Richard Dawkins' Summer Camp.

There is a superb cartoon from "Private Eye" about Richard Dawkins' Summer Camp aimed at teaching children the joys of atheism.

A camp leader is counselling one of the children, "I'm sorry Cuthbert but because you came last in the running race.... you must die!"

That 'One Small Step'...

Fot those of us on this side of the Atlantic Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon came at about 3.30 in the morning of 21st July 1969. As an excited 11 year-old I came downstairs from bed to watch this event on TV.

7/7 Bombings.

Today is the fourth anniversary of the 7/7 Bombings in London in 2005. Three tube trains and a bus were bombed killing over 50 people.
I heard this on the news in the late morning of 7th July 2005 and phoned work saying that I was available if required.... I do have an 'Adult' qualification as well as 'Paediatric' and wondered if the PICU might have to act as an overflow from Adult ITU. I was asked to help cover the night shift - with the transport system closed down it was probably going to be impossible for a lot of our staff to physically get in to work anyway on PICU. I even volunteered to put up people from the day shift in our house if they couldn't get home.
As it turned out the transport system was up and running by evening, and everyone who was due in for work turned up. I wasn't actually needed. I went in anyway.
I never felt so proud to be a Londoner!

GEEZER MAIL!

I seem to have hit that difficult age when I start to receive unsolicited "geezer mail"! Just this morning I received ads for elasticated trousers, walk in baths, an adjustable bed, some sort of back support and a FUNERAL plan!

For crying out loud how old do they think I am?!

ADVANCED PAEDIATRIC LIFE SUPPORT.

I would describe APLS as a medical version of "The Crystal Maze". Imagine being ushered from one room to another with some life threatening scenario being laid out before you using a variety of mannikins and equipment.

Basic resus of infants and children are first covered and assessed. Then we moved on to the critically ill child. We coped with cardiac arrhythmias, shockable and non shockable rhythms, and defibrillation. Convulsing children, asthma, anaphylaxis, DKA and cardiogenic problems. And of course a variety of infective causes. Airway management skills are assessed.

The next day we looked at the critically injured child - head injuries, spinal injuries, penetrating chest and abdo wounds etc etc etc. Practical skills like chest drain insertion, surgical airway, emergency thoracocentisis and IO needle insertion.

The point is one expected to make a thorough assessment of the child, identify the problems and take effective action.

Today we had a final assessed scenario and an exam with an 80% pass mark. Anyway I'm pleased to report that I passed. I won't have to do APLS for another 4 years. Hurrah!