibit starting an IV.Wayne Conradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595005905880642013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-27860364824966997522010-05-26T19:58:45.134+00:002010-05-26T19:58:45.134+00:00Sorry Rach. I must admit I'm often snacking n&...Sorry Rach. I must admit I'm often snacking n'surfing - but I wouldn't even risk a dry biscuit if I was visiting Siren Voices! I think I should rename it. Siren Vomits, maybe. :/ xSpence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-77581158906822917852010-05-26T17:49:11.558+00:002010-05-26T17:49:11.558+00:00Very poignant Spence, though I wish I had not read...Very poignant Spence, though I wish I had not read about yellow vomit with my tea on my knee....xxRachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05254109361061114465noreply@blogger.com