Steven Velásquez - Granting "Sirenity"

by Steven P. Velasquez, MICP, NREMTP Aug. 22, 2011 Sometimes the EMS calls we go on serve to remind us of how fortunate we are, if we're wise enough to understand the messages, hidden and not.   One sunny afternoon I was detailed to a critical care transport truck with Bob (Bro) Casey, an MICN or Mobile Intensive Care Nurse.   For those of you not in the EMS field, that is someone who is both a paramedic and a registered nurse.   Working with Bob was always great because he was so smart, so cool and so unshakable that you knew no matter what happened, things would be ok. We were dispatched to a home in New Brunswick, NJ for a child with difficulty breathing.   As we approached the scene, only a few short blocks from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, who also has a renowned children's hospital, we saw a single police car parked in front of the address.   We called on scene when the front door sprang open and a police officer darted out of the house wi...

Please click on the link below.  Watch it in its entirety, then read the article below .   Original video was shot by Jerry McCrea of "The Star Ledger" . http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/08/boonton_emergency_responder_i.html   A recent shooting of two people in Boonton, NJ as they walked with their three year-old son has left this Morris County town, and its emergency responders, reeling.  The event triggered the obligatory news coverage including the video linked above above.   A fellow paramedic called my attention to the video he posted on his Facebook page.  He was deeply disturbed by the video.  There were already over 25 pretty angry responses insulting, shaming and blaming the EMT for perhaps a bit more than she could possibly be responsible for.  There were insults to her speech patterns, calls to remove her certification, eliminate her from the field and some other unsavory comments too. Typical responses from a group ...

By Devin Kerins, B.A., MICP Aug. 13, 2011 So you passed your EMT class, found an ambulance to climb aboard and are now contemplating taking the plunge into the next phase of EMS?  Or perhaps you're a 'seasoned pro'  EMT who is wondering if you should advance your career?  Either way, you're probably wondering when the time is right.  It's a huge commitment in time, with great responsibilities and even greater personal reward, but whether or not the time is right is never an automatic 'yes.'  So let's start by examining the most important patient of all -- you!   The first question you need to ask yourself is "Why did I want to be a paramedic?  We all have our own reasons for getting into EMS.  Some get into it out of a genuine altruistic desire to help people. Some get into it because it's a great stepping stone to a career as a nurse or physician.  If you're like me, you got into it because you get to drive a flashy truck, scoff at maj...

by Steven P. Velasquez Aug. 8, 2011 This past weekend I found myself in an unfamiliar position. My calendar was clear; no work, no teaching, no family obligations. One daughter, Nicolette (15) was in Phoenix, AZ with her mother at a fine arts festival and my youngest, Brianna (4) was with her mother in Boston, MA for a weekend getaway. As always, there was plenty of opportunity to pick up shifts at one of my employers but, like a recovering addict at a bar, I said no and removed myself from the situation. My calendar was clear but my mind was not. It was time for some Harley therapy. In my traditional form, I mounted Rocinante, my trusty steed, and headed in a direction dictated solely by happenstance. That direction was south and this rider errant, " the Medic of La Mancha ," was off on yet another two-wheeled adventure. I packed what I could fit in my saddlebags; some books, my laptop, my camera equipment and even some clothes and toiletries. About 75 miles i...

By Steven P. Velasquez August 1, 2011 I'm sitting here in the Livingston Diner trying to calm my nerves before going into work tonight.  My coordination betrays me as I've survived yet another, if not "near-death" then at the very least "near maim" experiences. It's a beautiful summer day with temps in the 80's, a brilliant sun and perfect traffic patterns as I trek northward to the land of the affluent, Livingston, NJ.  While motoring along on "Rocinante" (my trusty iron steed made by Harley Davidson), following traffic laws, wearing protective gear, sober and well-rested, I signaled that I was moving into the right lane.  A quick glance at the mirror and a brief look over one's shoulder is usually enough to verify the coast is clear and you can proceed safely.  I did however; mention this is New Jersey where motorists tend to violate not only motor vehicle laws, but often the laws of physics too.  The most common law being broken...