As a hospital analyst and auditor, I’m never allowed to get my hands dirty, but as I prepare to return to school, I decided to spend a day in the life of a first responder. It was the best experience I ever had and even in the midst of being extremely short staffed, our county EMT’s and Paramedics were still super caring, extremely gentle, and ready to provide the best care they could while enroute to an area hospital. Three things I learned during the twelve-hour shift that matters to you: 1️⃣ Be CPR certified. You never know whose life you may save. Four out of five cardiac arrest events happen at home, which means the victim is more likely to be someone you know – a partner, parent, child, or sibling. Every second matters until first responders arrive. Register for CPR certification near you using the link in my bio. 2️⃣ When you hear an ambulance or fire truck coming, please pull aside. Please don’t slam on breaks or try to out speed them. And please… please… PLEASE… DO NOT pull in front of them or ignore them. They are responding to an emergency. That emergency could be someone you know. Not saying you will know the patient(s), but the point is – move out of the way. 3️⃣ Those snacks and water bottles at the entrance of the ED is EVERYTHING. My hospital had to remove them due to budget cuts, but I’m going to do everything in my power to see if our administrators can get them back. Our first responders barely have time to eat or use the restroom. It’s the little things that are actually big things, and show our appreciation. If you are a first responder or medical professional, let me know if you agree or disagree with this message, or if you’d like to add anything. Thank you, first responders, from the top and bottom of my heart, for everything you do. ♥️ • • • #firstresponders #medicalprofessional #nurse #emergency #emergencyroom #emergencydepartment #hospital #cpr #cprcertified #healthcareworkers #healthcareprofessional (at South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeoyV9zJnxn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
