Code 88 II

CODE 88.

During the first several yells of Code 88 that I hear, I would usually pretend not to hear it, do something else or worst run out of the room. Kasi if you hear the code then you must respond. Whoever responds to the code first is the Captain of the Ship. Pero after several more Code 88s... iba na.

When I hear the Code, my adrenalin rushes up to the top floor. Hinahanap ko agad kung saang ward o floor yung may code. Ewan, but the perspective have changed. It's no longer somebody's dying or going to die but it's a chance to revive a patient. Optimistic?. Not really, more of ego boosting. Siempre, you have something to brag kapag may na revive ka na patient although after 20 or 30 minutes or kung susuwertehen 1 hour after that patient you revived goes into arrest again and eventually die. Plus the pride and fame of being the Captain of the Ship kung ikaw ang nauna (it only occured to me once though but that's another story) sa scene.

Code 88. After a few more codes, nag-iba na naman ang perspective ko. This time sa patient. The secret para hindi daw maging emotional when you are doing CPR to a patient is to is to see the patient as JUST another patient. Distance yourself from the patient, from the folks and... just don't make yourself attached. So, Code 88. Ahhh ok, Otso otso. Time to exercise. An oppurtunity to stretch and flex some unused muscles. An oppurtunity to use some stored energy and force. An oppurtunity to do the Otso otso dance. (Di ba, kuhang kuha ang otso otso ni Bayani?) And para kay Kristian, an oppurtunity (kung babae ang nag respond sa Code) to well...

The Code has evolved from just being a code to something else and more. Then you asked, bakit ang mga doktor parang walang puso at pakialam sa namamatay na patient nila? My answer...

Well, my Code 88 record is 11 of 21.