Resiliency

 Since my last posting, more bad news has befallen the HEMS industry. There have been more helicopter crashes with yet more fatalities. The uneasiness still resides in me, as I am sure it resides in others as well. That could've been me, or any one of my friends or "family".  The question in my mind becomes "What do I do with these thoughts, this worry?" " What good can come from this?" The best way to honor the fallen is to find a way for something positive to come out of it.

That's where Resiliency comes in to play.

One definition of Resiliency reads: "The ability of an object to return to its former state after experiencing stress applied by an outside force or forces."

 I would put it you and me, that Resiliency, as it applies to people, ought not to allow us to return to our "former state".  As beings moving through this life, we need to allow ourselves to evolve into something different, something STRONGER after we suffer hardships. If we go back to being the same person we were, what have we learned? It's likely that we have suffered through pain and loss due to these hardships. Are we really going to allow ourselves to be put in the position to suffer that again?

 Eric Greitens is a former Navy SEAL, Rhodes scholar, and humanitarian. He wrote a book titled (not coincidentally) "Resilience". He is also currently the guest writer for The Art of Manliness blog. I encourage all of you, men and women alike, to check this blog out. Sure, much of the content is geared toward the interests of men, but there is a tremendous amount of content that is befitting anyone who just wants to be a better human being.  In Eric's most recent post, he shared a formula related to facing hardships. It reads:

The magnitude of the challenge × your intensity = your rate of growth

 This makes a lot of sense to me. I have seen it work in other  peoples lives. I am applying it to my own life right now. I will let you know how it goes.


In the HEMS industry we are facing the challenge of what we can do, on the whole, and as individuals, to prevent fatal accidents.

Personally, I am facing my own challenges.  I am committed to making this a positive experience.

What's happening in your life? Are you up against something big, or do you need a challenge? If you're battling hardship, let me encourage you right now. Turn into it. Face it. Stand up and let this thing grow you into a better human being. You deserve it. We all do.

 If you're stuck in a rut, go find something that makes you uncomfortable,  ( make sure this is a healthy choice, folks) and take on the challenge. Run a marathon, volunteer to help the homeless, join a church, take a class on something you've always wanted to try, start doing yoga, write a blog. Whatever it is you choose to do, make it something that is going to expand who you are.

It will make you stronger.

It will make you more Resilient.


Fly safe.   -Keith

Fly Safe

March 7 2015


News dropped today that every HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) professional dreads hearing. For most of us it makes the hair on your head stand up, and for me, at least, I ask the question:  "Could that have been me?".  A pilot with ARCH Air Medical Services was killed when his aircraft crashed while he was enroute back to St. Louis University Hospital to pick up his crew. Reports are that the crash occurred a mere 200 yards away from the helipad where his crew was likely waiting for him.

 There is something really special about being a part of an Air Medical crew. You work long hours together under stressful conditions. You experience triumphs and disappointments together. You typically only work with a handful of the same people all the time, so you get to know one another really well. You share your personal triumphs and disappointments with one another. These people become FAMILY to you. It is both a blessing and a curse. The blessings are many. Ask anyone who has gone through a difficult time personally, and they will usually tell you just how remarkably supportive their work "family" has been through it all. The same goes for the good times. We attend each other's weddings. We remember birthdays. We want you to bring that new baby into work, because we really do want to meet him or her. We really care alot about each other- which can also be the "curse". It is really hard when one of the "family" moves on to something else. Losing a member of the crew leaves a void. You've grown to trust and rely upon that person. A lot of times you have become so close with them that you read one another's thoughts. You can predict each other's actions. It's a very unique professional relationship.

 That's why it hurts so much when we hear about a fatal accident in our industry.

 We imagine what that would be like if , God forbid, that were to happen to us. How would we cope? How would we continue to go on? How would we find the courage to climb into the aircraft again and do this thing that we love so much? How could we face our colleague's family? What could we possibly say? So many questions.

 "Fly Safe" is a phrase we use a lot in the HEMS industry. "Fly Safe" means many things all at once: be careful, be vigilant, be smart, stay rested, don't take any unnecessary risks, have the courage to speak up to your crew mates if something doesn't feel right, don't be distracted, don't get complacent. It also means "I care about you. I want to see you at shift change in the morning. Lets make sure that the thing we all dread doesn't happen to us."

 I am on shift right now as I write this. Both my Pilot and Paramedic partners tonight are seasoned veterans in the HEMS industry. I trust them both. I know they trust me. Tonight we will Fly Safe, and remember our brothers and sisters at ARCH in St. Louis, MO. God Speed to your fallen Pilot, and our deepest condolences to your "work family" as you all heal through this terrible tragedy.

 You don't have to be in this industry to Fly Safe in this life. Look out for the ones you love. Be careful. Speak up if something doesn't feel right. Don't get complacent. Care for one another.

 Fly Safe.

 -Keith

 

Hit the Start Button

Hello!

Welcome to On The Skids!


This is the beginning of something I have considered doing for quite a while now, but I really spent too much time fretting about things, and it was holding me back from getting started. To many of you it will be a familiar list of things.

 -How should it look?
- Would people like it?
- Would I be taken seriously? 
-I've never done this before, what if I screw it up?
-This is something new for me, and sometimes it's scary trying new things.

I heard a great bit of advice listening to a Podcast once. It was from a guy who built a successful internet retail business out of his garage. The interviewer asked what advice he would give to others who were interested in doing the same thing. His reply was "Just start. You will make mistakes along the way. You will learn from them. You always screw up the first pancake anyway, so you may as well just start cooking."

So today, I am just gonna start.

Let me share the vision with you.

On The Skids will be about Air Medical Transport. It will be about my experiences in this field. It will be about the good stories, and the sad ones too. Both are equally important. It will be about creating community. It will be about that community sharing their experiences, their knowledge, their tips and tricks. It will be about inspiring each other and a being inspired by each other. My vision is that this thing will grow, while being careful not to let it consume me and my free time.

It will be about making a difference, which is the very thing I love most about this job.

So today, it is just about hitting the Start button. Today is about breathing life into this thing that has just been an idea in my head. I encourage you to do the same in your own life. Have you been putting something off? Are you trying to find the courage to do something you think would be great if you would just get started? Hit your Start button. Make that first pancake. Insert your own metaphor here.

Whatever it is, go for it.

Take care.   -Keith