QLD Intensive Care Paramedics
Katie Fletcher, University of Queensland

Thank you very much to MDA National for the opportunity to share my experience with the Queensland Intensive Care Paramedics last November.

I have always been intrigued by flashing lights and sirens. I imagine the ambos and policemen rushing headlong into any situation prepared for action. I began my first shift with the Paramedics with my overalls ironed, my heart pumping and feeling that my preparation should stand me in good stead for almost anything. I was ready. I was able. I was going to help people. This was what I had been waiting for all year - why I had battled with histology pracs and mammoth exams. I was going to ride through the streets on the wings of lights and sirens, to the aid of the sick and injured.

My first patient was an intentional organophosphate overdose. My preparation was gone... my ideations shattered. This was real. So very real - there were family members and bottles full of terrible consequences, a dear old man and me in the middle. My books hadn't told me of the way the sun still shines while unimaginable things happen. The books had said to ask about a history of depression - but hadn't told me that the answer might be that he had told his son that he would try to harm himself -the son was busy and didn't know what to do so ignored it. I learnt more in those few moments then I think I could have in a million lifetimes of reading. I learnt how to manage a situation - to assess the dangers and the risks. I learnt how to listen to a history and hear that the situation is more than what you have in front of you. I learnt how to do what I could to help people.

Dr Rashford's advice during our orientation was to get involved, to do only what we were comfortable with and to carry the bags - the Paramedics love it. The Intensive Care Paramedics that I worked with are an extraordinary bunch of people. They showed me through intubation, drugs, fracture stabilisation, anaesthetic induction - and all I did in return was carry the bags! The Paramedics and Dr Rashford took me into situations that I could only imagine. They supported me as a team member, encouraged me and talked me through every call out afterwards. They are truly great mentors and excellent teachers. They taught me to run a cardiac arrest, extract trauma patients and assess people in the field - to understand what needs to be done and be comfortable doing it. Thank you to Dr Rashford and the ICPs for your hard and often thankless work, for giving the people of Brisbane a lifeline to get to hospital in the best shape possible. Thank you to everyone I worked with during my elective - for not only guiding me through the greatest learning experience of my life, but also making our world a better place.

Katie Fletcher
MBBS 2
University of Queensland

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