Help it hurts! Medical mentoring

[paddy]

Just to expand a little on Toot Toots question, where did you do your Paramedic Training (one assumes it was done in conjunction with an Ambulance Service provider as you state you have clinical experience). And just to satisfy ones curiosity... why did you not go on from the degree program to follow a career in an industry you obviously have an interst in?

I'm a bit pressed for time, but I will try and quickly answer your questions:

1) Auckland University of Technology (BHSc Paramedic - I had to withdraw from my final paper which essentially means that I am 144 hours of clinical experience and one mannequin assessment short of the degree. I have however passed the Viva Voce if that means anything to you.)

2) In addition to the clinical experience of the degree program, I was also a VAO at Warkworth station (where we tend to have a lot of RTCs).

3) A whole variety of reasons, but here are the main ones: I didn't want to work for St. John, personality conflicts, and the large paycut that would ensue.

[paddy]

Well, I think that there was definitely enough interest out there. I will starting making some arrangements. I will be shooting for sometime in May. I'll keep you all posted right here.

[klingon]

Well, I think that there was definitely enough interest out there. I will starting making some arrangements. I will be shooting for sometime in May. I'll keep you all posted right here.

Thanks Paddy. Looking forward to it already.

[Metalor]

I'd be keen.

[dpex]

I had two seemingly unrelated thoughts..

1) I haven't been around here long, and I haven't been riding long, so it can feel like I have little to offer and a lot to take.

2) I want to get in to adventure riding, which by it's very nature can be remote and far from help. What would I want my fellow riders to know that they might not already have picked up in a first-aid course if they were called upon to treat me?

Then it occured to me that perhaps I can take care of both in one hit. So, I am proposing a medical mentoring session. I would provide the venue and the teaching. People could chip in for pizza/drinks.

At this stage I just wanted to gauge interest before I spent time on a curriculum. I also know that there are others with a medical bent that would probably be interested in contributing.

I would propose a Saturday in early May, perhaps from 1000 to 1500 including lunch.

I am envisioning a very interactive format with lots of discussion. These are a few things that I am thinking of off hand:

* Basic first aid revision.
* CPR revision.
* Early information gathering for ambulance staff.
* First aid kits for riding. What to take.
* Motorcycle patterns of injuries.
* Helmet removal (When/Why/How/Practical Practice).
* Splinting (including long bone traction).
* Extended crush injuries (complications post release).
* Working with what is around you.
* Anaphylaxis (early signs, priorities).
* Asthma
* Shock (what it is and what it isn't, treatments)
* Hypothermia (detection, re-warming).
* Hyperthermia/dehydration.
* Helicopter safety.
* Helicopter landing zones.

I am sure there is a lot more, but that gives you and idea of what I was thinking of. At this stage I really want to just gauge interest so hopefully this will be a busy thread.

Who's interested? What would you be interested in covering?

Looks like a fab idea, except you probably need to include the 'How' on performing a trachyotomy, using only shards of broken mirror and hydraulic hose, and eye-poking to establish if the nearly departed is actually the dearly departed.

But seriously, I'd be keen to do the bits you listed. Are you a quack, or semi-quack?

[paddy]

Looks like a fab idea, except you probably need to include the 'How' on performing a trachyotomy, using only shards of broken mirror and hydraulic hose, and eye-poking to establish if the nearly departed is actually the dearly departed.

But seriously, I'd be keen to do the bits you listed. Are you a quack, or semi-quack?

That's brilliant. I hadn't really thought about that. "Locate the cricoid cartilage and insert mirror. Once the incision is large enough, simply insert you hydraulic hose. If you are unable to find any hydraulic hose, fuel hose may suffice in a pinch." Fantastic.

We could cover off electro-cautery with the spark plug, wound cleaning with petrol, MAST with your spare innertube.... and I'm sure you could intubate with a tyre iron and well, some hydraulic tubing. :-)

I'm probably best described as semi-quack in that I'm not currently practising.

[kasper]

Just bringing this back to the fore front.

Has this happened yet? if not when will it be on?

--kat

[Bounce001]

Great idea - saw it on the calendar. Would love to come along but the Classic Bike racing is at Pukekohe that weekend so am unable to attend. Will there be another one?

[The Everlasting]

Was just reading this thread and thinking it was a good idea,but then saw the dates...

Is it still going to happen? I'm keen.

[NewRob]

Sounds great, would like to come for this...as said before...As i read the post and trying to find the location....please give location and time. Will try my best to make time for this.Thanks.