New blog created...

... 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

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...

... 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!

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...

... 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...

... 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...

... 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...

... 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...

...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...

... 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...

... 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...

...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")