My 100th Post!

Yes loyal readers, I have indeed reached my 100th post! Took long enough as well, but every story was worth it =]

So to celebrate, I thought I would do a list... I'll be impressed if I can reach 100, but here goes...

All the things I've learned since finding myself involved with a very big organisation...

1. The BRC is not just about old ladies in charity shops.
2. It's possible to find family in the people who aren't your blood relatives.
3. It's ok for your best mate to back hand you from time to time.
   
4. You can be a biker and still care about people.
5. You can be a biker and still fall apart over fluffy baby animals.
   
6. Booze is an asset in life, especially when you're stressed.
7. It's not appropriate to speak to the big, big, big Boss in a high pitched, drunken manner, but it sure is feckin' funny.
   
8. Micras make great mini ambulances.
9. Most first aiders are crazy and are up for any banter.
10. Some first aiders are stuck up.
11. People think you're a paramedic, despite not having a uniform which depicts this.
12. You can still have an acting hobby in the Red Cross, just one with loads of fake blood.
13. Blues and twos are cool.
14. Casualties will appear during lunch and/or dinner times, or generally when you've just started eating something.
    
15. Meeting random people and quickly becoming allies with them (like security guards, firefighters, nurses...) is just one part of the first aider's job.
16. Bandages are the most confusing things to use and are not my forte.
17. Oxygen is explosive when in contact with things like Vaseline.
18. Casualty terminology becomes a lot clearer when you do first aid.
19. Micras make brilliant mini 4x4s.
    
20. Cleaning out ambulances is more fun than you first think.
21. Boiler suits are sexy.
22. First aid is not an exact science.
23. Red Cross will take over your life.
24. Many people won't understand the reasoning behind the previous statement, and will give you funny looks when you try to explain.
25. Films/tv shows/songs quickly become related to the people you work with.
26. 12-18 hour shifts are a walk in the park.
27. Energy drink is a life saver.
28. There are different sizes of portaloos - some are nicer than others, and some even have lights.
29. The RC logo can often lead to free or discount food (duties only, folks. Don't go trying it in your local Tesco).
30. Once you've seen one pair of sweaty feet, you've seen (and smelt) them all.
31. There is something oddly therapeutic in blister bursting.
32. Paramedics are quite nice to you when they realise you have a vague idea of what's going on.
    
33. Paramedics can also be arrogant jerks.
34. The 999 call centre people can be equally arrogant, annoying jerks. You can't blame them really.
35. "Water faeries" is an apt name for firefighters.
36. Some medics think they're green-clad Gods. Maybe that's quite right, as long as they don't go over-board.
37. Micras can be used to jump start ambulances.
38. Walking through town in a blue boiler suit/hi-vis jacket and heavy boots generally attracts attention.
39. Wearing uniform can give you a "cool" walk.
    
40. Men will nearly always find a way to flirt with you on duty, e.g. "if I collapse right now, would you give me the kiss of life?"
41. You can be asked anything when on duty, from "where are the toilets?" to enquiries over your sexuality.
42. Defibs have automated voices which talk you through everything; thus idiot proof.
43. Defibs do not look like the ones on Casualty - they have sticky pads, not things resembling wall staplers.
44. 6 hour-long bus journeys can be fun.
45. All forms of sport competitors - like cyclists or marathon runners - are total nutters. Even if they are doing it for a good cause... why put yourself through the strain???
46. Motorbikes are very cool.
47. Casualty cas sim isn't always anatomically accurate.
48. There are some really cool names for body parts, like phalanges.
49. Anything first aid related will instantly become cool or interesting the moment you join.
50. Never use the term "over and out" on the radio - it's contradictory and doesn't make sense. Film writers clearly don't do their research if it's in the script.
51. Joining such an organisation can change your life, usually for the good.
52. Quad bikes are amazing fun to ride.
53. Standing in the pit of the stage when a rave is going on is absolutely fantastic, and sometimes quite dangerous (thanks to beer bottles).
54. Very few people truly understand the concept of the Red Cross, and therefore don't get why you give up your free time to do it.
55. It feels good to say that you save lives in your spare time.
56. It's actually better to first aid at a festival rather than be a punter, for the simple reason that fights, drugs and excessive alcohol are things you treat, rather than things you get involved in.
57. In relation to above comment, a RC status will get you in the back stage and VIP zones for free.
58. High vis gets you authority.
59. You go places with the BRC (should be a second logo?)
60. Crisis' don't just happen in foreign countries or far away from home.
61. Medical stuff might make for a very interesting career.
62. Your Youtube account fills up very quickly with dedicated/patriotic/emotional fan vids of the RC, whether they're favourites you've found or ones you've tried to make yourself.
63. Driving an ambulance at least once becomes an aspiration.
64. People who have saved a life or helped someone to overcome a hardship through the RC instantly become inspirational role models.
65. "Turn Robert" and "Turn Alan" are alternatives for "turn right" and "turn left" when giving someone directions.
66. Football/badminton/frisbee are great games for killing time (or for making idiots out of your mates).
67. A&E becomes an amazingly interesting place.
68. Sneaking into A&E to steal back spinal boards and collars is not a bad thing.
69. Thanks to events and casualties, you suddenly have great stories to tell when at the pub.
70. Anatomical/medical questions in pub quizzes allow for easy points.
71. You develop a second side, known as "First Aid Mode." It's relatively easy to flick between this and "Casual Mode", as proven by finding a casualty whilst trying to get lunch up town (see, there's the food theory again...)
72. Carrying latex gloves in your bag is a good idea.
73. First aid kits in cars are no longer forgotten.
74. Eating before or after witnessing gore is no longer an issue.
75. All-weather clothing becomes a must have accessory in the wardrobe.
76. Bargains can be found in charity shops.
77. Drunk people either admire people in uniform, or have no respect for them what-so-ever.
78. Big cities have first aid bases the size of mansions.
    
79. The floor can be a comfy place to sleep when you're tired enough.
80. Ambo trolley beds are very comfy for sleeping on. Just remember to strap yourself in when mobile.
    
81. Most stretchers aren't comfy for sleeping on.
82. Sleep can be rejected for hours when Red Bull is continually pumped into your body.
83. Your own bed has never been more appreciated once you've been on the go for a whole weekend, the weather has been particularly shit, and sleep deprivation is starting to gnaw away at your good soul...
84. The phonetic alphabet becomes second nature.
85. Mag-lite torches are very useful, despite their size.
86. The definition of a weekend night out soon entails first aid kits and ambulances.
87. In relation to above, cans of red bull will be the way to get kicks out of a beverage on a Saturday night.
88. Also, your weekend outfit often changes from dressy to boiler-suity...
89. You are obliged by the law of the good Samaritan to stop and help anyone in a crisis, even if you are just trying to drive home after a busy day, or longing for a quiet drink in the pub.
90. The word "quiet" is a taboo - never, ever, ever say it when your day is 'steady'. Unspeakable evil falls upon you when you casually state the day is quiet...
91. You are out so often that your own family won't let you in the door 'cos they hardly recognise you...
    
92. The thought of charging moody/irritating/annoyingly pissed individuals for treatment becomes a tempting one after a while... especially when it's 2 o'clock in the morning.
93. Hobbies are whittled down to just one - first aid.
94. A sense of fear sparks inside you when a pregnant woman comes to ask you for help when on duty.
95. A greatest fear in first aid involves a pregnant woman yelling "it's coming!"
96. Acronyms are amazing for remembering medical things, until you forget what one letter stands for. Then it just niggles you.
97. Knowledge of first aid helps a lot when you are training for a further medical profession... like a nurse.
98. The words "on call" are two exciting words to hear.
99. Text messages at 8 in the morning saying "shout out, office, asap" are the best types of wake up calls ever. It really gets you going.
    
100. You may get miserable people, who snap at you or are uncooperative, who are so drunk they swear at you and throw punches in the air, and sometimes you may get tarred with the same sticky brush of negativity and uselessness, but at the end of the day, the one thing that can make you feel good despite all other shite is for a person you've helped to turn round, give you a small smile, and simply say "thank you." Just so you know you've made some sort of difference.

There, 100 memoirs for 100 posts. Good stuff =]