Another ideas day – actually this idea day spans two days. It began yesterday, I decided to watch some of the chapter videos that Dorothy, my EMT teacher, posted. I watched the chapter lectures on musculoskeletal trauma and trauma to the head, neck, and spine. Then I later watched the chapter lectures multisystem trauma.

I did this because this coincided with the practical exam sheet material, entitled “Spine Immobilization, Supine Patient.” I then went back to the book and went over some of the material and some of the test questions.

Then, last night, I read an article in the New Yorker by Nick Paumgarten entitled “The Symptoms: Beer League Hockey and its Concussions.” It is a first-person account in which an amateur hockey player writes about his suffering multiple concussions in playing this sport. The beauty of this article is that he, as a player, slowly comes to the realization that he has suffered multiple concussions during game time. What we are to learn from this is that concussions are insidious because the symptoms don’t always show themselves immediately.

This resonated with me because the third person information in the EMT book and lecture indicated the same thing.

And so, this morning I had Pete be the patient for a trauma assessment, one in which the patient had fallen off a horse and suffered a concussion. I asked him to go in and out of consciousness, and I did a primary and secondary assessment. After, I realized that I need to go over some symptom particulars so that I know exactly what’s going on.

I have at times wondered why I have been taking this EMT class, noting that studying has taken time away from other things that need doing, one being finishing my recycling book. I also am taking a class that prepares students (in this instance) for urban medicine response. I have primarily been the odd one out in this respect – it was not like last semester when I took the WOOFER class and sat in on an EMT class – there the student interest was primarily wilderness medicine.

But this morning, the light bulbs began going off. My academic interest is cognition, and specifically the mind-body relationship. And so it stands to reason that my medically-related interest is musculoskeletal, neck, and spine injuries.

I want to do another long ride. I also want to take the SOLO Wilderness geo-medical course, so that I will be better prepared for this adventure. I then will seek sponsorship, say, from the National Head Injury foundation. Therefore, I need to be able to come up with a succinct argument for wearing helmets when engaging in horseback riding activities, one that will be heard by equestrians. Beforehand, I’ll write a few articles on the subject. I foresee doing articles and writing a book.

This is down the road. Of course, I first have to finish my recycling book and The Gift of a Good Ride. I feel as though all that is standing between me and my proposed big picture plan is the EMT practical exam. One step at a time. This is what I need to keep telling myself. Too many steps too quickly and I’ll fall flat on my face.

Next: 315. 11/14/19: The Bright Lights Book Project