"Warring Ideals in One Dark Body"

"...Bullets go everywhere. So do we."

Instructor Crash has endeared himself to me.

It was an odd sentence, sort of stuck in the middle of a talk about patient assessment. It was right on the heels of Supervisor Rescue pitching to us about volunteering for Pride, Dore Alley, and Folsom, (something which excites me greatly, because of the opportunity for supervised experience in my/our communities and a different kind of visibility). We'd moved on to talking about other things though, so I don't know what prompted that sentence--a sudden need to let everyone know the values of the institution? an intercepted look? I don't know, but he was loud and clear and totally jaw drop impressive.

It's a litigious country, and it may have been a CYA statement. Especially if they have to drop me because of this injury. But I don't think so. I think it would not have been such a spontaneous proclamation were that the case.

I have good instructors and some really neat classmates too. Radical Midwife is all about abortion rights. Friendly Eyes listens really well and speaks very carefully. Bright Smile is so secure that he partners with anybody, chats with anybody. Golden Boy passed the "Loves the Bay Area because there are lots of different kinds of people" litmus test. I know I'm still in training, but I'm starting to feel around the edges of the EMS family.

Ah. There's that word again.

I'll add to my list of things helping me to define family or what feels like family, to me: Family wants you to succeed. (I'm not talking about money, fwiw.)

Today was subdued for me. We've started putting together the assessment, the decision-making process and everything, and that's cool.

It was the day I was supposed to practice moving loads and gurneys, and I couldn't because of my toe. Such a small area, and yet. I have a newfound appreciation for the toes. Wow. Have you loved your toes today? Something to consider.

So I do weights and crunches until it heals.

EDIT: Well, since I'm less interested in losing my toes at this particular time, I went ahead and called that triage nurse. I guess Kaiser Oakland does not recommend taping toes. I've got a phone consult tomorrow, and I'll let you know more then. So, ahem, take with a grain of salt what I say about treating toes. serenejournal has a good point and I wouldn't want anybody to lose their toes because they read this. Thanks, S! You may have given me a rebate on my toe, and appreciate it, because I am coming to understand that I love it. Love that toe. It's like a part of me... ;)

You know body memory? That thing that allows you to basically walk from your bed to the bathroom in the middle of the night half-asleep? Or in this case from your kitchen to the bedroom as you are rushing around trying to get over to the City for a show? Yeah, well, there was a big ass potted plant in a hard ass clay pot (that I've always hated, fwiw) that got pulled out from the wall a half of a meter because of painting. It would seem body memory works to within centimeters. Oh, it hurts. I could kick somebody's ass, except I couldn't, and it's nobody's fault anyway. Oh, you bitch.

How does one treat broken toes?

Usually X-rays aren't required, though they might do one if you insist just to make you feel better. I didn't even call the triage nurse. You treat any visible lacerations, pad both sides to absorb any moisture, and tape the broken toe to an adjacent toe. Then RICE, rest, ice, compression, elevation. The ice is no longer than 20 mins. and not directly on the skin. I cut the thumb off a nitrile glove and put it over the taped toes in the night because it's super snug. I won't wear the glove part in my shoe, though. I took a Motrin and propped it up on some pillows. This morning, the swelling had gone down enough for me to palpate and locate the likely spot of the break (a bump that is not bilateral). I've taken the rest of the glove and balled it up under the arch of my feet. I'll keep up that routine for about a week unless I get significant pain or inflammation.