12-15-06
Course Completed!!!
Wow, that month went by so quickly! It was a challenging time for me both emotionally and mentally. I’m a firm believer of taking myself away from my comfort zone to have a growth experience – and that I did.
Generally this course is taught over a semester or a year, so to cover the same amount of information in 3.5 weeks was nothing short of monumental. Our 3 instructors were incredible. Their spirit, knowledge and energy kept us going. Teaching 30 adults up to 10+ hours a day takes stamina, patience and a lot of experience. Innovative teaching techniques and years of experience made the sessions come alive.
We practiced our learnings through daily scenarios –by being both rescuer and patient. One of the most memorable was on Thursday, 12/7; we had a night rescue, involving a multi-causality event. We were informed that 8 people were missing. The 30 of us assembled into various teams (rescuers, MASH unit for treatment, supply, logistics, medical control, etc). We found all of our patients (it was well below zero that night) and learned a lot. After the event I was still pretty excited so decided to take a walk in the full moon. Generally we’d need a head lamp to see our way down the road as well as to alert any moose, elk or buffalo or our whereabouts. Not this night, the moon was so bright it glistened off the snow making it look like millions of diamonds. It was a still night, not a sound, and totally exhilarating to walk down the moon drenched road. One of those life moments eternally etched in my memory.
It takes a moment of reflection to realize just how much we learned in such a short period of time.
how to recognize the need for and process for administering Nitroglycerin, Saturated Charcoal, epinephrine, and oral glucose
procedures for an urban environment as well as for the back country
how to be creative with supplies we’d have with us in the wilderness to create splints, cervical spine collar, and slings
when and how to apply a traction splint
it goes on and on and on………….
The Teton Science School, the sponsoring facility for our course, is situated within the Teton National Park boundaries and about 18 miles north east of Jackson Hole, WY. The closest village was Kelly, a community of maybe 75 people, many living in Uerts with, with no electricity or running water.
Some of my off time pleasures was a daily walk (about 3 miles) down to the end of the road and back. We’d frequently see moose, elk and buffalo. What an amazing feeling to have them just saunter across the road in front of us! There’s an elk reserve in Jackson Hole, and many of the herds were migrating from the higher elevations to the reserve for the winter months.
One of our course requirements was to spend two 8-hour shifts in an emergency room. My room mate, Jenna and I were assigned to Idaho Falls, ID. Our shift was from 3-11pm Saturday and Sunday. I didn’t really have many expectations about the event, and found it surprisingly intriguing. The Doc’s were very helpful and encouraged us listen to lung sounds, assist with accident patients, and explained X-Rays. We took patient histories, assisted inserting catheters, and of course did our share of clean-up. The trip home was a thriller. It had started snowing about an hour before our departure and none of the roads were plowed. We couldn’t see the center line as the snow drifted across the rural roads we needed to take to get back to Jackson Hole. We had to slow several times for mule deer, elk and moose crossing the road.
Course Completed!!!
Wow, that month went by so quickly! It was a challenging time for me both emotionally and mentally. I’m a firm believer of taking myself away from my comfort zone to have a growth experience – and that I did.
Generally this course is taught over a semester or a year, so to cover the same amount of information in 3.5 weeks was nothing short of monumental. Our 3 instructors were incredible. Their spirit, knowledge and energy kept us going. Teaching 30 adults up to 10+ hours a day takes stamina, patience and a lot of experience. Innovative teaching techniques and years of experience made the sessions come alive.
We practiced our learnings through daily scenarios –by being both rescuer and patient. One of the most memorable was on Thursday, 12/7; we had a night rescue, involving a multi-causality event. We were informed that 8 people were missing. The 30 of us assembled into various teams (rescuers, MASH unit for treatment, supply, logistics, medical control, etc). We found all of our patients (it was well below zero that night) and learned a lot. After the event I was still pretty excited so decided to take a walk in the full moon. Generally we’d need a head lamp to see our way down the road as well as to alert any moose, elk or buffalo or our whereabouts. Not this night, the moon was so bright it glistened off the snow making it look like millions of diamonds. It was a still night, not a sound, and totally exhilarating to walk down the moon drenched road. One of those life moments eternally etched in my memory.
It takes a moment of reflection to realize just how much we learned in such a short period of time.
how to recognize the need for and process for administering Nitroglycerin, Saturated Charcoal, epinephrine, and oral glucose
procedures for an urban environment as well as for the back country
how to be creative with supplies we’d have with us in the wilderness to create splints, cervical spine collar, and slings
when and how to apply a traction splint
it goes on and on and on………….
The Teton Science School, the sponsoring facility for our course, is situated within the Teton National Park boundaries and about 18 miles north east of Jackson Hole, WY. The closest village was Kelly, a community of maybe 75 people, many living in Uerts with, with no electricity or running water.
Some of my off time pleasures was a daily walk (about 3 miles) down to the end of the road and back. We’d frequently see moose, elk and buffalo. What an amazing feeling to have them just saunter across the road in front of us! There’s an elk reserve in Jackson Hole, and many of the herds were migrating from the higher elevations to the reserve for the winter months.
One of our course requirements was to spend two 8-hour shifts in an emergency room. My room mate, Jenna and I were assigned to Idaho Falls, ID. Our shift was from 3-11pm Saturday and Sunday. I didn’t really have many expectations about the event, and found it surprisingly intriguing. The Doc’s were very helpful and encouraged us listen to lung sounds, assist with accident patients, and explained X-Rays. We took patient histories, assisted inserting catheters, and of course did our share of clean-up. The trip home was a thriller. It had started snowing about an hour before our departure and none of the roads were plowed. We couldn’t see the center line as the snow drifted across the rural roads we needed to take to get back to Jackson Hole. We had to slow several times for mule deer, elk and moose crossing the road.
Above all else the month was filled with personal growth; unexpected moments of confusion followed by eventual clarity. Spending this extended period of time outside my comfort zone was a good decision.
