Christmas on the Front Line

this was my twitter stream over December 24th, 25th, 26th. it’s in reverse chronological order, i.e. read from the bottom up.

And thus ends a typical Christmas day night shift on an NHS front line ambulance. Goodnight all. 26 December 2010 07:05:28
 
Job no. 10 epigastric pain with blue vomit. My best guess is appendicitis. 26 December 2010 06:28:30
 
Job no. 9 elderly male non-injury fall, just needed assistance to get back into bed. 26 December 2010 05:15:38
 

Job no. 8 child with mild croup and a chest infection. I'm noticing a theme. 3 hours to go. 26 December 2010 04:03:38
 

Turns out it was another chest infection. 5 minutes to top up caffeine levels, then back on the road. I'm driving this half of the shift. 26 December 2010 03:12:15
 

Exactly 30 minutes meal break, then off to a chest pains. 26 December 2010 02:40:20
 

Slight difference between unconscious and having a panic attack... Break time now :-) 26 December 2010 01:59:41
 

Nope, job no. 6 unconscious male. 26 December 2010 01:09:11
 

Bizarre first half. 5 jobs including 1 hoax, took 1 to A&E, more time spent out of area than in. 26 December 2010 01:04:16
 

Half way through and heading back for some grub. Wonder if we'll get there without copping another job? 1:00 AM Dec 26th
 

Chest pain, that'll be the chest infection you're taking antibiotics for then. 12:43 AM Dec 26th
 
75 year old breathing difficulties, family would rather take him to A&E themselves than let us get our mitts on him... So why call 999 then? 11:13 PM Dec 25th
 
No alcohol involved, just a private responder who can't tell the difference between a seizure and a "faint with muscle spasm"... 10:16 PM Dec 25th

Which turned out to be a hoax. Now we're on our way to a 30 year old who's fainted. I wonder if alcohol is involved? 8:00 PM Dec 25th
 
Now on the way to an assault following a home invasion... 7:49 PM Dec 25th 

Following mike's example, my first job of Christmas was a diabetic having a domestic with a drunk partner. We rolled out early for that. 7:47 PM Dec 25th

12 hours, 9 jobs, 8 stand downs, 10 minutes of cover, 30 minutes of meal break, 110 miles. Merry fucking Christmas. 6:52 AM Dec 25th
 
Merry Saturday 12:06 AM Dec 25th