1. Within 2 minutes of waking up I drink at least 8 ounces of tap water to immediately fill my tank for the day ahead.
2. Local beer is always better. If you life in Milwaukee, St. Louis, or Golden, Colorado it might take a little effort to identify a true local beer.
3. Walking a dog is a great way to meet your neighbors.
4. Try to do something that is weird. This is the age of the micro-niche and it is easier than ever before to meet others that like the same weird things you do.
5. Regardless of your job or profession the top two workplace skills are writing and presenting. We all have ideas that are powerful and need to be shared.
6. The most important thing I have done to run faster is believe that I can run faster.
7. I generally unsubscribe from blogs that don’t show the full feed in an RSS reader because I don’t like the extra step of clicking through to see if the content is worth my while.
8. I also have a growing dislike for websites that request I click for the next page of an article. Put all the text on one page.
9. As a kid I detested sweeping the garage when my dad asked. Now I find myself sweeping the garage almost daily to keep the dirt outside the house.
10. Although it is electric, there is no “E” in lightning. Kaboom!

10 seems like a good number to conclude part 1 and start my next list of assorted thoughts, ideas, and resources.

Also noticed I neglected to add a resource in the above list so try this one, Paramedic.Alltop.com for all the best EMS blogs in one place.

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Watching this video of SALT Airway Insertion was an assignment in the first learning plan for my hybrid paramedic refresher. Of course as a long time advocate of incorporating social media content into course work I was a fan from the start. The video is straightforward, well made by a couple of paramedics, covers the basics of insertions, and provides some scenarios for me to consider using the SALT Airway.

SALT Airway Product Review from the Everyday EMS Tips archives.

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This article in the New York Daily News describes a legislative effort in New York State to earn a bachelor’s degree within 10 years of becoming a nurse. This article sparked a spirited discussion on the National EMS Managers Association (NEMSMA) list serve. It also was a topic on the EMSEduCast and EMS Garage.

EMSEduCast Episode 126: Improving EMS Education in 2012

EMS Garage Episode 154: BS for Paramedics

What do you think? Does a BS degree make for a better paramedic?

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At the 2011 National Association of EMS Educators Conference I was asked to share three tips for new EMTs and Paramedics. What are your tips for new EMS professionals?

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Is your mom, spouse, or significant other still asking you for Christmas gift ideas?

Send them to my December EMS1.com column, 2011 Gift Guide for EMTs and Paramedics

You might want to bookmark the page because this could be a useful birthday or graduation gift guide as well.

What did I miss?

Suggestions from the Twitterverse

While writing I asked my Twitter pals for their suggestions and this is what I received:

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I am convinced that in the workplace any incident of wrong doing – cheating, stealing, etc. – is always witnessed or realized by a co-worker. The part I have never understood is the lengths individuals will go to either pretend what they know is happening is not happening or protect someone that is clearly violating rules, ethics, or individuals. I just don’t get it.

Paramedic Bob Sullivan, at the EMS Patient Perspective, reminded us early in the month about how important it is to Do the Right Thing.

Brandon Otto shared a great set of notes and observations from the Western Massachusetts EMS Conference. As a speaker I would be thrilled to see if an attendees notes matched the key points I was trying to make.

The Rogue Medic uses his impressive skills in medical illustration to explain Why CPR Doesn’t Work for Trauma.

Jamie Davis, the Podmedic, interviews author Sandra Crowe about her book, Since Strangling is Not an Option. Oddly the holidays often remind us and lead to encounters with the most difficult people in our life. Get some tips from Jamie and Sandra.

David Konig, the Social Medic, shares 6 tips for EMS coverage at special events. I want to know if the wrestlers are really hurt of if that is part of the act. Do you know?

BetsyDuck at the Rescue Digest Blog explains how Keynote presentations at EMS conferences helps us know who we are and know about the group we belong to.

Do you know what you want to do after being a paramedic? This EMS1.com article shares 9 Reasons Why Nursing Should be Your Next Career Move.

Remember one of the best places to find blogs by paramedics is Paramedic.Alltop.com.

What were your favorite blog posts from November? What would you like to read more about? 

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After a visit to British Columbia two paramedics from Hong Kong discuss why they are paramedics and their experience. I am trying to contact these paramedics to be guests on the EMSEduCast – the podcast by and for EMS educators. Incidentally, we are always looking for EMS educators from outside North America to be show guests.

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EMS professionals are challenged to balance work, family, and other obligations while also staying or striving for mental and physical fitness. The Everyday EMS Athlete is a regular column to recognize and learn from other EMS professionals that are setting and meeting fitness goals. This edition was contributed by paramedic and Ironman Emily Stewart. 

Emily at the finish of the Wisconsin Ironman

Q: What is your EMS job? 

I’m a full time paramedic at Goldcross Ambulance in Appleton, Wisconsin working a California 24 hour rotation. I work part-time in Amherst, Wisconsin as a paramedic picking up random 12-24 hour shifts when I’m available.

Q: What are your athletic pursuits and goals?

My main objective is to maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep up with the every day demands of EMS. I like to challenge myself with different goals that a few years ago would have been in imaginable. I like longer distances to race as a new challenge to beat a time and to accomplish something new.  My new goal is a 50 mile ultra marathon next year.

Q: Do you have a race, lifestyle changes, or other accomplishments you are particularly proud of?

My most recent accomplishment was Ironman Wisconsin.

An Ironman was a goal that I never thought I would have been able to complete.  I use to be a smoker and after several attempts to quit I replaced that habit with food! After I gained so much weight that I weighed the same amount as I did when I gave birth to my son I knew something had to give!! I changed my eating habits. After working in EMS you see the affects on people who live an unhealthy life style and I knew that I didn’t want to end up like that.

I had to be a good example for my son and be there to play ball and sports with him.  I changed my eating habits and started running (jogging and walking at first!) my first 5 mile race was the Frost Bite run in Stevens point.  I was the last “runner” to finish before the walkers! But I knew then that it was a great way to push myself and achieve different goals in my life.

I went on from there to running a half-marathon and then tackled a few marathons.  I ran the first one with my dad, sister and a cousin in Chicago in 2008.  It was great to keep up through all the training and keep in contact with them during training.  Even after a calf tear and fininshing almost 2 hours after my goal I wasn’t discouraged I knew I could do better.

I ran a few more marathons with better times every race. A few years later a co-worker asked me to do a triathlon with her in 3 weeks. I though, “I bike and run, and used to swim in high school how hard could it be?” So I hit the pool and learned really quick that you lose a lot of swimming endurance in 10 years!! But I swam for 3 weeks and did the triathlon. I came in 5th in my age group and I was hooked!!

My dreams of an Ironman had formed! First, I did a half Ironman that didn’t go as good with the 30 mile an hour winds that day, but I finished and volunteered for Ironman Wisconsin to sign-up for 2011. The  year of adventure and training started! I am an Ironman with a finish time of 15:12:33.

Q: Can you share a few tips to help other EMS professionals to set and accomplish fitness goals? 

Emily crossing the finish line of a triathalon with her son

Pick a goal and stick with it. Whether it;s a race or a weight loss, have a plan and stick to it. Plan ahead around your paramedic schedule.  It’s really hard working 24 hour shifts and maintaining a regular exercise routine, but don’t use that as an excuse. Plan a head and double up one day knowing that you won’t be able to get a work out in the next at work. I tried really hard not to let a bad night at work ruin a work out in the morning. I tried to use a bad shift or call to fuel a good hard run the next day. Running is always a great way to get rid of the stress for the shift.

Plan a head with food. I hate hearing medics say “but all we have time for is fast food” no you don’t!! I can run through a salad bar line at the grocery store just as fast as you can order Mc Donalds!! And if you absoulutley “Have” to go there, they do have somewhat healthier choices. Skip the fries and soda. I try to put fresh fruit or a granola bar in the truck every morning for when we don’t make it back to the station for a while.

I also often pack my running stuff and take it with me to work, that way ther is no excuse not to go first thing when I leave work. Other times  I drive to work (about an hour drive) and go for a run before work so I could still get my run in. It also helps to have a person at work who is on your same shift to schedule work outs with before and after work.

Emily is an IRONMAN!

Q: Do you have any final thoughts to add and how can readers connect with you?

Next year, my main goal is to complete a 50 mile ultra marathon. I am waiting to hear back from Team KCA (Kidney Cancer Association) to join the team. My goal is to run the 50 mile race.  haven’t decided on which one yet. I’m waiting to see if my sister will be joining me on this adventure!!

My Dad was diagnosed last week with stage 3 renal cancer. I came across the KCA team and really want to join and run for a cause next year, and try to raise money for them. The organization helps fund research, as well as help people who can’t afford it with medications and treatment. They found my Dad’s cancer by accident before he had any S/S or metastasis with it, so his prognosis looks really good right now, following a major surgery next month in Madison. (the tumor has already reached his vena cave) But at first we were being told that there was a 75-85% mortalitly rate with kidney cancer since it is so rare and normally caught to late. I would really like to get the awareness out about that since it hit way too close to home this year.

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Blog.CentreLearn.com – My day job is being the Director of Education for CentreLearn Solutions. I add about two posts a week to the CentreLearn blog and manage our social media accounts.

Top Questions about CL Courses for Firefighters, Paramedics, and EMTs

Build your own Online Training Content

FDA Drug Safety Communication on Zofran – this article was contributed by paramedic Steve Cole. It is packed with information.

Medical Author Chat – on the EMSBlogs.com network I host the Medical Author Chat podcasts. Episodes are infrequent. When I can I also add posts related to my enjoyment of reading and writing.

Interview with Dr. Benjamin Luft about We’re Not Leaving about the initial and long-term response at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

My review of We’re Not Leaving.

Recent reads and news will bring you up to speed on my late summer and early fall reading list. I also announce taking the tablet plunge and pre-ordering an Amazon Kindle Fire.

EMS1.com

How are you doing in EMT Class? Use the ideas in this article to assess your progress. Self Assessment: Tracking Your Progress in EMT Class.

A new Everyday EMS Tip at EMS1.com on using Slideshare for EMS.

EMSEduCast

Rob Theriault and I helped Bill Toon by presenting at workshop for Kansas EMS educators. The workshop was repeated on three consecutive days. Rob recorded our 3rd session which was about teaching EMS and technology. You can view our recorded presentation.

PIOSocialMediaTraining.com

Some ideas on how a public safety agency can use an auto responder email campaign.

Loving the Run Blog

I shared my tips for running while on business or leisure travel at the Loving the Run Blog.

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Outstanding and brief training video on Bath Salts from Paramedic educator Malachi Winters.

I also have compiled this post of training programs, resources, and articles about Bath Salts.

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