Updates and Ramblings

Well hello everyone! As most of you know, it's been over a year since I've blogged. It's not for lack of wanting to, it's just from plain laziness I guess. Well, what's new since last time?? A few things:

I stepped down from Clayton EMS as Operations Chief effective Jan 1, 2010. There were many factors involved in this decision, but overall it was time for me to look after ME! I also have the goal of pursuing higher education by completing a bachelors program. I remained part-time for about a year and ironically the last 2 calls I answered were a pediatric cardiac arrest and a ball-game standby. I say ironically because that is how I began my career as a cadet - ballgame standbys and a pediatric arrest.

I walked away completely this year, closing 20 years of some of the best and worst memories of my life. I had the blessing and privilege to save many lives in this 20 year span. I also helped carry many out of this world as well. I made many, many friends, and quite a few enemies during this time. I contributed to some community milestones:
-Supervising some of our first paid employees
-Hiring many wonderful employees
-Adding the county's first paid second duty crew
-Adding the county's first paid third duty crew
-Building a new station in 2004
-Advancing to the Paramedic level of care from Advanced Intermediate
-Adding a substation
-Purchasing quite a few Ambulances - some good ones and a couple of lemons!
-Seeing the retirement of our first volunteers with 20 years of service
-Seeing 911 implemented in our County
-Being a part of EMD implementation and one of the first EMD certified in our County

I think more than anything, becoming an instructor and seeing so many people that I taught far surpass me in their careers is one of the best feelings in the world! Clayton EMS will always be special in my heart, and I NEVER regret the 20 years of my life that I gave to it or that the organization gave to me. I feel like that chapter in my life has ended for a reason and now I am moving forward into a new chapter.

So what now? Well, I moved back into downtown last year. I moved right next door to my parents on the same block that I grew up on and am thrilled to be back within walking distance of everything again. I continue to serve our County government supervising at the 911 center, only now (with my arm twisted behind my back a little) I work dayshift! Yes guys, you heard it, Jason is working DAYSHIFT. What I have found from this adventure is that I actually have an opportunity to have a LIFE again. I don't get off work and go straight home to sleep anymore. Now I have time to do things that I want to do. So overall, I am happy with dayshift and glad I made that change.

I recently was voted into my third term as Vice President of the Johnston County EMS assocation and look forward to taking the Association in a new direction. We are going to make it less about chiefs and administration and more about the line-level staff and EMT's who make up the front line.

I continue to teach ALL OVER the southeast. I teach in Charleston, SC about once every couple of months which has been very nice. I also teach within the state quite often. I have made many friends and am SO thankful for the happiness given me, and the connections I have made teaching others.

I do continue to work on the ambulance some. I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed working at Four Oaks EMS a lot more lately. They have a GREAT organization and quality leadership. Their volunteers and paid employees are wonderful to work with. I have enjoyed each and every shift. I have also started working in Princeton some as well. I LOVE working in the smaller towns. The call volume isn't too bad, the citizens that call really need you and they are very appreciative of the care you give them. Smaller towns still appreciate their rescue squads and the contribution that is given by their personnel. It seems the bigger towns just expect you to show up and do a "job" whereas smaller communities realize that for many of these young rescuers they have literally given blood, sweat, and many tears to earn that EMT certification and to leave their families alone at night to come serve the citizens.

The last thing I have to add is that I could not keep moving forward if it weren't for having the best friends in the world and a wonderful family. When life seems to knock you down and the Devil tries to pull you under, I can always walk out and sit on the porch with my grandaddy or hop in the car and ride over to Four Oaks and sit with my dearest friend Lisa and things seem to stabilize. Everytime I feel like I'm about at the end, I can get in the back of an ambulance and talk to a war veteran who is a double amputee and provide him a great BLS transport for wound care, or help stabilize a small child whose reactive airway disease and respiratory infection have him lethargic and audibly wheezing when I walk in the room. The patients are the reason I continue serving others.

My hope is that all new EMS providers will keep that same focus. Make it about your patient, not about you. I have held many titles through the years from Sergeant to Captain to Chief, but the title I appeciate and am most proud of is that of EMT!! The paramedic part of my certification is secondary. Above everything else, I am an EMT and am proud to serve each and every patient.