Incident: Station Inspection
0600-0620 Roll Call and Shift Briefing – Done
0620-0645 PT and Exercises – Done
0645-0730 Station Maintenance – Done
0730-0830 Apparatus and Equipment Inspection – Done
0830-0930 Apparatus and Equipment Cleaning – Done
0930-1045 Extra Details – cleaned washroom, vacuumed bunkroom and change bedding, laundry – Done
1045-1200 Lunch – Delicious and Done
1200-1400 Training, review of SOP’s, LODD checks, etc. – Done
1400 – SURPRISE STATION INSPECTION by District Chief ???
A fairly quiet day (knock on wood). Everything seems to be going well and we were managing to get a lot accomplished. My crew... seemed to be at peace with one another. Quiet. I thought to myself, ::Self, this is going to be a good day.::
On the occasion, we are asked to host an EMT student for a day or two or three. This EMT student is exposed to our daily routines at the station, rides along with us on calls (observes only), etc. The main purpose is to expose him/her to as much as we can during a normal shift. Least to say, we had ourselves a fresh 20-year old EMT student.
At our station, we have a room full of medical supplies to restock our rescue rig (being a rural department, when paramedics are not immediately available, we transport to hospital, etc). There are shelves full of bandages, splints, and various things... and walls of sterile knick knacks.
There's a knock on my door. "What shall we get our Butler (referring to the EMT student) to do now?" I was asked.
"We just got more med supplies in. Have him go to med supply room. Grab the check list on the clipboard hanging on the wall and have him straighten up the shelves. I want a supply check done on suction tubes, nasogastric tubes, endotracheal tubes, oral airways, nasal airways, IV supplies and the syringes - all shapes and sizes. Restock anything that we appear to be running low on. Make sure that there are no empty bins, boxes or shelves. I want the medical supply room fully stocked, don't want to be reaching for something and it not be there when needed!" I replied.
That's when our District Chief arrived. I was calm. No better time for a station inspection than the present. After all, the station was in immaculate condition. Our engine bay had been scrubbed down and the trucks all washed and sitting ready to roll. Our record books, training manuals, etc. all up to date. My crew all in appropriate uniform, relaxed, looking in good shape and in good spirits. Today would be the day I would get a 'two thumbs up' from our Chief for having the station and crew in order. After all, everything was going so well.
I met our District Chief in the front foyer. He gave me the 'pretend I'm not here'. I returned to our duty room to finish some reports. Not even five minutes later, he appears in the doorway... arms crossed and leaning against the door jam, shaking his head.
"Cpt. Popowich, explain to me why your EMT student has every medical item pulled off it's shelf and the room looks like a cyclone went through it!?"
"Well Sir, to familiarize him with the many different medical supplies that we are required to stock for emergency purposes, I asked that he inspect and restock our suction tubes, nasogastric tubes, endotracheal tubes, etc. I am sure that once he's finished, the room will be put back in place as it should be."
"Cpt. Popowich, now explain to me why, when I asked him what the hell he was frantically looking for, he asked me where we keep our FAL-lo-pian tubes?"
Me: ::blinking my eyes in total disbelief::
"Um, I know I should be able to explain this, but I best go and tell him that they probably aren't in our medical supply room."
Seriously! I didn't know who should be smacked around first. My crew for being smart asses... or an EMT student that fell for the oldest joke in the book AND who didn't know where to find fallopian tubes.
So, I just closed my door and laughed my ass off!
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captain
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