Radon

Radon is silent and deadly. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. A couple of months ago, Fidget and I were watching the news and there was a brief story about radon. We decided to send off for a free test kit. The ideal level for radon is below 2.0. The "safe" level is considered to be 2.0 - 4.0; you're supposed to fix anything above 4. Our first short-term reading was 16.6. So we followed the directions, sent for a second short-term test and contacted a local radon mitigator (someone who can fix the problem). Our second test was 13.8. So we decided it was well worth the $1500 to have the problem fixed.

Radon comes from several sources, but the main one is from rock--namely granite rock. The granite breaks down, releasing uranium and creating radon.

Our local mitigator came in and sealed our sump pump holes and installed some 3-inch piping which connects to a fan on the outside of our house. The fan is used to create a vacuum, and it sucks the radon and moisture out from below our foundation and expels it above the roof line. He follows up the installation with a 48-hour continuous radon monitor which will give us an hour-by-hour reading of the radon levels in our basement.

Having talked about all the mundane things in my life, I thought it time to mention something worthwhile. You can purchase a radon test kit at most hardware stores, pubic health offices, and there are a limited number available free on the internet. It's easy to do: Set it up, take it down and drop it in the mail. If you include your email address on the form they will email the results to you. Otherwise you can look on the website or they'll mail the results to you.

Please take 30 minutes and make sure your home is safe.

Thank You

Two people emailed me about quitting smoking. I thank both of you for your words of experience. Cold turkey it is. Today.

Smoking

Both of my parents died from lung cancer. I used to work in the respiratory department of the hospital. I know better than to smoke. WHY IS IT SO DAMN HARD TO QUIT?! I tried to quit yesterday...I ended up smoking like 6 or 7 cigarettes. That's better than my usual pack a day plus, but...I want to quit. Like never do it again. Anyone have any suggestions or stories?

Spring Break

Nothing exciting happening, it's spring break for me this week--And apparently I'm too old to go anywhere. Well, not really, but it certainly feels that way.

As most of you know I've had some major health problems crop up in the last couple of years. Every day has seemed like it's own battle. I ran into a friend the other day...Not just any friend. He happens to be the medic that runs our local ambulance service, my old boss. And a true friend. (I'll call him Eugene.) I stepped down from the service over a year ago because of some health problems, and he's still waiting for me to come back. Every time I see this man he asks me, "When the hell are you coming back? We need you godammit." And I tear up every damn time. EMS is my life. I would have completed medic school by know--if it weren't for my health. The most major of the health issues have been dealt with, and I could return to the squad anytime. But...because of inactivity, pain, medication, etc. I've gained a shitload of weight, and my muscles have turned to sludge. Until I am certain that I am capable of carrying people down stairs, out of ravines, and pulling them out of mangled cars I won't return. Those who don't work in EMS may think that sounds like a bunch of bravado shit; those who do or have worked in the field know it's just basic patient care. My knowledge is meaningless unless I can implement it.

Rural EMS is very different than "city-slicker" EMS. In a city, you're usually within 8 minutes of a receiving facility. Not always the case out here in the sticks. Our local hospital is a critical access hospital, so we also do loads of ALS intercepts. Our EMT-Bs are some of the most trained in the state. We have several variances that enable us to do almost everything a medic can do, except give drugs...And there are a few drugs we can give as well. We start IV's, read strips, etc. There is a certain pride that comes with being one of the squad, and also a feeling of family. 4 years ago when I became an EMT our squad was very, very small. We were only part-time ALS. There were only 2 people on call at one time (which, as far as I know, is still the case). When it's you and one other person, with the nearest aid over 30 minutes away you learn to depend on one another in a way that very few people can ever understand.

God I miss it.

Sigh

The college I attend is 43 miles away. I have only one class this semester...It meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday for an hour each day. My college has a neat-o notification system--There is a phone number you can call that has a recording to let you know if classes are cancelled due to weather or instructor illness. Since my class meets at 1000, I need to leave by 0830 in order to get to the college, find a parking spot in the back 40 and make it to class on time. Because my instructor has been pretty sick for the last week and she told us on Monday that the only reason she didn't cancel class that day was because we were having a test, I called the
neat-o number this morning before I left. Considering she's supposed to be in her office from 9-10, I assumed that if class were cancelled (you see where this is going, right?)...I assumed she would have called in before 0830...And I also assumed that the neat-o recording is updated on a reasonably frequent basis. So I call...Nothing is cancelled today. I had left a few minutes early to get gas, so I was in the parking lot around 0905. An hour early, I relaxed in my car and read a book. I went in for class only to find out that it was cancelled. So I call the neat-o number...Nothing is cancelled. Hmm. I head to the office, and politely ask if there is a way for commuter students to find out if classes are cancelled before trekking their way to campus. And she hands me a card with the neat-o number on it. I explain that I've called it twice and nothing is cancelled. She smiles and tells me I must be mistaken. I smile back and ask her if she would mind giving it a try, perhaps I'd done something wrong. So she calls...And nothing is cancelled. She then informs me that I should go to class. I explain about the large note on the door cancelling all of this instructor's classes for the day, signed by the department secretary. She rings up the secretary...Whispers with her for a couple of moments, giggles, hangs up. She tells me class is cancelled. I thank her for her help and leave before she decides to teach the class herself. Sigh.

Funny

Benign joke was removed due to the fact that it caused an error to "mysteriously" appear. Hmmm....