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Character MEDIC!!! (WIP)

Fantasia

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So as an add-on to Jaded's post, I'll post what I know over the years of researching and playing Medical professionals and Field Medics. Note that I am not a medical professional myself, just someone with no life and a lot of time to research things. This guide will cover doctors, specializations, and Navy Corpsmen in particular and what knowledge they'd have. For military experiences, lifestyles, etc. for Corpsmen, reference So You Want to Play Soldier?. As a note, remember that you don't need to go so in-depth into your roleplay that you could be an actual doctor because frankly, a lot of players don't want to roleplay out the tediousness that is full detail Medical RP. This first post will detail procedures, conditions, and problems one might face. The following posts will be for professional and unprofessional fixes for these issues.
First Aid/CPR: We'll start off with the basics which would be CPR and First Aid. Anyone could learn these and take classes on these whether it be online or in-person though of course, hands-on experience is far better than any online class. First Aid is used for short term care and to take care of minor injuries. Anything more serious such as second-degree burns, fractured limbs, amputations, etc. should be taken care of by a Doctor with long-term care. I'm not going to list the entire course here because it'd just be easier to send a link to a class you can read over for free without the test at the end. Click here for the Lessons.

Other Basics: If you've finished the CPR reading, you can skip this section. This is for those that don't want to go so far into depth outside of knowing the bare-bones basics about CPR and First Aid.
  1. Cleanliness - Cleanliness is a big priority when it comes to caring for a patient. Whether they have open wounds or just a sickness, you want to ensure that everything is as clean as possible, preferably using some form of sterilization. If the usual disinfectant or iodine isn't available, drinking liquor of high proof can work well enough though it's not nearly as good as proper disinfecting methods. You also need to make sure that you're wearing gloves; any open wounds or sores coming in contact with blood could easily get you infected with a sick patient's diseases or vice versa; keeping around Nitrile or rubber gloves is the best option as Latex allergy is a very real thing. Before and after donning these gloves, ensure you've washed your hands in some manner of course because bacteria and other nasty things can transfer onto gloves even at the slightest touch around the edges. If you're in a situation, however, where the patient will die if you take the time to wash your hands, go ahead and tend to them if you're sure they're not infected. TL;DR - Wash your hands, you dirty boys and girls and make sure you sterilize, sterilize, sterilize unless they're going to die in the next 30 seconds.
  2. ABC's - The ABC's of CPR are not so anymore. In 2010, the AHA made the order C-A-B which means Chest Compressions, Airway, and Breathing. I'm just including this part in case some people have outdated CPR training and figured they knew everything in the CPR part and didn't want to read it.
  3. Remain Calm - You'd think this one would be one everyone knows but it does need to be stated. You can't help anyone with shaky hands or anxiety attacks. If you're unable to handle the site of gore or blood, the medical profession is not for you, boys and girls. A good medic needs to be able to keep as clear a head as possible, be able to make snap decisions in order to preserve the life of the patient, and also give orders to anyone aiding the medic in the procedure.
Overview
'I swear by Apollo the Physician and Asclepius, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as my witnesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this contract:

To hold him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to be a partner in life with him, and to fulfill his needs when required; to look upon his offspring as equals to my own siblings, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or contract; and that by the set rules, lectures, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to students bound by this contract and having sworn this Oath to the law of medicine, but to no others.

I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgment, and I will do no harm or injustice to them.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

In purity and according to divine law will I carry out my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, even upon those suffering from stones, but I will leave this to those who are trained in this craft.

Into whatever homes I go, I will enter them for the benefit of the sick, avoiding any voluntary act of impropriety or corruption, including the seduction of women or men, whether they are free men or slaves.

Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients, whether in connection with my professional practice or not, which ought not to be spoken of outside, I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private.

So long as I maintain this Oath faithfully and without corruption, may it be granted to me to partake of life fully and the practice of my art, gaining the respect of all men for all time. However, should I transgress this Oath and violate it, may the opposite be my fate.'

Non-Military Medical professionals often have some of the hardest and most stressful occupations out there. The doctors to the EMT's, Nurses, and other staff work hard in order to save lives day in and day out. Military Medical workers may not have Medical school education, they either work in stressful hospitals on land and sea or in highly dangerous and hostile territory, working alongside Marine Battalions that treat them as honorary Marines.


The Professions

Paramedics answer emergency calls by rushing over to assist an individual with a medical issue. They must be prepared to help someone in need of first-aid or someone whose life may be at risk. This makes for a very stressful work environment, where paramedics must be ready for anything and available to work in a variety of conditions. They must act quickly and problem-solve to ensure they are giving the best medical care in the quickest amount of time. In addition, they must be able to have compassion towards patients, as it can be a very stressful situation for everyone involved. In addition to excellent medical skills, paramedics must be able to communicate effectively, listen carefully to how a patient describes their illness or injury, and then also report to the medical facility about any care provided while on the way. Paramedics typically go through about two years of training before completing an exam to be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Nurses typically work with patients in medical facilities or in a patient's home. While they can work in emergency situations, many nurses work directly with patients to manage their medical care. Nurses are responsible for documenting a patient's medical history, noting symptoms, and developing a course of treatment. Nurses may work long and irregular hours. They must be able to recognize changes in a patient's health and act accordingly to help. Nurses must also be very organized, as they usually work with many different patients at the same time with different injuries or illnesses. Nurses can advance in their careers into supervisory roles. The nurses also know far, far more about medications, their interactions, and interference than a doctor does. Nurses are also known to be opened up to more, trusted, and more often than not, know the patient better than the doctors too.
One can specialize as a nurse in several positions listed below:
  • Oncology Nurse
  • School (Elementary/Secondary/etc.) Nurse
  • Radiology Nurse
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Cardiovascular Nurse
  • Labor and Delivery Nurse
  • Pediatric Nurse
  • Dialysis Nurse
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse
  • Staff Nurse
  • Nurse Manager
  • Telemetry Nurse
  • Nursing Assistant
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Nurse
  • Nurse Case Manager
  • Home Health Nurse
  • Operating Room (OR) Nurse
  • Emergency Room Nurse
  • Medical-Surgical Nurse
  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Travel Nurse
  • Licensed Practical Nurse
  • Registered Nurse (RN)
Doctors are next on the list. Their training typically lasts several years and continues on even after their schooling. This training is called a residency where they work under a senior clinician who supervises and trains recent graduates from medical school for a certain amount of time until they're experienced and practiced enough to graduate to a full professional in their field. The following list includes several medical specializations and the typical length of their residency at the bare minimum before becoming a professional.

Anesthesiology3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
Dermatology3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
Emergency Medicine3-4 years
Family Practice3 years
General Surgery5 years
Internal Medicine3 years
Neurology3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
Neurosurgery7 years
Obstetrics/Gynecology4 years
Ophthalmology3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
Orthopedic Surgery5 years (includes one year of general surgery)
Otolaryngology5 years
Pathology4 years
Pediatrics3 years
Physical Medicine3-4 years
Plastic Surgery6 years
Psychiatry4 years
Radiation Oncology4 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
Radiology, Diagnostic4 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
Transitional/Preliminary1 year
Urology5 years (includes one year of general surgery)

The following link also includes 20 different types of Physicians that are in high demand and brief explanations of their jobs. 20 Types of Physicians in High Demand
Here are going to be several links you can read up on Navy Hospital Corpsmen and Combat Medics. Note I'm not an expert but these are some of the links I used when playing my own Navy Field Medic.
What do Navy Corpsmen Do?
Different Types of Combat Medics
Combat Hospital Corpsman Jobs
As someone who's roleplayed a Nurse, Doctor, and Medical Corpsman, I've seen a lot of people who don't know how to properly roleplay wounds, bleeding, shock, and blood loss. I'm not blaming everyone that didn't know how to, I'm just going to offer a guide to help those who are wounded to understand the effects on the body different injuries cause if they've never looked into it or experienced it themselves.

  • Burns: Burns are incredibly painful, as many will tell you. Even first degree burns like touching a hot pan too long or sunburns can cause immense pain depending on the person. Second-degree burns can have you bawling and screaming in agony and third-degree burns are on another level entirely of pain. When your character suffers from burns of any kind, it is vital for them to keep said burns clean and frequently change and wrappings covering them for second and third-degree burns. To help many burns which aren't terribly severe, you're typically given things such as bacitracin and silver sulfadiazine in order to help promote healing and to prevent infection which is extremely likely when dealing with burns. Medication, physical, and mental therapy will likely be necessary after severe enough burns; medication especially so before changing the dressings on major burns. Scars leftover after burns are not going to be pretty and will mar and disfigure you. With access to plastic surgery, this can be minimized to the best of the surgeon's ability but in a post-apocalyptic world, you will likely have to live with burn scars for the rest of your life, if you live.
  • Stab Wounds: Stab wounds are also very painful and very dangerous depending on the location. Without going too far into detail, just being stabbed in the shoulder or leg can actually kill you. There are vital arteries and veins in your arms that, if cut or torn open, will lead to you bleeding out in mere seconds. Stab wounds can be fairly easy to clean though and treat but after they've healed, some physical therapy of whatever part of your body was stabbed (if it was a limb) may be necessary to help with motor functions. Even after that, you may never fully regain complete function of a limb or body part such as not being as limber or dexterous with a hand, arm, wrist, etc.
  • Internal Bleeding: Symptoms of having Internal Bleeding include but aren't limited to a pale complexion, profuse sweating, a rapid weak pulse, decreased alertness, and bleeding from orifices (openings) of the body that do not normally bleed like your eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc. Vomiting and coughing up blood is also another sign depending on the type of internal bleeding. Many times this cannot be treated and by the time it's discovered, it's too late for whoever has suffered from internal bleeding. If you do have the ability to have it treated, it typically requires surgery and blood transfusions during said surgery while they go into your body to fix the bleeding.
  • Amputation: When it comes to amputation, you simply can't be Billy Bad Ass and tank it like the Terminator. Even the toughest of individuals will experience shock and extreme agony from an amputation without anesthesia. Keep in mind, Shock can kill you no matter how high your pain tolerance or how quickly you stop bleeding. Even if you survive the procedure itself (whether with or without anesthesia), you still have to contend with healing. The wound that comes after has to be carefully watched, cleaned, and dressed frequently. Infection can set in in a heartbeat and that's the curtain call for you, buddy. Even after, you'll feel pain and perhaps even experience what they call Phantom pains and limbs where you still feel pain as if you have pain in your amputated limb or as if it's still there. These pains or movements can sometimes even be felt years after an amputation.
  • Shock: Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do not get enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly. Many organs can be damaged as a result if not treated immediately as it can progress rapidly. As many 1 in 5 people who suffer shock will die from it. Symptoms of shock can include; Anxiety, restlessness, blueish fingertips and lips, chest pain, confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, clammy skin, profuse sweating, rapid, weak pulse, shallow breathing, and unresponsiveness. There are also several types of shock one can go into.
  • Blood Loss: Losing blood is a serious matter as blood is what gives us life. Most usually don't feel side effects until they lose up to about 14 percent of the total blood in your body. If that much is lost very quickly, dizziness is experienced. After about 15 to 30 percent of blood volume lost, such as mild nausea to start but it will progress to an increase in breathing and your heart rate. You may also feel uneasiness, anxiety, and a lack of urine output. Your body starts to compensate for blood loss by constricting the blood vessels in your limbs and extremities. This is your body’s attempt to maintain your blood pressure and blood flow. This subsequently lowers the amount of blood your heart pumps outside the center of your body. Your skin may become cooler and pale. Eventually, at 20 percent of blood lost, you will begin to go into shock, becoming confused, disoriented, and your breathing becoming incredibly quick and shallow. Further than this, you lose consciousness. The only way to combat this would be to get a blood transfusion as soon as possible but be careful of blood types. The wrong blood type transfused for yourself and you can die from your body rejecting it. This is called an ABO Incompatibility Reaction.
  • Bullet Wounds:
  • Lodged Items: For lodged items in the body, it really depends on the item; its size, shape, location, and surface (rough, smooth, jagged, etc.). You can use your judgment as to what would cause your character pain as everyone has a different threshold on top of adrenaline in the moment often causing the area to be numb to pain for a short time. Sometimes, the object even severs nerves and renders feeling in limbs (if it is between a limb and the body) useless.
  • Infection: In a world without modern medicine or a severe lack of medical supplies and staff, infections will be one of the big killers after the undead, animals, and other survivors. Infections are no joke and need to be taken care of as soon as possible before the infection spreads to the bloodstream. You can identify an infection often by a surplus of blood flow to an area, strange smells coming from the wound, pus, black tissue, severely red and hot skin around the area, and of course, a lot of pain.
  • Sickness and Fever: Depending on the sickness, symptoms will vary of course as will the severity. If you are seriously sick though, you will likely have a fever and there are various side effects the higher a fever becomes. Your body functions will cease to operate normally at a fever of 43 °C (109.4 °F), but before that, symptoms of a very high fever can include confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, unresponsiveness, seizures, clammy skin, profuse sweating, chills, headaches, loss of appetite, irritability, dehydration, and general body weakness.
  • Blunt Trauma/Crushing Wounds: There are many types of injuries and sources of injuries that fall under this; usually, this is a result of being hit with something blunt such as a weapon, rock, or even ending up in a car crash or fall. These types of injuries are just as serious as cuts because they can crush organs, bones, limbs, airways, and cause concussions as well. The injury itself may not be visible on the outside but the damage is already done on the inside and is often just as painful as an exterior injury.
  • Car Crashes: Many injuries can result from car crashes including concussions, contusions, internal bleeding, crushed limbs or organs, or lodged foreign objects. Car crashes can be dangerous at low speeds, let alone at high speeds. If your character has been in a car accident, roleplaying recovery is a priority here for their wounds and they possibly could also develop a fear of vehicles as a result, potentially.
  • Fractures
  • Electrical injuries
  • Dislocations
  • Sprains
  • Eye injuries
  • Ear injuries
  • Ulcers
  • Concussions
  • Hyperthermia
  • Hypothermia
  • Heat Stroke
  • Stroke
  • Cancer
  • Appendicitis
  • Gangrene
  • Pregnancy
Common Medical Problems One Might Encounter as a Medic in the Zombie Apocalypse
The following list details what certain common conditions might entail and some very basic fixes. More detailed instructions will be listed in the following posts.
  • Burns:
  • Stab Wounds:
  • Internal Bleeding: Internal bleeding is a silent killer that most people wouldn't think of. This bleeding is inside the body, particularly in the chest cavity, belly cavity, or muscles, and may be caused by major trauma such as blunt force, car accidents, falls, or even punches.
  • Amputation: It's not just the bites from the infected that might require a limb to be amputated. sometimes limbs are straight cut off, blown off, crushed or so severely damaged by other sources such as Necrosis that they need to be removed in order to save the patient. Amputations require special tools and are ideally done with anesthesia in order to prevent the patient from experiencing Shock (See Below). Not just any saw can be used for amputations as the trauma to the sight might be very well too much for the patient to survive. Gigli Saws are what is mainly used in the process of amputating limbs whether it be
  • Shock:
  • Blood Loss:
  • Bullet Wounds:
  • Foreign Objects: For foreign objects in the body, it really depends on the item; its size, shape, location, and surface (rough, smooth, jagged, etc.). A lot of these items you can figure out through common sense based on the shape of an item like, say, a stinger or splinter for example. Others may be more tricky and will require some creativity on your part to figure out how to remove or someone or something to guide you. More often than not, you can likely just skip detail with this and roleplay out a careful extraction and you're good. More Info on Foreign Objects
  • Infection: In a world without modern medicine or a severe lack of medical supplies and staff, infections will be one of the big killers after the undead, animals, and other survivors. Infections are no joke and need to be taken care of as soon as possible before the infection spreads to the bloodstream.
  • Sickness and Fever:
  • Blunt Trauma/Crushing Wounds: Again, this depends on the location and severity of the crush or blunt trauma. Sometimes when limbs are crushed, they are too far beyond saving and not amputating would cause necrosis (death of tissue due to injury or loss of blood supply.
  • Car Crashes
  • Fractures
  • Electrical injuries
  • Dislocations
  • Sprains
  • Eye injuries
  • Ear injuries
  • Ulcers
  • Concussions
  • Hyperthermia
  • Hypothermia
  • Heat Stroke
  • Stroke
  • Cancer
  • Appendicitis
  • Gangrene
  • Pregnancy
 
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