Handover Carnival 9

Well folks, here it is, the latest monthly Handover Carnival. The theme for this month is all about the small people we deal with, so without further ado, allow me to introduce:

Kids - Seen and not Hurt

I'm going to start this month's with a post from the Grumpy Dispatcher, who suggests a list of kit that is not part of our emergency stocks, but will probably help even more with our treatment. Remember that you're not only treating a condition. You're treating a person. Read it here.

*****

Read it? Good. Our next post is from Mack505 and tells how calls dealing with kids have the potential of turning a sleepy medic into a sleepless one.

*****

Epijunky, drawing on her experiences as both a mom (or mum in these shores...) and a medic, reminds us that we are all human, with human feelings and emotions, and that it's OK to let them get to us sometimes.

*****

Over at Rescuing Providence, you can read about the way kids capture the hearts and minds of even the toughest EMS and Fire crews, and that even the Bullies on the block are reduced to baby babble.

*****

Back in the UK and up in the Welsh mountains, Hypoxic Witterings gives us two views of the same emergency. One from the rescue team, and one from a bystander who watched helplessly as the drama unfolded.

*****

BasicsDoc, who I've personally had the honour of working alongside, has sent in a post about a call that's both haunting and heartbreaking, showing how families often cling to the smallest details in their despair.

*****

I've also had a couple of entries from blogs that I had not heard of or come across before. This is partly the reason for the Carnival, so I was pleased that it was serving its purpose. The first came from Dispatches From the Street. It shows the internal conflict we often have with a very sick child asking very pertinent questions. Do you lie or do you tell the whole truth?

*****

The next blog I've been introduced to is one called Just My Blog. Here I read about children getting hurt due to the laziness or otherwise of the so-called responsible adults. Sometimes we're no better than the kids.

*****

Lumo tells a story on a similar theme that's not really theirs, and gives an insight into what happens in an A&E department when they don't have the "luxury" of being forewarned of the horrors about to be unleashed, and how it doesn't always have to be personal experience that leaves a lasting impression.

*****

Almost last but most certainly not least, I'd like to give the floor to Mark over at 999Medic, the originator of the Handover Carnival. This is all his fault.

Mark's view is one of mixed memories, from how children leave us all traumatised, to the small people who steal our hearts. From the calls we hope never to attend, to kids who are nothing but sheer inspiration for all the adults around them. We all have much to learn.

*****

The next Handover Carnival is to be held over at The Happy Medic, who whilst planning for his edition, sent in his entry for this one. Sounds like his fire skills as well as EMS ones were going to be required, or maybe not...

The theme for the next Carnival is "Close Call", stories of a time when you or your patient cheated death, which left you with a reinforced idea of how life is precious, just in time for Thanksgiving. Entries by the 23rd of November, to be published on the 27th.

*****

Thus closes this month's Handover Carnival. It has left me with much to think about, a great deal to be inspired by, and a huge amount to be thankful for. I hope you feel the same.