Game Day Ride Along
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AEMT Will Moore administers an IV during the call. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
After the final call of our ride along, Captain Talley went to sleep. His day started at 7am. He still had 5 more hours to go. Thankfully for him a 4 day weekend awaited, that would be spent building his new home. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Dangling in the kitchen are coffee mugs for each crew member. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
While watching the K-State game Bill Dunn recalls why he chose to follow this career path. When he was 18 Dunn dove head first off a dock breaking his neck. "I felt like I was given a second chance" Dunn said. For him, working as a Paramedic for the last 29 years has been the way to repay that debt. Dunn keeps the picture close to him at all times. Storing it in a pocket of his pants, in case anyone asks why he is a paramedic. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Inside the station, crew members Will Moore and James Marstall talk while filling out a report. Station 1 is run by 3 crews, each working 24 hour long shifts. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
With the IV administered the ambulance heads off towards the Hospital. Where the patient will receive more treatment. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Captain John Talley sucks up his gut in order to "get his good side." Talley always knew he wanted to work in the medical field. After taking an EMT class he fell in love with it. Being a Captain he spends more time behind a desk than he would like, but still goes on calls to keep his skills sharp. For Talley the spontaneity of the workload keeps him motivated to do his best. "I love this job because when you come to work everyday you don't know what you're gonna be doing." (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Captain Talley pulls up directions to a seizure call, the second call of the day. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
First responders watch as a patient is loaded into the back of an ambulance. Meanwhile Captain Talley arrives. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Captain Talley closes the back doors of the ambulance after loading in the patient. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
After two early afternoon calls, the return of support crews from Bill Snyder Stadium signals the end of the game. At all home football games Riley County EMS sends 12 personnel to help with patrons and players. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
In between calls crew members spend time chatting, doing chores or training. But the most preferred activity is to catch up on much needed sleep. Kacie Mallon and Bill take a quick nap on the couch. Some nights sleep is hard to come by so it's important to rest while you can. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Station 1; one of the 4 homes to Riley County EMS personnel. Who are responsible for providing medical care for the 622 square mile county. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Late in the afternoon the calls pick up again. This time an alcohol related incident causes Captain Talley to make the 30 minute drive out into northern Riley County. Holding his transceiver he listens to dispatch, ready to respond. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
After arriving, EMS personnel realize that they will have to carry the patient out of a muddy yard. They carefully move them over slippery terrain to the gurney. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Loaded into the ambulance EMT Kacie Mallon administers an IV that will help to hydrate the patients body. Mallon is K-State graduate student studying nutrition, dietetics and sensory sciences while also working as an EMT. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
In pain and anxious the patient becomes combative. Paramedic James Marstall holds their hands down trying to coach them to relax. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
After failed attempts at calming the patient, Marstal prepares a dosage of Midazol to help relax them. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Because of the resistance to the neck brace Marstall is forced to readjust it as they drive down the road. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Holding out the arm of the patient Marstall injects it. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Ignorring the advice of Marstall the patient tries to free themselves of their restrictive neck brace. In response Marstall wrestles their hands away. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
After the injection the patient becomes a little less combative. Marstall still has to hold their hands to ensure that they don't injure themselves further. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Mallon drives with Sirens and lights on, carefully navigating poorly lit country roads on their way back to the Hospital. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Now upright the patient relaxes. There is a calm moment in the back of the ambulance as it comes closer to the hospital. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Working together, Mallon and Marstall unload the patient to take them into the Hospital. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Because of muddy conditions the ambulance has to be swept clear of dirt. Following every call they have to be sanitized and restocked on supplies. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Fuel stops are important to both the crew and the ambulance. While Kacie fills the tank James puts in an order for Chipotle. Their dinner was interrupted earlier by the previous call. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Kacie watches as James runs into the Chipotle to grab dinner, a block away another call has been made. An ambulance from Station 2 has been dispatched already. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Package secure. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)5
Lifting an empty gurney into the back of an ambulance EMT Abby Lenderman from Station 2 responds to an alcohol related call with the Riley County Fire Department. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
After the patient briefly lost consciousness firefighters and EMS file into the back of the ambulance. Lenderman prepares electrodes that will be used for patient diagnostics. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
With razor in hand Scott Ten Eyck shaves the chest of the patient in order to place the electrodes. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Captain Talley removes his glove after administering an IV. Ten Eyck talks to the patient, explaining to them why its necessary they go to the hospital. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Now alone Ten Eyck checks on the patient while calling the Hospital and reading off his vitals. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Arriving to the hospital Abby Lenderman and Scott Ten Eycke look over the back of their cab together, reorganizing cords and making sure they have everything they may need for another call. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Lenderman throws a new sheet over the gurney as Ten Ecyk continues to make sure they are fully stocked. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Almost immediately after leaving the hospital Lendermann and Tan Eycke are called to respond to a possible carbon monoxide leak. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
The duo talks with Riley County fire personnel who are checking the house to see if there is any carbon monoxide present. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Just to be safe Lenderman ran some diagnostic tests on a patient to ensure that no carbon monoxide is in their respiratory system. Finding nothing, they exit the ambulance. Ready to resupply. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Arriving at Station 1 to resupply, Lenderman exits the ambulance. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Ready to get some sleep Kacie, laughs as James impersonates how Bill is sleeping. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
The impression. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Lit by a glaring TV screen Bill escapes, for just a moment, into a world of sleep. After running transfers to different hospitals across the state the sleep is well earned. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media
As the night carries on the calls begin to increase in their intensity Captain Talley talks with a Riley County Police after receiving a call for a possible suicidal patient. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
While the call begins to wrap up Talley chats with Police officers. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Bystanders watch as EMS and Riley County Fire personnel move a patient to the ambulance as Lenderman corrals them out of the way. EMS was called to the scene after there were reports of a seizing patient. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
The last call of the ride along finds Captain Talley loading a combative patient into the ambulance. Riley County Firemen restrain the patient to prevent any more self harm. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)