Tapout

Thanks for this post, crimecop. My 10yr old is being raised the same old school way. I just wish more of his peers were.

As someone who had a heart attack at 44, I want to tell you that it can happen to anyone. I was 200 lbs and 5'11", no family history but had high cholesterol. I went to the doctor but never took medication for cholesterol. I am now 190 lbs and eat better, snack on fruits alot. Our job is stressful and being in relatively good shape does not cut it all the time. I take meds, work out and go to the doctor and actually listen now. I am self motivated because I never want to go through that again. I hate to run so I try to mix it up alot, one thing I enjoy is climbing stairs in the firehouse, sometimes with the weight vest on. It isnt as boring as running and is actually useful at a job. I was like you in that I needed motivation now I am motivated by fear of it happening again. My Cholesterol has gone from 300 down to 120. It is all a combination of diet, exercise, for me meds, and self control. Everything in moderation now. I have a second chance but I hope that we can get this problem reduced to zero, wishful thinking I guess. Stay safe and listen to your doctor.

First off--even though it has been said before many times-- excellent topic. That can't be said enough.
Second,


I'm quite surprised that your superiors were shocked by such a request, and I think they should reconsider how they "play officer". Seriously--kudo's to you for coming to the realization that you may need to go exterior/take it slow. You've achieved the first step in improving yourself and your lifestyle by coming to that realization, and reaching out to your friends on this forum.
Why am I surprised? I'll tell you (and i'm not necessarily picking on you here Moose--this is a general statement. I hope no offence will be taken, based on the fact that you started this post). Obviously, our own health and safety is vitally important to us. If we do not feel comfortable in an environment, or not physically fit to do a task, then we should not do it--especially if both things are the case. However, I do understand that there will most likely be a short in manpower with volunteer departments, so situations may arise in which we are needed, regardless if we cannot perform well. Ignoring my slight digression, the point I am trying to make is that being physically unfit is not only a danger to ourselves, but is also equally dangerous to our fellow brothers and sisters who work with us on a scene. I have a fella' in my department who could lose a good amount of weight, but has made no effort in doing so--they eat like crap (McDonald's, Garden Catoring, etc), and take no initiative to excercise. Not only are we concerned of something happening to them in the field, but also something happening to us BECAUSE something happened to them (i.e., heart-attack while on the line/searching, etc). Not only do we have a fire scene to deal with, but now we have a medical emergency; the fact that it is one of our own only makes matters worse. It's a very difficult fact to realize, but it had to be said, and I have yet to see anyone else on this thread comment about it.
Moose, I congratulate and thank you for bringing this issue to everyone's attention. I hope that this will inspire others to not only follow your lead, but also learn to recognize these problems, and help educate others in achieving a healthier lifestlyle.

For anyone who may be interested in starting to lose weight the physiology of metabolism is helpful/interesting. As far as balancing calories taken in versus how many we use, by far the most efficient way to lose weight is by eating less. Only 15% of the calories we burn each day are from activity. The other 85% we have no control over. So while exercise is very important, it is equally or more important to eat a healthy balanced diet.
So you want to lose a pound of fat? Here's the math. 1 pound of fat is 3500 calories, so to lose that pound you must either increase your activity level to burn that extra pound or cut out 3500 calories. Cutting out 500 calories a day (7*500 = 3500 ) puts you at a 1 pound a week loss. This level is generally accepted as a safe amount of weight loss.
Stay healthy and stay safe!

Its not all that difficult to make some small changes that will have big impacts on you're health and life in general. Smoking aside, stay away from sugary drinks....for many cutting out soda alone will equate to pounds lost, control you're portion sizes, try and eat a balanced diet w/ fiber, whole grains (i.e. stay away from wonder bread), fruits, veggies and lean protein sources (fish is great, chicken w/o the skin is good too). Space you're meals throughout the day w/ a healthy low-fat snap in between and start reading labels. Also, doing light physical activity like walking is great. You don't need to run 10 miles a day to be fit. Walk a local school track or a favorite trail or road.
I think the biggest thing is that you need to start small and gradually progress. I find as humans many of us tend to want to jump right in and go all or nothing and then we end up giving up a week later. Start w/ adjusting you're diet then maybe add in some light walking and go from there. I'm sure you will be pleased w/ the results. best of luck.

Please consider something less boring than a gym or the related equipment. I have all of that...the Nordic track makes a great Nordic coat rack... Try karate or krav maga type training. You'll run a little, do some situps and pushh ups, but more importantly you'll get your heart rate going enough to burn pounds and build the endurance you need to be good at what you do. And the perk with krav training is that you'll get hit war less often by EDPs and drug addicts looking to fight. Humor me... Www.Kmny.us I gain nothing if you join, but if it jeeps you alive longer, I as the local ER nurse, will be soo happy! My greatest day at work is when I don't have to care for my brothers and sisters. Seriously.

Please consider something less boring than a gym or the related equipment. I have all of that...the Nordic track makes a great Nordic coat rack... Try karate or krav maga type training. You'll run a little, do some situps and pushh ups, but more importantly you'll get your heart rate going enough to burn pounds and build the endurance you need to be good at what you do. And the perk with krav training is that you'll get hit war less often by EDPs and drug addicts looking to fight. Humor me... Www.Kmny.us I gain nothing if you join, but if it jeeps you alive longer, I as the local ER nurse, will be soo happy! My greatest day at work is when I don't have to care for my brothers and sisters. Seriously.

We all respresent each other.
We ALL represent EACH OTHER.
WE ALL REPRESENT EACH OTHER.
This simple line represents and perfectly sums up EVERYTHING we ALL do as EMS and ER healthcare providers.
Say this line before every single shift you work. If you believe it, get to work! But if you don't, call out and consider submitting your resignation. Then consider another job because you won't be good at what you get paid to do and you will be eventually fired for being useless and ineffective.
We all represent each other.
If you love this job, you will be a perfect example of those of us who also love this job. You will make me look great and I thank you in advance for all of the gratiitude I'll get!
But if you do badly because you don't love this job or do it for the wrong reasons, YOU MAKE ME AND ALL OF OF US WITH GOOD, ALTRUISTIC INTENTIONS, LOOK BAD. I will have to defend myself for YOUR lame actions and I will wish you ill in all kinds of ways. I'm harmless but Karma isn't. Never forget that and good luck with the fallout. I won't back you because you didn't back me.
Tapout

Your second paragraph sums up my point exactly...there was a more tactful way to accomplish what they wanted. So it sounds like across the board they just weren't flat out familiar...like it or not..and I say this all the time..we all represent each other. They may have had a bad experience from another FD in another area or listened to those who say we all don't care about EMS.

We all respresent each other.
We ALL represent EACH OTHER.
WE ALL REPRESENT EACH OTHER.
This simple line represents and perfectly sums up EVERYTHING we ALL do as EMS and ER healthcare providers.
Say this line before every single shift you work. If you believe it, get to work! But if you don't, call out and consider submitting your resignation. Then consider another job because you won't be good at what you get paid to do and you will be eventually fired for being useless and ineffective.
We all represent each other.
If you love this job, you will be a perfect example of those of us who also love this job. You will make me look great and I thank you in advance for all of the gratiitude I'll get!
But if you do badly because you don't love this job or do it for the wrong reasons, YOU MAKE ME AND ALL OF OF US WITH GOOD, ALTRUISTIC INTENTIONS, LOOK BAD. I will have to defend myself for YOUR lame actions and I will wish you ill in all kinds of ways. I'm harmless but Karma isn't. Never forget that and good luck with the fallout. I won't back you because you didn't back me.
Tapout

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

The other day, the snowy commute proved horrendous. At the rollover between Peekskill Hollow and Bryant Pond Roads, so many Good Samaritans intervened and helped a hurt, scared lady who skidded off the road in her minivan and came to a stop on the vehicle's side against a tree.
Thank you to the off-duty EMT I saw running into the woods toward her vehicle. Thanks to the guy trained as a first-responder who also was a life-long Boy Scout who just wanted to help if he could. Thanks especially to the several off-duty NYSTroopers who stopped, provided invaluable scene safety (with loaned flares- ahem) and helped to speed up the BLS response. And thanks, George the medic, for getting there to relieve me and allow me to get to work in the local ER (looking and feeling much like a wet, half-drowned rat).
Evereytime I start to think that people in general just suck and don't care about anyone but themselves, Good Samaritans like the ones I met the other day prove me wrong and restore my faith in mankind.
Thanks, all of you, for that.

We received a post- arrest the other night in the local ER. She (a dialysis pt who missed her rx due to the winter storm) called 911 saying she couldn't breathe and "was probably having a heart attack." 2 minutes later PD broke down her door and found her asystolic-- started CPR. 2 more minutes later ALS arrived and loaded a few rounds of Epi and Atropine into her. Got a pulse. Gave 1 more of Epi and 1 more of Atropine. Scrambled her to me in the local ER with a pulse of 40 (mostly ectopic, med-based beats). We immediatley began the hypothermia protocol (AKA Code Cool).
Fast forward: 2 days.
She was warmed back up in our ICU from 93 degrees to 98 degrees and was extubated the day after. 2 days later she was extubated and asked ME, the one who received her and wrote her off as non-viable, ""What the Hell was I thinking bothering you people with my medical problems??? I'm so sorry I bothered you all!"
WE broke her ribs, tore her lip tubing her, and jammed lines and tubes all over the place in her tiny body, and she's apologizing to ME. This is why I do this. Beyond words. Seriously. There's so rarely a save post-arrest, and if the person survives, he/she rarely comes out of it as much more than a plant on a window sill. And she thanked ME.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all. NEVER forget why you do what you do and NEVER assume your efforts are fruitless. This woman was proof to me to always the assume the outcome is going to be a GOOD ONE.

We received a post- arrest the other night in the local ER. She (a dialysis pt who missed her rx due to the winter storm) called 911 saying she couldn't breathe and "was probably having a heart attack." 2 minutes later PD broke down her door and found her asystolic-- started CPR. 2 more minutes later ALS arrived and loaded a few rounds of Epi and Atropine into her. Got a pulse. Gave 1 more of Epi and 1 more of Atropine. Scrambled her to me in the local ER with a pulse of 40 (mostly ectopic, med-based beats). We immediatley began the hypothermia protocol (AKA Code Cool).
Fast forward: 2 days.
She was warmed back up in our ICU from 93 degrees to 98 degrees and was extubated the day after. 2 days later she was extubated and asked ME, the one who received her and wrote her off as non-viable, ""What the Hell was I thinking bothering you people with my medical problems??? I'm so sorry I bothered you all!"
WE broke her ribs, tore her lip tubing her, and jammed lines and tubes all over the place in her tiny body, and she's apologizing to ME. This is why I do this. Beyond words. Seriously. There's so rarely a save post-arrest, and if the person survives, he/she rarely comes out of it as much more than a plant on a window sill. And she thanked ME.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all. NEVER forget why you do what you do and NEVER assume your efforts are fruitless. This woman was proof to me to always the assume the outcome is going to be a GOOD ONE.

We received a post- arrest the other night in the local ER. She (a dialysis pt who missed her rx due to the winter storm) called 911 saying she couldn't breathe and "was probably having a heart attack." 2 minutes later PD broke down her door and found her asystolic-- started CPR. 2 more minutes later ALS arrived and loaded a few rounds of Epi and Atropine into her. Got a pulse. Gave 1 more of Epi and 1 more of Atropine. Scrambled her to me in the local ER with a pulse of 40 (mostly ectopic, med-based beats). We immediatley began the hypothermia protocol (AKA Code Cool).
Fast forward: 2 days.
She was warmed back up in our ICU from 93 degrees to 98 degrees and was extubated the day after. 2 days later she was extubated and asked ME, the one who received her and wrote her off as non-viable, ""What the Hell was I thinking bothering you people with my medical problems??? I'm so sorry I bothered you all!"
WE broke her ribs, tore her lip tubing her, and jammed lines and tubes all over the place in her tiny body, and she's apologizing to ME. This is why I do this. Beyond words. Seriously. There's so rarely a save post-arrest, and if the person survives, he/she rarely comes out of it as much more than a plant on a window sill. And she thanked ME.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all. NEVER forget why you do what you do and NEVER assume your efforts are fruitless. This woman was proof to me to always the assume the outcome is going to be a GOOD ONE.

We received a post- arrest the other night in the local ER. She (a dialysis pt who missed her rx due to the winter storm) called 911 saying she couldn't breathe and "was probably having a heart attack." 2 minutes later PD broke down her door and found her asystolic-- started CPR. 2 more minutes later ALS arrived and loaded a few rounds of Epi and Atropine into her. Got a pulse. Gave 1 more of Epi and 1 more of Atropine. Scrambled her to me in the local ER with a pulse of 40 (mostly ectopic, med-based beats). We immediatley began the hypothermia protocol (AKA Code Cool).
Fast forward: 2 days.
She was warmed back up in our ICU from 93 degrees to 98 degrees and was extubated the day after. 2 days later she was extubated and asked ME, the one who received her and wrote her off as non-viable, ""What the Hell was I thinking bothering you people with my medical problems??? I'm so sorry I bothered you all!"
WE broke her ribs, tore her lip tubing her, and jammed lines and tubes all over the place in her tiny body, and she's apologizing to ME. This is why I do this. Beyond words. Seriously. There's so rarely a save post-arrest, and if the person survives, he/she rarely comes out of it as much more than a plant on a window sill. And she thanked ME.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all. NEVER forget why you do what you do and NEVER assume your efforts are fruitless. This woman was proof to me to always the assume the outcome is going to be a GOOD ONE.

We received a post- arrest the other night in the local ER. She (a dialysis pt who missed her rx due to the winter storm) called 911 saying she couldn't breathe and "was probably having a heart attack." 2 minutes later PD broke down her door and found her asystolic-- started CPR. 2 more minutes later ALS arrived and loaded a few rounds of Epi and Atropine into her. Got a pulse. Gave 1 more of Epi and 1 more of Atropine. Scrambled her to me in the local ER with a pulse of 40 (mostly ectopic, med-based beats). We immediatley began the hypothermia protocol (AKA Code Cool).
Fast forward: 2 days.
She was warmed back up in our ICU from 93 degrees to 98 degrees and was extubated the day after. 2 days later she was extubated and asked ME, the one who received her and wrote her off as non-viable, ""What the Hell was I thinking bothering you people with my medical problems??? I'm so sorry I bothered you all!"
WE broke her ribs, tore her lip tubing her, and jammed lines and tubes all over the place in her tiny body, and she's apologizing to ME. This is why I do this. Beyond words. Seriously. There's so rarely a save post-arrest, and if the person survives, he/she rarely comes out of it as much more than a plant on a window sill. And she thanked ME.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all. NEVER forget why you do what you do and NEVER assume your efforts are fruitless. This woman was proof to me to always the assume the outcome is going to be a GOOD ONE.