Carl's stuff

New blog created...

2010-06-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

... Hello everyone, I have created a new blog with a new address.

This one, im sure you will agree, will be more user friendly.

http://carlsstuff.wordpress.com

So this will be the last post on this address, in future see my new blog address.

I really hate the ignorance of people

2010-06-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

Its always the same. "It won't happen to me" or my favourite"I drive carefully".

On Saturday night, a 70 year old lady drove home from a friends house, figuring that its just 2km away, and the seat belt is so uncomfortable, that she wouldn't put it on, after all, "it happens to other people".

As The traffic light showed a green flashing arrow, she proceeded to turn, the vehicle coming from the other side, just too fast to stop, accelerated, trying to beat the light. She was T-Boned on the passenger side, her vehicle spun and crashed through the traffic light and eventually came to a stop. Losing consciousness, with her head through the windscreen, sticking out in the cold air, precious blood poring out.

She now lies in ICU...

Sunday night, husband and wife are driving home on the highway after a nice day with their family. A pedestrian runs out in front of the vehicle, who could not stop in time. He hits the pedestrian at high speed, sending him scattered all over the freeway. He manages to stop without crashing further, glass all over him, and turns to his wife. She tries to look at him, unable to move as her seatbelt has tensioned, holding her into her seat. ( he thinks, thank god she was wearing her seatbelt) The roof has collapsed on top of her. She is hurt, but alive.

His 3 month old baby girl, however, was seated on her lap. (NOT IN THE CAR SEAT WHERE SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN)

The impact broke the a-post, smashing into this lovely girl's head, as she was flung out of mom's arms...

She also now lies in ICU, with 4 separate skull fractures and a very serious intra-cerebral bleed.

The feeling I get when I deal with cases like this is overwhelming. All I want to do scream and shout at these completely irresponsible parents. "Parents", let me rephrase, These people don't deserve children, they don't deserve to have the privilege of being called a parent.

Please tell everyone you know...

FOR GOD'S SAKE, BUCKLE YOUR CHILDREN UP!!!!!!

Because, i'm the one who has to tell you that you killed your child.

Something we avoid...

2010-06-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

... at my level of training is childbirth. We make sure that the lower qualifications do the deed in delivering a "pink foot" (as we refer to the little tykes in the industry).

its a distinct advantage being Advanced Life Support, and unheard of as an Emergency Practitioner (which I am), but fate and Murphy has a way of bringing you down to earth. In fact its been so many years since I delivered a baby by myself that I wasnt sure i would even remember how to. Boy, does it come back quickly.

On Wed morning, 02h50 to be exact, i received a call from our Emergency Room, stating that a man had come running inside, all frantic and panicky, saying something about his wife in trouble in his car, which is broken down just a few blocks away.

So.... I duly called for an ambulance, and responded out there in my response vehicle, not sure what to expect, but was definitely not prepared for what I found.

I came across the vehicle, parked at a stop street just two blocks from the hospital, with the husband and a few onlookers looking very nervous.

i peered inside the car, and found a lady lying on the plush leather back seat, crying in pain, and a little head starting to crown!!!!!!!

Cursing myself for getting there before the ambulance, i proceeded to explain to "mom" the procedure and then delivered "pink foot".

Delivery went well, baby popping out and gave an almighty cry. The ambulance arrived with a very relieved crew when they realized what they had just missed, and all went to hospital which was a stones throw away.

To make matters worse, as with our indigenous population tradition, the little tyke was given my name as his second "white" name, because he was delivered outside the hospital setting.

so all went well, the baby boy and mom healthy and happy in hospital, and me feeling very humble...

our little miracle!

2010-04-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

its hard to believe that 3 years ago, our special little miracle, the child we were told we would not be able to have, was born.

Now, on her 3rd birthday, Erin is showing what a real girly girl she is.

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!)

(mmmm, nice)

I inserted the key...

2010-02-11T11:42:00.000-08:00

... and an almighty roar emitted from the twin exhausts, sending a shiver down my spine. My heart started palpitating as i depressed the accelerator, entered the road, the engine taunting me to teach the road a lesson.

at the traffic light, i waited, excited and nervous at the prospect. As the opposite light turned amber, I depressed the accelerator, reaching 4000 revs, the handbrake straining to let loose the beast. GREEN! handbrake dropped, and the force pushed me into the bucket seats, the all-wheel drive keeping this almighty machine straight as an arrow. WHAAAAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

0-100km/hr in 3,6 seconds... hell yeah.

Ferrari? Porche?Lamboghini?Aston martin????? ha,, amateur cars...,

This is the one and only, the greatest sports car Ive ever driven.

DEFINITELY the happiest man alive!

Flash floods in Benoni...

2010-01-26T02:27:00.001-08:00

... over the last week have resulted in roads and homes being flooded. last night a storm broke, filling the area with 100mm water in two hours. By the next morning, the roads were still closed.

Tom Jones street, the main street going into Benoni Town...

... ducks swimming from the lake across the road to the lake on the other side...

...he reckons he can get through, what we didnt tell him was that two cars had already been towed out before the road was closed...

(...oh bugger...)

... the intrepid sailor returns...

My very good friend V...

2010-01-03T04:35:00.000-08:00

... has a house on the Vaal river. Its a stunning place, and we spent Saturday there with him, riding in his boat and jet-ski.

His son, P, has recently learnt how to water-ski, so we took to the water, and I took some pics.

Erin had an absolute ball, her first time on a boat... she was a bit upset about the wind at first, then, by the end of the day, she sat in the front, shouting at V to driver "faster and faster".

(V, getting ready to take to the water)

(Nicole and Erin enjoying the cruise)

(V's son, P, showing us how to do it right)

Christmas this year...

2009-12-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

... was great, as Erin is at an age where she is starting to understand. We decided to get her a trampoline as she jumps on one at school, and she really loves it. She was soooo excited when she saw it.

She spends hours on it every day.

(oh wow, mommy, look at me)

(Jumping with mommy)

...both falling down..

...whooooohoooo...

Erin had her first...

2009-12-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

...prize giving and concert at her play group last Sunday. It was very cute... they all sang a song and actioned out a poem. Erin was very excited and jumped around and sand on top of her voice.

(Erin and her best friend Riley)

Erin receiving her certificate, "Little miss independent"

(Stomping like the "snowman")

...

I have been doing this career for 16 years...

2009-12-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

... and I can honestly say that yesterday I had the worst case I've ever been to.

I arrived at the scene of an accident, to find a car had crashed into a tree at high speed. The car was absolutely trashed, bonnet indistinguishable from the cab.

I was informed that the car was travelling down the road and a child ran out in front, so the driver swerved, mounted the pavement and smashed into the tree.

i approached the vehicle, with the bystanders screaming at me that the "child" is very bad. I looked inside to find an elderly lady, covered in blood, sitting behind the drivers seat. Over her lap and half draped in the passenger well lay a 5 year old girl, completely limp and lifeless, a large gaping laceration across her forehead spilling precious blood. I climbed inside and made a quick assessment, and with the help of the Flying Squad members, i emergency extricated her out. I started active resuscitation, Iv therapy and drug therapy by the time an ambulance arrived.

i got the pulse back and raced to my hospital, where the Ct scan showed an the true extent of the injuries... she died later that night with her family sitting by her side!

why oh why do people continuesly drive with children UNRESTRAINED in cars????????

Today my 2 and a half year old daughter...

2009-11-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

... sent me to the naughty spot.

we have a naughty spot in our passage where we send her when she has been naughty, not listening etc.etc.

well today, we were playing and i accidently knocked her mouth with her hand. she wasnt too sore, just went to mommy and said that I was naughty, and then returned, stood in front of me and with a very cross face, said Im VERY naughty and i must go to the naughty spot. seeing as she would not accept my apology, and thinking this is hilarious, i obliged and went to sit in the aforementioned spot. She sat me down and sais that Im naughty and she will come and fetch me.... which she did a few minutes later. She told me to stand up, which i did (on my knees so i can look at her in her eyes). with a very serious face, and me trying desperately not to laugh, she wagged her finger at me and said that I was put here cause i was naughty, and I must say sorry. after i did, she said " now go say sorry to mommy".

Little copycat... this is exactly as we do it and say. We were all in stitches.

We made a few stops...

2009-11-09T06:11:00.000-08:00

...driving back from Hout Bay , one of them at Boulder beach to see the penguins. The beach was covered in them, unfortunately it was very windy there, so we didn't stay long.

As we entered Somerset West, the clouds were hanging over the mountain like icing off a cake.

Erin decided she wanted to swim, so "Lella" and Ian joined her.

("What are you doing????")

(" oooh, you are gone")

("ha ha ha... he is sooo funny")

Over the weekend..

2009-11-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

... we stayed with my good friend B and his wife N in Hout Bay. B was my Prac partner at Tech, so we go back a good 16 years, and at my wedding he did my best man speech... boy did he kill me there.

They have two daughters, one older than Erin and one just a bit younger. His oldest Daughter from a previous relationship joined us. On the Saturday B and I took a few of the kids from the neighborhood 'trick or treating".

Erin had an absolute ball, she dressed like Tinkerbell and was really loving the running from home to home getting lots of sweets.

(The two girls were inseparable)

(B oldest and youngest)

(As you enter Hout bay from Chapmans Peak side, you come across this leopard stature on the rocks)

One of the places...

2009-11-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to go to Cape town and the Two Oceans aquarium. So we took last Wednesday to see it.

Erin absolutely loved it, running from tank to tank, shouting out at all the fish she was seeing.

(all the "Nemo's")

(look mommy... fishes)

Last week we went to Cape...

2009-11-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

.. Town on holiday. The first time we have gone away as a family with Erin (except my golf club champs last year). We decided to go to the Cape to see all the family down there, as none of them had met her yet.

We really had a great time, and I took so many photo's, ill have to blog them in series of a few...

We stayed at my Aunt and Uncle's place in Somerset West to start with, then headed up the coast to hermanus to stay with the other Aunt and Uncle, and then all the way down to Hout Bay to stay with my close friend and "prac partner" from tech days.

In our room, my cousin has a set of drums. Erin found these and had great fun playing them.

(Erin's first jaunt on a beach)

Our first day was very windy, but being JHB'ers, we had to check out the beach. The next day we woke up and saw it was great day, so we headed out to beach to check

(off came the clothes and ran for the sea)

(having a great time sunbathing)

(long day?)

Above is my cousin D, or as Erin called her, Nella or Lalla, whom she had a great time with.

Nicole decided to join me...

2009-10-21T02:06:00.000-07:00

while I played golf yesterday at Benoni Country Club. After her 25 day ordeal in hospital, she really needed to get outside. The CC is a perfect place for her, as its peaceful and has an abundance of animals.

So i booked out a golf cart, I played and she took pics.

(sign at dam next to 10th and 18th fairways)

(The bird in question)

(lining up a putt)

(one of the many peacock roaming around)

(all together now... left, right, left, right....)

The club has a large amount of Springbuck and other types buck

(tired after a long morning outside)

Civilized people have...

2009-10-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

respect for life, specifically family and even more so their own children. Savages have no respect whatsoever, they do not value life, nor do they have any remorse.

Yesterday I responded to a case that deeply disturbed me. We received info that someone was strangling a child, when I arrived i was informed that the people involved had been arrested. Just then I received a call to go to the police station as the child was unconscious.

Arriving there, i found a 4 month old baby, unconscious and clearly critical.

The father had allegedly strangled this baby girl, then thrown her onto the concrete ground.

After stabilizing her, we airlifted her to hospital where she is in a very critical condition.

HER OWN FATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a very emotional case for all.

On a positive note, my 14 year old patient, B, that was knocked off his bicycle more than a month ago is doing very well. He is still in ICU with a massive head injury, but recovering well, far beyond expectations. This case really affected me, i visit him every day, and from a 0 prognosis to his current condition, it clearly must be a miracle. Even the neurosurgeon and Intensivist are surpriesd at his recovery.

remember "Mousy Blondy" J, (the little girl who I airlifted after her horrific car crash)... she also should not have survived, I received an sms from her surviving family saying she is back in Durban and doing very well, in fact she is back at play school.

There are times I really hate my job, and there are those few cases that make it seem all worth it.

B and J, you two are very special kids, for both your families and to me, and I wish you all the best in your difficult recovery. The most important thing...

You are alive!

On Sunday Erin and I went...

2009-09-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

... to Granny and Grampa house. With N still in hospital, I needed time away from home and Erin has been bugging me to go back to "Grwanny Avil" house. She really loves being there!

So we went, with her camera, and had the time of her life playing ball with Grampa and taking pics with Granny.

(smile granny)

(ooooh, whats that?)

(The object of interest in granny's garden)

("look Grwanny, there it is")

(if you can take a photo, so can I)

Nicole is in hospital...

2009-09-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

... at the moment, and what's very worrying is that we don't know at the moment what is actually wrong. I took her too the Doc on monday with flu like symptoms, and due to the Swine flu epidemic, was teated as such... she got much worse and is now in High care at hospital. the Intensivist is not really sure what's wrong, so we are naturally very concerned. Erin really misses mommy, keeps asking for her, and being two years old, not really understanding why she is not at home...

(Our future specialist assessing her patient before going to hospital)

Our little budding Photographer...

2009-09-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

... has been spending alot of time recently with Granny and Grampa, as a result, has seen Granny Avril taking pics all over the garden.

So... Erin found our old camera, and decided its time she did the same... 176 photo's later

(No Dumbledore, you cant look at it)

GO AHEAD....

2009-09-16T03:59:00.000-07:00

Have "one more drink", be reckless, don't obey traffic laws, ignore other road users, don't wear your seatbelt, allow your kids to stand on front seat...

... cause you are a safe driver... IT WON'T HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!!!!!!

the princess golf Pro

2009-08-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

swinging on her new swing

"look mommy, im a little princess"

Wearing mommy's pearl neckless as a crown

The future LPGA pro.... i tried to rotate the video but couldn't, so you willl have to watch it skew. Sorry

Explosive Benoni

2009-08-14T02:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was sitting at a local coffee jaunt that all the Emergency Services (EMS and Police) frequent. I was chatting to a medic from a local security service, whom is a fantastic fireman. We suddenly felt the ground shake, heard a blast and saw a huge plume of white smoke form on the other side of Benoni City.

We raced to our response vehicles

and responded in that general direction. As we drove down the road that took us to this mistery, I saw the smoke had now been replace by a massive ball of flame. I arrived at the scene, blocking the road to prevent other vehicle and pedestrians getting closer, and took in all that was happening.

A recycling plant wa completely engulfed in flames, and as we stood there, gas cylinders started falling on the road around us, mostly burned, a few still smoking. I was informed a little later that there were 20 000 LPG Gas cylinders that were exploding.

We immediately pulled back 500 m away, calling for more assistance. M got out his car, donned his fire kit and raced into the premises to establish if there was anyone hurt. My this time ambulances, fire engines, police, and other emergency service vehicles were starting to arrive. Being the highest qualified emergency practitioner in the area, I immediately took triage control, set up a medical staging area.

M phoned me and said that a "bakkie" was bringing out two critically burnt patients out. The vehicle came racing out, smoking tyres from the heat just like a movie) and stopped next to me. On the back lay two patients, one with 100% burns and the other with 76 %.

We quickly loaded them into the waiting ambulnaces and raced them the 1 km to Glynnwood Hospital, the hospital I work at, where Trauma Surgeons and an Intesivist was waiting for them.

Two more patient came out with inhalation burns, and were also rushed to the hospital. A security guard was found a few minutes later. he had been flung off his chair by the blast, and sustained nasty fractures.

By this time the fire department were battling to keep the blaze under control, but fortunately were able to isolate the gas line that was beneath the factory. 3 hours later the fire was under control and they were damping down.

One of the burns patients was airlifted to a specialised burns unit in Johannesburg ofter being stabalised by us, the other unfortunately was too severly burnt to be saved, and he died 6 hours later.

(sorry no pictures, i was a tad busy)

Erin playing

2009-07-06T11:52:00.001-07:00

Just a few more pics of Erin. We went to mom's house this weekend to visit, really nice, Erin hasn't seen them in a long time. Dad at least 3 months.

(on your marks... get set... GO) Racing mommy down passage

(Drawing on pavement at Granny's house)

mousy blondy

2009-07-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

a beautiful little girl... just turned three years old...mousy blonde hair...baby blue penetrating eyes...soft unblemished skin. Wearing a pretty dress, stockings and jacket. Climbed in her uncles carto go on a shopping trip.
4 hours later she lay in bed, tube in place, ventilator oscillating up and down, up and down, brain continually swelling with the increasing intercranial pressure building up from all the bleeds. Her equally stunning 8 year old sister, and two other family members lyng in a mortuary van. Now in ICU under the best care possible, and all we can do is pray, and pray and pray.
I don't often cry on scenes, this one, I sat after she got to ICU and unashamably cried watching her. May the Great Architect be with her and her remaining family.

The fever has broken

2009-06-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Finally, yesterday the fever broke. On Wed, our little Erin was feeling a bit under the weather, starting to get a temperature, had a temp of 38.4 on Wed night, so we decided on Thursday not to send her to play school. She went to spend the morning with Granny Ally, as I was playing golf.

I was playing such an awesome game, and as I teed off on the 17th at Benoni lake, N phoned and said that Erin is very flat and the maybe I should take her to the Hosp. I left immediately, without finishing the game. 2 par 4's to go, if i had par'ed them i would have scorted 83, my best score ever... and picked her up. I took her to the Glynnwood casualty, fortunately working there, i didnt need to wait. her temp was 40.3. Whew that was high. We wrapped her in a luke warm towel, stripped down to just her nappy, bombed her full of meds, and hoped for the best.

Hour and a half later, the fever finally was broken, and we were able to take her home.

That night we fought with a resistant fever, up and down temps and a very very grumpy little girl.

friday she was still feverish and grumpy. Thank goodness sat it broke, and by today she was back to her normal playful and cute self

Erin

2009-06-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

I havent really been placing pics of Erin on this, so here are some... Erin decided to play in my response car this week

Yesterday Nicole and Erin decided to make some cupcakes together.

(carrying Jemma, Erin's kitty cat)

showing mommy daddy's camera stuff

chatting away

Video of Erin counting

pure ecstasy

2009-05-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

My very good friend and proposer into the Knights Templar, V, amongst his other work, tests high performance cars and does a write up in magazines.
Over the last year I have had the opportunity to join him whilst he test drives different cars, all sport and high performance. For example, 6 series BMW, S5 Audi, Audi R8, Ferrari 430, Porche 911... Etc.
Yesterday he asked me go round to his house to take photos of his new “ride”. I normally do his photo shoot for his articles.
So I arrive and find a red Ferrari 575 Maranello.

A cool R 4.3 million rand worth of pure ecstasy

V drove me to another friends house a few KM away, I did the shoot for him, and then he did the coolest thing. He tossed the keys at me and said I can drive back. I settled into the body hugging bucket seats, turned the key to hear an enormous roar. Flicked the paddle gear shift up to first gear and slowly exited the driveway onto the road. Pulled off with an almighty roar and before I knew it I was in third gear breaking for a stop street. I took it slow to V’s street, just enjoying the pleasure of driving this machine, and then as we got to his street, he said accelerate slowly to change to third. As I got to third gear, he said, “punch it” I did... FAN-FRIKKEN-TASTIC.

That power was awesome. I don’t know the technical details, but that power was something I had never experienced before. WOW. I stopped the car and had to sit and try calm down.

It even has its own brake calliper and custom made valve.

Knights Templar

2009-05-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

“...and I Knight thee...arise, fellow knight...” and so came to the end of the most spectacular and greatest moment in my Masonic career.

Today I was knighted as a Knights Templar in the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of The Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta of England and Wales.

The Knights Templar throughout history has been and probably always will be a fascinating order, with many misconceptions and fantasies of who and what the Knights Templar were. Through the ages Knights Templar were the warriors of Christ, the elite of the Crusades.
They were also the first to introduce a bank with a travellers cheque. In the Medieval times, a Nobleman ans Kings would go to the Knights Templar and deposit their gold and valuables. they would receive a note (travellers cheque) which would enable them to go to another K.T vault elsewhere in the world, and draw "money".

"They were the protectors of the not only the christian faith, but also the ark of the covenment, and some believe the holy Grail". Could be... maybe not..., sorry, cant reveal that!!!

It is a supreme side-degree of Freemasonry which, once a Master Freemason qualifies, he is entitled to join and become a Knight.
Now as the K.T is an order of Freemasonry, I cannot reveal what took place in the ceremony, what I can say that I was amazed at what I was taught and truly humbled at that moment when I was knighted. I have wanted to be a Knights Templar since I became a Freemason, and as i sit here typing this, I still can’t believe that I have become one so soon.

( breast Jewels that I received as a Knight)

Tribute to Vernon

2009-05-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

Yet another Paramedic has gone, this time a bit further than the others.
Diagnosed in December with Cancer, and died today. 38 years old, survived by wife and young daughter.

And yesterday was the 2yr anniversary of my father-in-law's death, by the same dreaded disease.

Paramedic at Heaven

The medic stood and faced his God. Which must always come to pass?
He hoped his uniform was clean, He'd gotten dressed kinda fast.
"Step forward now, paramedic. How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To my church have you been true?"
The medic squared his shoulders and said, "No Lord I guess I ain't, cause those of us who wade in blood, can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was tough. And at times I've been violent, cause the streets are awful rough.
But I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep... although I worked alot of overtime, when the bills got far too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me, I wept unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place among the people here.
They never wanted me around, except to calm their fears. If you have a place for me, Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't I understand." There was silence all around the throne, where saints had often trod.
As there medic waited quietly for the judgment of his God. "Step forward now, paramedic. You've borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully on heavens streets. You've done your time in hell."

relaxing golf

2009-04-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Ater the very hectic shift, i decided to play golf today. Had a really great day, walking in the open hitting fabulous shots. My putter was a magic wand and short game fantastic. made a new record score of 88. Not bad considering ive only been playing for just under a year.
It cleared my mind from the emotional day I had had.

36 hours of hell

2009-04-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning, I started a 36 hour shift. 24 Hour on Monday was my normal shift, 12 on Tues was Overtime. Now, normally these shifts are pretty decent. Being in the position I’m in, I don’t need to go out to all cases that occur in the area. We don’t have a dispatch centre and no callout criteria as the Emergency Services do. Market the hospital, liaise with the ambulance services and assist wherever possible. Sounds relaxing and easy? Should be and normally is, except this Monday Murphy decided to play with me. Monday started off decent, a few cases here and there, nothing to hectic. Then the sun went down... well! I was called for assistance at a motorbike accident. When I arrived the rider, early 20’s, was very critical (P1). As we started treating, his injuries, flail chest, amputation just to mention a few, was too great for him, and he “crashed”. Despite very aggressive resuscitation, he died on scene.
From there, raced out to the highway, where I found two cars had collided at high speed. Two P1’s entrapped in one car on one side of the highway, and two P1’s on the other side. With two ambulances on scene, and 4 very serious patients, I decided to call the heli. Fat chance... usual red tape and beaurocratic nonsense saw these patients going by road to hospital. So there I was cleaning VERY dirty equipment at the hospital, to be called out to yet another serious accident. I arrived there to find 5, yes, 5, P1 patients. Give me a break PLEASE... So after serious stress and hard work, this lot won themselves a ticket to theatre and ICU.

The next morning started out with two more MVA’s (Motor vehicle accidents) with P1 patients at those as well. If you start a morning like that you know that Murphy is without a question a wake and planning to “play” with you. Sure enough, I get called by plenty panicky people to go out to a motorbike accident. The patient (16 yrs old) ended up in the resus bay at hospital after colliding with a truck. Without revealing too much, we worked our asses off to stabilise him, to no avail, and ended up dying two hours later. Very emotional for all involved, and I commend all involved in the management of this young man, as we really worked hard.
So I thought that we were over. Say what... not so fast. Three P1 cardiac patients and a P1 poisoning to finish the day off. I was very glad to drop the car off and go home.

skywatch

2009-04-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

check out the link. my photo in ballito has been featured. http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Golf weekend

2009-04-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

I recently joined Glengarry Country Club, situated in the Drakensburg Gardens Golf and Leisure resort. I needed a golf handicap, and just wasn’t willing to pay + R 7 000 a year for the average course in JHB.

So I joined Glengarry, which is cheaper due to its location. We went there over the Easter weekend for the club champs. Booked into the hotel for the weekend, what a fantastic place.
Situated in the Underberg area (southern Drakensburg) 628 km from Johannesburg. The resort specifically caters for families and has all the amenities necessary. Playgrounds, tennis courts, squash courts, badminton, horse riding (trails into the mountains) hiking (naturally), trout fishing and of course, golf on a championship 18-hole course.
The course is amazing, nestled in the mountains, with quite a few elevated tee’s, in fact one tee (6th hole) you need to climb a bit so you can tee off a cliff down to the fairway.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and came 1st in the B division and 5th overall.

Erin helping daddy cleaning clubs before holiday

view from our room

elevated 10th tee (dogleg to left)

Unfortunately due to me playing the whole weekend, i couldnt take many photo's.

The great exodus

2009-03-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

This weekend our very close friends Greg and Taneth Cox and our beautiful god daughter Kelly emigrated to Australia.
Greg is an experienced and excellent Advanced Life Support Paramedic and Taneth a Radiographer. Yet another scarce skill leaving the country as our country has NO IDEA how to look after it skilled workers.
Greg and Taneth are the god parents of our Erin, and I know that we will all miss each other’s company so much.

Greg and I first became friends a few years ago. I was working at Netcare 911 in Durban, having recently relocated from JHB. Greg moved down from JHB as well, and ended up on my shift. As colleagues and friends we became close and then our friendship extended to his wife Taneth, whom he married only a month after the move. Our friendship continued with me moving to ER24 and then back to JHB. In fact, it has been one of the closest friendships I’ve ever had.
They came to JHB from Durban this last week to say goodbye and fly out, and Erin and Kelly really had a good time playing.
Kelly is four, a cute tiny little one, who is not much taller that Erin.

They are moving to a town about 1000 km from Brisbane, on the Great Barrier Reef, how cool is that.
We went to Australia in Jan 2006 for 2 ½ weeks, one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. I certainly wanted to move there after our visit.

Then we have the Kerfoots. Andy was a fireman at the time I was working at Benoni Fire. Many years later we ended up working together back in Benoni, him at ER24 and me at Glynnwood hospital. An excellent rescuer and fireman who is taking his family and talent to Perth. His oldest daughter, Keena, goes to the same playschool as Erin, and there youngest, cute little Gaby, is under a year old.

I want to tell you lies!

2009-03-12T04:33:00.000-07:00

I WANT TO TELL YOU LIES"

I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight
I don't want to tell it like it is.....
I want to tell them lies.

You didn't put their seat belts on, you feel you killed your kids
I want to say you didn't ... but in a way, you did.
You pound your fists into my chest, you're hurting so inside
I want to say you'll be ok......
I want to tell you lies.

You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind.
You ask me if he'll be OK, with pleading in your eyes
I want to say that yes he will.....
I want to tell you lies.

I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke.
If you'd maintained that smoke alarm, your children may have woke.
Don't grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive.
Don't make me tell you they're all dead........
I want to tell you lies.

I want to say she'll be ok, you didn't take her life
I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife.
You thought you didn't drink too much, you thought that you could
drive.
I don't want to say how wrong you were......
I want to tell you lies.

You only left her for a moment, it happens all the time.
How could she have fell from there? You thought she couldn't climb.
I want to say her neck's not broke, that she will be just fine.
I don't w ant to say she's paralyzed........
I want to tell you lies.

I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain
Because he thought that it'd be cool to try to beat that train.
I don't want to tell him this will haunt him all his life
I want to say that he'll forget........
I want to tell him lies.

You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun.
Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done.
You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five.
I don't want to say she won't see six..........
I want to tell you lies.

He fell into the pool when you just went to grab the phone.
It was only for a second that you left him there alone.
If you'd let the damn phone ring perhaps your boy would be alive.
But I don't want to tell you that.........
I want to tell you lies.

The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn
And we couldn't get them out of there before the whole thing burned.
Did they suffer? Yes, they suffered, as they slowly burned alive
But I don't want to say those words........
I want to tell you lies.

But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you.
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine
I hope you understand, sometimes............
I have to tell you lies.

Am I preaching?
Am I nagging?
I guess I am just telling it like it is.......
Or I could just tell you a lie.

And the next time you hear a siren in the distance, don't just say a
prayer for the victims and their families. Say a prayer for the people
that face these tragedies every day and do the best they can to save
someone that is loved. We never see the tears of these brave men and
women, but God does.

--Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics,
Emergency Flight Crews who deal with the tragedies of life and death. The saddest of all, being those thatcould have been prevented. Wear your seat belts. Keep poisons,flammables, fireworks, etc. out of reach of children. Never, ever
drive if you've been drinking. Never leave your toddler unattended.
Be responsible drivers, obey all traffic lights , speed limits,
Keep your guns locked and out of reach.

Golf day

2009-03-10T04:36:00.000-07:00

I played golf today at Benoni Country club. What a wonderful course. Very well looked after, greens immaculate, except for the springbuck hoof marks on them.

(photo with cell phone)

There are a wide selection of different type of buck roaming free on the course, in fact there is not a single hole that you dont see a herd of them running around, or just standiing in the way. At no time do you see anyone on the course, thats how well spread out it is. Its a bit tough compared to the other courses in the area, but I played fairly well considering i had never played there before.

IM BACK

2009-03-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well im back... Three weeks ago inbred local indigent scum broke into my house and stole, amongst other items, my computer, thereby restricting my ability to blog, facebook or pretty much all else related to computers. And in this day and age, thats everything.

I was working over my birthday... what a weekend!!!

A mom and dad were walking with there 9 month old baby across a parking lot and a learner driver turned around into the lot, down the wrong way, and took out the pram.

Baby was still alive, barely, when i arrived, unfortunately all efforts were fruitless...... She was a beautiful little girl.

Then the next case was a 4 x 4 that rolled, ejecting a lovely little 3 year old girl that was sitting on mom,s lap (who had a seatbelt on of course) out the windscreen.

Nicole was working at A1 grand prix, and i was picking up broken children. Dont want a repeat of this birthday again, without a question the worst one i have ever hadf.

On a good note, the next weekend we went to my folks for a braai. Erin was able to see granny and Grandpa (whom she hasn't seen since Christmas)

she had sooo much fun, and played her heart out.

(pics by Avril de Montille)

Above is Grandpa and Erin playing in her sandpit. I hosted my Masonic Lodge braai at our house this last Sunday. Our lodge has been doing these monthly braai's for 35 years, without missing a single one.

Mom and dad came as well, much to Erin's delight, so and made use of the time playing with "gampa".

Nicole brother and his girlfrien joind us with their son Joshua, who coincidently was born and the same day as Erin, only a year later.

Another week gone

2009-02-14T07:31:00.000-08:00

Well, its been a week since I wrote here. Work is picking up. We have had a s;low time recently, not sure if people have been too scared to drive in all the rain or what, but during the very heavy downpours nothing much happened.

Must admit, im lucky to be driving a All-wheel drive vehicle at Glynnwood. i was driving up a steep hill in Edenvale coming back from an MBA (Motor Bike Accident) when the heavens opened. The rain was so hard it was like a river flowing down the road. A vehicle in front of me started sliding sideways trying to climb the hill, luckily for me the Subaru's wheels gripped and pulled me up the hill.

Luckily my golf lesson wasn't rained out on Friday. Had some more iron practice, then Rob assisted me with my fairway woods. By the time he was finished I was hitting a 3-wood + 220m STRAIGHT... oh man that was great. He really is a great coach, i can see why he made PGA pro of the year.

Erin vocab is really improving nicely. Recognising people and items and saying them without prompting. Saw a picture of her cousin Connor and said "Conny". Says "Elaine" perfectly when seeing pics of her Aunty Elaine.

We are going to Connor's birthday party tomorrow, she's excited about seeing her cousins again, she hasn't seen them since X-mas. Ditto for Granny Avril and Grandpa Peter, even though we live 70 km away, we haven't seen much of them.

Dad is in Hermmanus scattering Grandpa Roy's ashes, so he will miss her again. Pity... she loves her Grandpa so much.

ENOUGH WITH THE RAIN!

2009-02-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Well, the rain let up slightly so i could have my golf lesson today. Was supposed to do bunkers, but they were under water, so Rob (pro at Benoni Lake) got me onto the driving range for iron's.
whew... a few changes to my stance, grip, chin and a few other key elements, and i started hitting like a pro!
These lessons really are great, and are helping so much.
was planning on playing a round afterwards, but YES... RAIN AGAIN!!!!!

Maybe it was a good thing, as my foot really started hurting by the afternoon, in fact i'm sitting here in agony. Common drugs., work now.
I was looking after Erin today after lessons, Granny Ally is sick so i needed to pick munchkin up straight after the lesson. She is soooooo busy, needing and demanding stimulation continuesly. But i so enjoy being with her, cant imaging life without her continuously laughing and funny quirks.

Trying out

2009-02-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

Well, im trying this blog thing out, see if i can get into it.
im soooo annoyed with all this rain. Bugger this, its ruining my golf completely, i havent been able to play for two weeks. had to have my lesson posteponed from last week due to the water from the sky.
Next lesson is tomorrow, X fingers!

Had another appointment with physio today. i have a torn Facia on the sole of my foot. Damn its been sore few a few weeks now. Before physio started i couldnt even walk around the block. It seems to be getting better, seeing the podiatrist for follow-up next week.