Pronunciation

At EMT class last night we learned about the airway and how to maintain adequate ventilation.

The instructor is a true-blue-American and his accent is just about the same as any other Utahn's.

It was a great lecture, aside from one tiny detail...

Everytime he said the words 'pharynx' or 'larynx' he pronounced them as though they were spelled 'fair-nix' and 'lair-nix' which irritated me to no end.

Someone at work said that it bothers him when people pronounce the word 'intestines' like 'in-tess-TYNES'.

Anyone have other pronunciation pet peeves?

How Do You Know When You're Spread Too Thinly?

Stress management. How do you do it?

CPR

I just got home from my CPR training. It was unexpectedly enjoyable. The instructors had some interesting things to say in addition to the actual curriculum - - wacky stories involving rib cages and whatnot.

Most people who took the course were able to leave one hour earlier than usual since we will be going over more of the practical stuff during the actual EMT class. Good thing, too. I've been awake since 0400 this morning and I was pretty tired out after all that practice. CPR really takes it out of you.

We did a lot of kneeling down next to dummies and my knees are still bright red. I did the capillary refill test on my kneecaps just now, and the refill was instantaneous. (Usually it takes about a second or two for the blood to re-enter capillaries after you press down on the skin to make a pale spot.) Also, I'm pretty sure they are going to look a bit purple-y and bruised tomorrow.

The instructors should consider using some sort of padding during the class. But I suppose that in the real world when you're trying to bring someone back to life, padding isn't really your main concern.

Maybe I should start conditioning my knees to withstand prolonged pressure so that it doesn't feel like they've turned into smallish heaters after every time I do CPR.

BMW

I know I should probably put this post in my dream journal but oh well. I just had one of those dreams where you've acquired something that you honestly believe will be available to you in the waking world.

Last night I was in a country just west of India on the eastern border. I don't know why I was there, but I must have just been traveling since I had my backpack with me. I found myself in a house of many women and a few men. The men had gone out somewhere with a couple of their women and the rest were still at home. It was this giant house-- slightly run-down and very dark.

I decided that I needed to leave so I asked one if the older women to help me. We got into one of the many cars which were parked out front, and drove away. Minutes later we were back at the house.

"What are we doing here?" I asked, feeling nervous and trapped.

"We cannot leave this place now," she said, "the men have returned."

I panicked and ran for the nearest car. It was black. I got into the front left seat but I realized I wouldn't be able to drive it on that side. The wheel was on the right, and the keys were already in the ignition. It had a manual transmission and I had absolutely no idea how I was going to escape if I had to shift with my left hand and steer with my right.

Somehow I managed it, and drove to India--which was a neon lit highway with many flashing lights and lots of music. And traffic. Then I decided that this little bimmer would be ok to drive in the US... I need a car anyway... might as well be the one I stole from the crazy harem house.

Then I woke up and was only a little bummed that I'd have to pick a different car for the winter.

P.S I just got curious and looked up the name of the country which borders India on the west. It's called Pakistan.

Day Off

I don't have my usual EMT class today because of Labor Day weekend.

I wonder what I will do.

Touchy-Feely

Last night at my EMT class we learned about moving and lifting patients. At the end of the lecture, there was a bit of time for some hands-on practice. The instructor asked everyone to come to the front of the classroom and randomly picked a "patient" and had him lie down.

Then, he asked what the first thing you should do before thinking about moving a patient.

"Stabilize the head," a boy said.

"Good," said the instructor, "now that's your job."

Then he randomly picked out three students and told them to kneel next to the patient on one side.

When he asked one of them to put a hand on the patient's shoulder and hip, the student replied that he didn't want to touch him.

"This is a touchy-feely class. You have to know how to appropriately touch someone to help them."

I thought it was funny that the student objected in the first place.

There are a lot of cute young guys in my class. Many of them act like little teenage boys still. I suppose that's what they are, still. I'm just so used to working with responsible adult men, all of whom are older than 23. It's amazing how different guys between the ages of 18-21 are from guys over 22 in terms of maturity. Something I'll have to get used to.