by California Casualty | Firefighters |
This Guest Blog post is by blogger Michael Morse. Rescue Captain Morse, the blogger behind Rescuing Providence, is the featured article in our Firefighter & EMT News Resource: Flashpoint. To sign up to receive Flashpoint in your inbox once a month, click here!
Spring Cleaning
Everything she owned was in that house-everything she had ever owned. Nearly eighty years is a lot of time to acquire things, magazines stacked from floor to ceiling, boxes stacked on boxes, filled with things she owned. Furniture covered every inch of the three-bedroom place, mostly old, but a few new pieces scattered here and there. Most people consider their space in square feet, Mildred counted hers in cubic feet, and every inch needed to be filled.
The overflow spilled out of the entry door into the vestibule, where more “things” were stacked. From there, a path of stuff led to the driveway, where two mini-vans sat, idle for years, crammed with more things. One of the vans had a three cubic foot space where a driver might be able sit, if she crammed herself in, but visibility would be impossible, except perhaps for straight ahead. I don’t thing there has been much forward sight here, every inch of the premises reeked of life already lived.
She held on to the doorframe, digging her fingers into the greasy wood, refusing to leave. “I can’t leave my babies,” she said, frantic, panic setting into her eyes, eyes that had seen a lot, and had let go of little. Cats prowled through the clutter, seemingly everywhere, then nowhere, and then everywhere again. The stench making our eyes water and stomachs churn, bile rising in our throats as we tried to pry Mildred away from everything she had. Had ever had. There would be dead cats under her things, of that I was certain. The live ones didn’t have long to go either, and would be collected by Animal Control, quarantined, evaluated and most likely euthanised.
Then, Mildred’s things would be put into dumpsters by workers dressed in white de-con suits, with artificial respirators to keep the diseased air out of their lungs, the very air that I breathed into mine every second that we lingered in the doorway. I knew she was ill, and living in absolute squalor and disease, yet I simply could not drag her away from her world, the only one she understood, and take her to the hospital where she would be stripped, and showered, and given clean clothes, and put in a sterile room where air flow and empty space would suffocate her. Intelligence burned brightly in her vivid blue eyes, eyes as clear as my own, and I knew she was far from legally incompetent. She could not, and never would understand how these strangers entered her world and dragged her away, never to see it or her “babies” again.
“Mildred, we have to go. Your neighbors complained about all of the stuff and the cats. We have a court order that says we have to take you to the hospital for an evaluation before you can come back. It will only take a few hours.”
She looked me in the eye, and I saw defeat and resignation in hers.
“Promise I’ll be home again?” she begged, the loosened her grasp, letting go of the doorframe.
I gained her trust only to betray her. It was the only way to get her to leave without physically dragging her, kicking and screaming away from her home. The crowd grew, and the spectacle grew along with it, so I did my best to restore a sense of normalcy, and made promises that I knew were empty, and took her hand and led her away, past the nosy neighbors, some of whom shook their heads and tsk tsk’d as we marched past them. There were no goodbyes, no see you when you get back, no get well soons, just a little old lady holding a stranger’s hand and walking to an ambulance and into a new, frightening life.
A person needs space to grow, using past experiences as a guide while forging ahead. The weight of decades of living must be shed as the years progress lest the weight of our accumulations make moving forward impossible. We need to let go in order to flourish, make room for new things and experiences, and learn to give up what once held importance, but with time became nothing more than a burden. There is a lot to be said about starting fresh, and getting a new start. Every day is a new beginning, memories that we cherish, lessons we have learned, mistakes made and overcome all take their place in the forging of what that beginning will become. Mildred was lost in the accumulation of what was, never letting go, and never moving forward. We rode to the Emergency Room quietly, her on the stretcher, lost in a world of her own thoughts, me behind her, writing my report, and trying to be objective with my words.
I have faith in most of the people I work with, and the folks at Elderly Affairs do a remarkable job with the limited resources at their disposal, but I couldn’t lose the sinking feeling that Mildred would be lost in the shuffle, and the people who took her “case” would miss the connection to the woman who tried desperately to hold on to the only thing she knew. Perhaps it is better that they did not see the squalor, be immersed in the odors, see the poor little kitty cats as they scurried through the debris. Maybe they would see this as a fresh case, an opportunity to show a woman who needed their help how to let go, and start anew.
I certainly hope so.
I heard on the news that there were over forty cats in her home, which had been condemned and scheduled for demolition. Some of them were suitable for adoption.
I spent my days off cleaning my basement. It was time to let go of some things, and make room for something new.
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Captain Michael Morse is a Rescue Captain in the Providence Fire Department’s rescue unit and author of two books: “Rescuing Providence” and “Responding.” His blog was voted the winner of the 2012 CalCas Battle of the Blogs ‘Top Firefighter & EMT Blog.’ Cpt. Morses’s books & blog are great resources for EMTs and Firefighters- full of advice, news briefs, and day-to-day insider stories. To learn more about Captain Morse, check out our interview with him!
by California Casualty | Safety |
Whew. Here in Kansas City, we are preparing for our second round of serious winter storm conditions. Anywhere from 6-12 inches are expected in the next 24 hours. Similar conditions are sweeping across the Midwest. On top of large amounts of snow, this storm is bringing strong winds and a large threat of ‘white-out’ conditions. This is extremely dangerous for driving- if you end up off the road, it could be hard for authorities to spot and help you because of limited visibility and the high probability that your car’s tracks will be covered by snow.
If you live in any areas affected by this storm, please avoid ANY AND ALL unnecessary travel.
If for some reason, you must travel, please make sure you have the following items with you in your car and review these tips for how to stay safe and get help if you do become stranded…
What to have in your car:
- Materials to keep you warm: Blankets, a pillow, and warm clothing. Make sure to include a hat and gloves and extra socks! It is also wise to include a waterproof layer like a raincoat.
- Non-perishable food: Nuts, canned tuna, crackers, dry cereal, fruit cups, granola bars and WATER.
- A flashlight: Not only can this help you see, but it can also help you send signals and be seen in white-out conditions
- Extra batteries
- A pair of sturdy boots: In case you do need to leave the car for any reason- plus, they are very warm and waterproof. You may need them to stomp messages in the snow
- A whistle: In white-out conditions, it may be hard for authorities to see you and your car’s tracks may get covered in snow. Bring a whistle; if you can’t be seen, you can still be heard. If you can be heard, you can be rescued
- An orange or red flag: This flag will come in handy to signal to authorities that there is someone in the car in need of assistance
- Matches
- Any prescription medicine you need: Update your emergency kit to keep it current with your most needed (and non-expired!) medications
- A snow shovel
- Ice scraper
- Jumper cables
- Extra gas
- Fuses: There are several kinds- make sure you have the right ones for your car
- Basic tools: including pliers, screwdrivers, and an adjustable wrench. Also include electrical and duct tape.
- A fire extinguisher
- A knife
- Road flares: Another great way to make sure you are seen in white-out conditions
What’s the best way to avoid getting stranded? Staying off the roads in the first place. If you don’t have an important reason for driving, DON’T.
What to do if you are stranded in your car:
- If you have a cell phone, call for assistance and provide authorities with your location but try not to drain down the battery by using the phone for anything but contacting help!
- Do not panic
- Stay in the car
- Use the supplies you do have conservatively
- If it is daytime: place a red or orange flag on your antenna. If it is nighttime: leave your dome light on, only when the car is running
- Occasionally check your tailpipe to make sure it’s free of snow. Clean the pipe to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning when the engine is running
- Do some minor exercising inside the vehicle to keep up circulation
- If there is more than one person in the car, take turns sleeping. If you are alone, DO NOT sleep while the engine is running!!!
- When the snow stops, try stamping HELP signal in the snow beside your vehicle.
Stay warm and safe everyone!
by California Casualty | Nurses |
This Guest Blog post is by blogger Keith Carlson, RN, BSN. Nurse Keith, the blogger behind Digital Doorway, is the featured article in our Nurses’ News Resource: Nursing Pulse. To sign up to receive the Nursing Pulse in your inbox once a month, click here!
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Nursing Amidst the Holidays: A Guest blog by blogger Keith Carlson
At this time of year, most people feel the added stress and joy of the holiday season, and nurses are certainly no exception in this regard. Beginning with Thanksgiving, the pressures and expectations begin to mount exponentially, and although there’s often a great deal to celebrate and express gratitude for, some of us can feel like we’re pushed to our limits as we navigate the waters (and snows!) of the season.
Diagnosis: Alteration in Holiday Spirit
If you work in a hospital, there are most likely Christmas decorations everywhere, and other holidays—like Hannukah and Kwaanza, may also be recognized and honored.
Meanwhile, your patients may be forlorn and lonely as they spend the holidays in the hospital, and part of your unofficial nursing duties may be adding “Alteration in Holiday Spirit” to their care plan (along with interventions to assuage their suffering and sadness).
If you’re a homecare nurse, you have the honor and responsibility of visiting patients in their own homes. This type of nursing brings with it various challenges at this time of year, including patients who have no family or are too poor or ill to fully enjoy the holiday season.
Nurses employed in nursing homes and long-term care facilities also face the potential sadness and isolation of their patients, and witnessing residents’ sadness and loneliness can be a psychic burden for the sensitive nurse.
What About Your Spirit?
While you strive to lift the spirits of your patients—whether in the hospital, nursing home, or other milieu—there’s someone who should also be on your list of those in need of support: yourself! This time of year can be difficult enough without potentially carrying the burden of your patients’ loss and grief, and making sure you pay enough attention to your own needs is paramount.
In some workplaces, the high energy of the holiday season can feel very uplifting and cheerful, with office parties, gifts, cards and special treats that brighten one’s day and add a special something to the functions that still need to be accomplished.
However, if the demands of your workplace are generally intense, you may experience a variety of emotional reactions to the “cheer” being spread by the seasonal festivities, and these reactions and feelings are altogether normal.
Keeping yourself balanced and functioning at your best during this time of year is important, so recognizing how you feel and what your individual needs are is something worth paying attention to, whether those needs are emotional, physical or spiritual in nature.
Holiday Self Care for the Nurse
If the stress of the holiday season is impacting you at work or at home, there are ways to “dial down” the stressors so that you prevent illness, overwhelm and burnout.
First, you must pay close attention to the basic aspects of your self-care, and while these are universal at any time of year, they are even more important now.
Nutrition
Sweets and treats abound at holiday time, but overindulgence can lead to a suppressed immune system, gastrointestinal disturbances, weight gain, nutritional deficiencies, and feelings of lethargy and brain fog.
There are temptations around every corner at this time of year, and avoiding (or limiting) your intake of cookies, cakes, candy, alcohol and other special foods may help you to feel better, even though it’s hard to resist when they’re right under your nose.
If you have a friend or colleague who also wants to resist temptation, enlist one another as “accountability partners” and find ways to provide mutual support. Bringing alternative healthy treats to work can help, as well as collaborating on methods for avoiding the nutritional pitfalls that feel good in the moment but come back to haunt you later.
Hydration
Staying hydrated is always important for every physiological function you can think of. Regularly filling your belly with good quality water can also suppress your appetite when faced with those delectable but nutritionally poor treats that seem to be on every desk and nurses station throughout December. Skip the coffee, soda and sugary eggnog and choose water instead! Your brain and other organs will thank you.
Rest and Sleep
You may laugh, but getting enough sleep and rest is not just important, it’s crucial. The quality and quantity of your sleep impacts your ability to maintain or lose weight, function at your best, and keep an even emotional keel as the stressors increase. If you find yourself staying up too late and getting up too early (or waking up in the middle of the night to ruminate over your shopping lists , then you have to take action to get your sleep on track—stat!
Exercise
This may seem like a joke to many of us, but getting exercise is important in every season, but it’s probably true that the majority of people slack off on their exercise routines during the winter, especially as the holidays approach.
If, like me, you live in a climate where it begins to get cold in November, your summertime exercise regimen may not translate well in winter. Some of us find ourselves confused and stultified as to what to do to stay fit during the colder months, so getting a handle on this can be very important for your health and ability to resist stress and illness.
Your Emotional Well-Being
I mentioned your spirit earlier in this article, and I want to reiterate again how important it is that you pay attention to your own emotional and spiritual needs during the holiday season.
With the recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, many of us are feeling grateful for the safety of our families and friends. However, the holidays can also bring up our losses, our grief, and the people who we miss and are no longer with us. Pay close heed to how you’re feeling, and reach out for help and support if you need it. Support can come from friends, mental health professionals, clergy, an Employee Assistance Program at work, or family members.
Remember, your mental and spiritual well-being are important, and if you’re feeling balanced and healthy mentally, emotionally and spiritually, it allows you to be a more effective nurse and caregiver.
Have Fun and Give Thanks
Of course, the holidays can be stressful, but they can also be joyous and celebratory. One way to care for yourself is to make sure you have time and energy for fun, for family and friends, and for giving thanks for all of the blessings in your life.
We nurses often think of others before we think of ourselves, but being a martyr doesn’t serve you or the people you care about. A nurse who practices good self-care sets an example for others around her, so be the one to set the example by paying attention to your own needs. It’s like they tell you on any airplane before the pilot takes the plane into the sky: you need to put on your own oxygen mask before you help someone with theirs. The same applies to caring for your own needs at work and at home.
Go ahead: nurture yourself, pamper yourself, and make this holiday season one that’s healthy, vibrant and balanced. You deserve it.
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Keith Carlson, or Nurse Keith as he’s known to his blog community, has been in the nursing field since 1996. Keith runs a Nursing Blog called Digital Doorway. A Registered Nurse and Certified Professional Coach, Keith says he has equal passion for both, which he uses “to help nurses live the most healthy, balanced and satisfying lives possible.” When Keith isn’t busy nursing, coaching and blogging, he’s working on “RN.FM Radio: Nursing Unleashed.” Keith co-founded the station, which strives to be “a place where nursing thought leaders, entrepreneurs, writers, bloggers and gifted clinicians can make their voices heard.”
To check out Keith’s blog, click here. More information about his coaching can be found here.
To tune in to RN.FM Radio, click here.
To keep up with him on Facebook, click here.
You can find him on Twitter by clicking here!
Check out our Q& A with Nurse Keith, click here.
by California Casualty | Peace Officers |
This Guest Blog post by Suddenly Cop Wife blogger, Stella, is the featured article in our Law Enforcement News Resource: The Blue Bulletin. To sign up to receive the Blue Bulletin in your inbox once a month, click here!
Holly Days | Guest Blog by Stella of Suddenly Cop Wife
I’m a Holiday Person. I love them all, especially Christmas, but I have been known to go a little overboard for random Holidays such as Arbor Day. (You mean you don’t have a Tree Party?) My husband—when he likes me—calls me his little Elf. When he’s annoyed, well…different story for a different time.
Christmas is especially important to me because it is jam-packed with so many memories; some good, some not so good. When I was really young, I had the most fabulous Christmases with my grandparents making the Season bright, and the extended family was all together, carrying on the same traditions year after year. I loved everything from the dawn of Thanksgiving Day to sunset on New Year’s Day: the sights, the smells, the music, the food, the decorations…I could go on, but you get the idea.
Then came a very dark period in my life. My mother got remarried, and the man she was married to was an abusive drug addict. My Christmases turned awful; we were no longer allowed to go see my grandparents, and we were always teetering on the edge of poverty, so money was strictly for survival, not to be used for silly things like tinsel and gifts.
I vowed, each year as I recalled the way Christmas could be, I swore to myself, God, and anyone who would listen, that one day I would make Christmas special again. For me. For my future husband. For whoever darkened our door.
I’ve kept my promise. Since I’ve been on my own, I’ve recreated my Grandmother’s gift of an amazing Christmastime as best I could. When I married my husband, I practically drowned him with my traditions. I was determined to make up for all that I had lost; and reclaim the joy I had once known.
Little did I know that my husband would one day choose to become a Cop. For those of you who don’t already know, I write a Blog called Suddenly Cop Wife because one day (or so it seemed) my husband suddenly decided to become a Cop. With that came big changes in our everyday lives and, of course, huge changes to our Holiday festivities.
Since Rocco became a cop, we have had Thanksgiving the day before, the day after, and even the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. This year I found myself alone on Thanksgiving Day, prepping for our celebration on Friday.
As so many of us know, making a great Holiday is a lot of work. Knee-deep in the cleaning, cooking, and setting up, I began wondering at some point if all the work was even worth my while. For most people, the day after Thanksgiving means the kickoff of Christmas; Black Friday shopping for some, a day at home with families for others, catching up on things like reading the paper or watching a football game. For us, it’s Thanksgiving.
My husband got a horrible rotation this year. It’s nothing he’s done and it has absolutely nothing to do with seniority. The NYPD puts people in different Squads, and the Squads rotate the way of the calendar, and this year the calendar is not on our side. He will have to work Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
I would be lying if I told you that I was not severely disappointed.
I am. There’s a small part of me that would like to throw my hands up in the air and say screw it, why bother? I am tired of trying to recreate Christmas Eve Dinner on December 29th, or trying like hell to stay awake when he finally rolls through the door at 4:00 AM on New Year’s Eve which has already turned to Day.
When I feel that way, I think of my friends who have husbands in the Military and will end up doing Christmas sometime in July. After I get done feeling sorry for myself, I realize I am lucky. I am able, albeit on a different day, to keep our traditions alive and to bind us together making new ones. It’s important to keep trying, because marriage is about trying a little more each and every day.
I’m also lucky because I have my Holidays back. Maybe they’re celebrated on a different day, but they’re all mine, and my Cop’s. They are what they are, and right now they’re worth fighting for…even if Easter is in June.
I wish you all the Happiest Holidays and some time alone with your Police Officer. May they be safe and may your days be filled with Peace. Oh, and hug your cop.
Trust me…it makes a difference.
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About Stella NYC
Suddenly Cop Wife is authored by the wife of a Police Officer, a blogger who writes under the name ‘Stella New York.’ Stella is a fitness instructor and personal trainer. She is also the loving and supporting wife of a NYPD officer. When Stella isn’t busy working, supporting her husband, and blogging about their experiences, she also hosts a live show all about being a law enforcement wife called ‘Suddenly Cop Wife LIVE!’ Aside from being a great resource for LEOs and their families, Suddenly Cop Wife is honest. It’s a great blog for LEO families that want to hear from someone that shares their struggles, and isn’t afraid to talk about them.
To read our Q&A with Stella NYC, click here.
by California Casualty | Educators, Firefighters, Nominate a Hero, Nurses |
Nominate Your Hero Here!
Congrats to Mark R – our Hero of the Month for December. You can read every finalist’s story below!
Name: Scott D.
Profession: Registered Nurse
Nominated by: Barbara S.
Described as an inspiration to all who know him, Scott is a Registered Nurse working as a home visitor with a hospice unit. Before going into nursing, Scott saved lives as a combat engineer & infantryman with the US Army, jump master, parachute trainer, rescue scuba diver and former Fire Chief. Scott also frequently volunteers to work with the homeless, buying them food and helping them find services and resources. He has also worked with the Veterans Association, attending military funerals and visiting homebound veterans. In his role as a hospice nurse, Scott often brings his beloved dogs with him on home visits. He even volunteered to adopt a veteran’s dog when the owner moved into an assisted living facility. Scott’s nominator, Barbara, describes him as ‘a true hero to his neighbors and friends’ who ‘has been there to help when no one else stepped up.’
Scott D. and his nominator, Barbara
Name: Mark R.
Profession: Firefighter & EMT
Nominated by: Jessica M., a former patient
Mark and Jessica met under the worst of circumstances. A driver crashed into a car carrying Jessica and her daughter, Kendra, on a backwoods rural road. Mark and his team responded to the scene. As responders worked on freeing Jessica from the vehicle, she remembers Mark crawling into the car beside her, assessing her medical state and updating her on Kendra’s condition. “He not only took care of me that day, he held my hand, made me human not just a patient,” remembers Jessica. Following the accident, Mark traveled to check on Jessica’s daughter after she underwent brain surgery. Even now, Mark continues to keep tabs on Kendra, responding whenever she has a medical emergency, even if he’s off-duty, and organizing fellow firefighters to help build a wheelchair ramp for her home. Seven years after their fateful meeting, the three remain close friends.
From Left to Right: Kendra, Mark, Jessica, Willy and Bill. Mark, Willy and Bill all responded to the accident.
Name: Marilyn M.
Profession: Educator
Nominated by: Kendra N.
Marilyn has dedicated more than 40 years of her life to Education. She got her start in the early 70’s, teaching deaf and blind students in one of the first programs developed specifically for these children. Marilyn then moved to a small Alaskan village to teach Special Education. For years, she traveled around Alaska evaluating and writing programs for severely handicapped children and teaching Special Education and Kindergarten. After 30 years of teaching, Marilyn retired to Oregon and began working as a Reading Teacher. Motivated by her own struggles as a young student, she has a passion for helping students learn to read and write. Her successful reading program has helped countless young students over the course of her career. Marilyn retired from teaching in 2002, but continued to pursue her passion for education by working as a teacher’s aide, reading assistant and librarian. She is still actively working and volunteering in the Oregon school system, where ‘her excellence in teaching and working with young kids has always been apparent to the kids, the parents, other staff, and administration.’
Marilyn and one of her students in Alaska in the 1980’s
Name: John B.
Profession: Firefighter & Paramedic
Nominated by: Lori B., his wife
The son of a Chief of Police and Registered Nurse, John knew he wanted to be a Fireman at age 2. John started his Firefighting career roughly 38 years ago and launched his nonprofit, Firefighters for Fun, just 8 years later. He now travels the country educating children with his fire truck and ambulance classrooms, passing out extensive resources and spreading his ‘If you can be Heard, you can be Rescued’ motto. The life-saving potential of John’s mission was proved just a few weeks ago, when a wheelchair-bound man was saved from a dangerous house fire after his neighbors were able to find and rescue him thanks to a whistle John had given the man just months earlier. John uses all his spare time, including vacations, raising money for Firefighters for Fun, even converting another old fire truck into a mobile restaurant serving up food and fire knowledge at state fairs to help raise funds.
John teaching children CPR using his HOTS (Helping Others to Survive) Ambulance Classroom
