Writing yesterday about having to carry a radiation meter has made me think about all the things I have to/choose to carry in my pockets. I also have a 'bat-belt' which I could wear if I wanted to lose all face in the service, so it stays in the ambulance until I need it.

In my pockets at the moment (and I suspect that this is an echo of some type of meme)

Shirt pocket - right - 4 vials of Salbutamol (asthma medication), half-eaten packet of breath mints (for those post curry/kebab moments), security card for the Royal London Hospital (opens doors for me), work emergency phone

Shirt pocket - left - Black pen, spare black pen, pen torch, small pair of scissors, spare stylus for pocket PC, roll of medical tape, Four sticking plasters (because someone read this, and supplied me with them)

Upper right trouser pocket - Pocket PC

Upper left trouser pocket - wallet (for when I really need that curry/kebab).

Belt - Personal mobile phone, keys to the ambulance if I'm driving that day.

Right trouser pocket - (lower) - Examination gloves - size large (lots of them, never know when you need more than one pair), face mask (because, you never know...yet to be used, so it is looking very grubby), trauma scissors.

Left trouser pocket - (lower) - Key to oxygen cylinders, Number 2 dressing (biggish bandage), guidelines booklet
(huge thing that gives us guidance on all aspects of the job, from drug protocols to hospital specialities)

Right rear trouser pocket - Triangular bandage/sling, spare pair of latex gloves. (I carry a pair of latex gloves outside of work as well, as I told the interview board when I applied for the job "I'll do anything if I have a pair of gloves on").

Left rear trouser pocket - Cheat sheet and ruler for doing things with a 12 lead e.c.g (broken because I sat on it - held together by medical tape), London ambulance service benevolent fund diary.

Stab vest pockets - Spare gloves (can you tell I like having a surfeit of latex gloves).

Is it any wonder I get out of breath when I have to climb a couple of flights of stairs - especially considering the response bag, oxygen, and other medical kit I have to lug around.

The funny thing is that I could do most of this list from memory, sitting in the pub