Rotor girl

 

Things are going well at work.  After my first fixed-wing flight I was cleared off of third ride status and when I got to work yesterday I was told I could go on a inter-facility (hospital to hospital) run in the helicopter. The rotor side was getting hammered yesterday and I was eager to help out, and two scene calls came and went before we got an inter-facility.

It was great!  It was sunset as we headed across the mesas going west to a remote pueblo... the trees along the river beds a blazing yellow... just a wonderful way to make a living, I thought to myself.  The patient was a stable ICU transfer, and didn't require anything I hadn't done lots of times before on fixed wing. 

Some observations about my rotor flight, and this new job in general:

• It wasn't nearly as noisy as I thought it was going to be. 
• The helmet microphone has to sit right on your lip for it to be activated when you talk.  All I could think of is germs and be thankful we all have our own helmets.
• Living on base for 24 hours at a time is going to take some getting used to, but it's not entirely unpleasant.  I much prefer it to being "on call" and having to be 30 minutes from base all the time.
• The flight suit, assorted crap in it and helmet add 14 pounds to my weight!  And yes, I have to get weighed quarterly.  Time to loose 20 pounds.
• I'm sure it's because the crew is mostly men, but I have never heard a group of people talk about each other's gas so much in my life.  And I have brothers :-(
• Doing transports in a Lear Jet: passenger.  Doing transports in a helicopter: flight crew.  Big difference.
• Why does there always have to be one person there who is a total bitch?  Seems to hate life, hate getting activated to do her job, and thinks she should be paid to sit in the crew room and watch TV.  Note to self: schedule myself on opposite days and limit that negative energy. 
• I love busting out 24 hours of work at a time, and having the rest of the week to myself and my family.  I think this is working up to being the best gig ever.
• I never thought as a nurse I would be responsible for a protocol that includes "Try to get a description of the snake.  Do not delay transport to try and capture the snake."  I mean, really?
• "Safety naps" rock.
• The state of New Mexico needs to make H1N1 vaccines available to first responders like us.  We are (almost daily) flying influenza patients to tertiary care centers, yet there are no vaccines available for us.

Well after a 12 hour break, I'm back for more fun tonight... and I'm ready to fly!!!

 

Comments

[Grandma Sandy]

Sounds like you are having just one terrific time - I am so glad that you are liking what you do. Fly safe.
Love Sandy

[Brenda W. Quinn]

Go get 'em, Sis!