[theoddz]

Originally Posted by Kelt

Theo-

Thank you for posting this, I think part of the problem a lot of people are having is that it has not impacted them personally yet. I am taking this very seriously as I am receiving the health department dispatches from Washington state on a nearly daily basis in regards to my 88-year-old mother. She is in complete lockdown and there are no visitors permitted to enter the house where she lives by state mandate. Even doctors and nurses are having to make their visits via iPad. I cannot go visit my mother. Unfortunately, I think this will be the case for most Americans, that once they know somebody who has gotten it or have been impacted in some other personal way that is medical and not financial only then will they take it seriously.

On a more personal note, given your background and specialty do you anticipate being called upon in this situation either in your former role or perhaps as someone who could teach your specialized skill set to others so that then they can operate ventilators properly? I know many doctors and nurses retired as well as not yet quite certified students are being asked to help.

I also believe the next two weeks will challenge a lot of people in many ways.

Be safe

Hey there Kelt!! Nice to see you around again, I must say!! There's still a few of us from "the old guard" and the old site and I'm sure glad to see another friendly screen name from "back when"!!

Well, yes, I am a retired Registered Respiratory Therapist and I worked in that profession for nearly 30 years. I'm 59 y/o now and kickin' the door of 60 later this year. I have had some progressively serious health issues ever since my time in the Marine Corps, when I was in my early 20's. Because of those, they gave me 100% permanent and total disability, but it was not the kind of disability that would keep me, or prevent me from working, if I wanted to and was able. I was able, thank Jeebuz, to go to college and become an RT while I was still relatively young, and I spent 20 years doing that in federal civilian service for nearly 20 years (DoD and VA). While I was working for the VA, my knees started to give out as a secondary problem to my military illness. I had to have total joint replacement in both knees in the 2000's, but it bought me about 8 years of career time, until I reached the 20 year mark. I had to take early retirement then, because of the knees, mostly, but I also have other health issues, due to or related to my military service, also. I didn't want to retire, but I was forced to, and now that I'm damned near 60, some of these health problems that I was able to overcome, due to sheer will, I can no longer function well with. I was told that I now need a 10th surgery (total for both, right now) on my right knee, once more. So, I'm not in really great shape, as of now, to do any heavy duty running around in a busy hospital environment, like I used to.

I was forced to take disability retirement from federal service at my 20 year mark, unfortunately. I also have other problems with my health, so no, I don't think that anyone will be trying to call me up and "reactivate" me again in this crisis. Believe me, I am "programmed" in my heart to respond to emergencies. I still can hear the sound of a pager ringing in my ears, the sound of ventilator alarms and the overhead call of a Code Blue. I wish I could help, but I would do so at my own very, very high risk, and even then, my physical limitations (and asthma) would preclude me from holding up under the physical stress of the job now. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to leave the baton where I passed it.....to the younger, healthy set, and trust that their dedication, professionalism and training will rise to the occasion, so to speak. We RT's are an "odd" bunch. We're temperamental, opinionated, highly independent (many of us work in intense environments with little to no supervision), and incredibly resourceful (we can put together just about anything to get a job done) but always manage to pitch in, lend a hand, and be there when we are needed.

I wish I could be there, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit this one out. I hope everyone who reads this heeds the medical advisors and gov't officials (excluding that "Anus Tangerinus") and stays safe. We will overcome this!!!

~Theo~