Adrenaline Rush
Whoever came up with the idea of emergency-vehicle alarms was a genius. Whenever I hear one, I can feel my adrenaline ramp up, and I feel like I should be doing something. Oh yes.
Although I never had (nor currently have) any interest in the tediousness of medical school, if I could snap my fingers and find myself turned into an E.R. doc, I would do it (right now, right here). Actually, I would do it if it would turn me into any sort of medical first responder. I want to be the person who keeps her cool in an emergency, barking out a few terse orders and getting things under control. I’m not talking about everyday emergencies like heart attacks or broken legs. I’m talking about natural disasters, unexpected situations, and – yes – even battle fronts.
I’ve looked into Red Cross training, and they don’t offer much for “civilians” beyond CPR and babysitting training.* How do I re-set a bone after a fall in the mountains? How do I keep someone with a bullet wound from going septic if help is not immediately forthcoming? What about serious burns, or crushed limbs, or … ? Really, I have a strong survivalist streak in me (there isn’t such a large distance between the far left and the far right).
This desire is a combination of generational happenstance (as I’ve mentioned before, I was absolutely certain during my childhood and teen years spent under Reagan leadership that the Soviets were going to attack and turn our world upside-down) and my entertainment choices (although I could do without most of the interpersonal drama, I enjoy the LOST scenario**).
If the aliens attacked, a meteor hit the earth, the Day After Tomorrow arrived, or the terrorists try again, you’d want me on your team. And what a survival story we would live.
*They do offer special classes for first responders, but from my reading, it looks like it is for people who already have a job, not just interested bystanders like me.
**We’re only halfway through season 2, so don’t be commenting with info I wouldn’t know until season 4, you hear!
You are so lucky only being so early on into Lost! I’m jealous! There is so much good stuff to come – and do stick with it – I like it all the way through (even though season 3 isn’t as strong in comparison) but so many of my friends got frustrated and stopped watching JUST before it started to get REALLY good again.
We’re rewatching at the mo – just started on season 4. We plan to finish up to season 5 before 6 starts again in Jan
Anyway, I know that wasn’t the point of this post, but I got excited
Emergency-vehicle alarms: I attended a Catholic elementary/middle school that was situated at the busiest intersection in Illinois outside of Chicago, so we heard a lot of sirens there. The teachers would immediate stop whatever they were doing and make the whole class recite a “Hail Mary” prayer for whomever was in need of the siren. Now, many years later and with Catholocism way WAY behind me, I still have a Pavlovian response to sirens: part of my subconscious starts chanting, “Hail Mary, full of grace…” Weird.
First-aid course: How about something at NOLS? (http://www.nols.edu/courses/find/byskill/wildernessmedicine.shtml)
“If the aliens attacked, a meteor hit the earth, the Day After Tomorrow arrived, or the terrorists try again, you’d want me on your team.”
What do you think you’d handle the impending zombie apocalypse?
I’m with Marsha. It’s not about meteors; get ready for the rickin’ frickin’ zombies, woman!!
Try an EMT class. I can try to dig out my old textbook, but the emergency/first-responder info is invaluable, even years afterword!
Beth: I will remember your cheering us on when we feel things are slogging. Now I’m wondering if we should just read the episode synopses of season 3 on wikipedia, instead?
Marsha: Thanks for the link to NOLS. Now I can dream
And ladies, I watched Sean of the Dead, I read World War Z, and took the “How Long Would You Survive in the Zombie Apocalypse” quiz, and I got “1 year” (which was the longest option). Booyah! I’ll be just fine in the ZA. the question is: are *you*?
Zombies violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
One year? Impressive. The zombie quiz I took gave results in terms of how likely one was to survive the ZA, not how long. I scored a measly 39%. When the ZA hits, I am totally hanging out with you.