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Life in EMS

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A few weeks ago, I made the decision to end my career in EMS. It was something that I struggled with for over 6 months. It was one of the hardest thing I have ever done. I have many reasons that back up my decision, the number one risk was that odds never seem to be in my favor for not having an allergic reaction at work. I am allergic to vanllin, artificial vanilla, and it sucks. It’s in everything. Baked goods, candy bars, root beer and scented air fresheners. All I have to do is be exposed to it and allergic reaction, here I come! I can’t count how many times I have had to go to the ER as a patient while working, because of my allergy. Doesn’t make for a fun shift. If you’ve never had your throat close on you, then you wouldn’t understand. My idea of a good time is not being doped up on Benadryl, Solumedrol, Epi and sometimes Magnesium Sulfate. I have enjoyed my time in EMS. I have met some awesome people along the way. I have worked for great companies, and
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Life in EMS

No job is perfect.  Every job comes with different trial and tribulations and EMS in no exception.  You always hear about the “Glory” stories in EMS, but never the nitty gritty stories.  Did you ever the story of the two EMT’s that carried a stroke patient out of his apartment, down a flight of stairs, onto the stretcher while covered in vomit, urine and poo?  I didn’t think so.  If you are doing this job to be a hero, or to be in the spotlight, get out now.  This job is not for you.  Even though it is always an adrenaline rush to pull a victim from an MVA or get pulses back on a full arrest patient, those calls are few and far between in this county.  With so many different companies, and so many ambulances covering the same area, you would be lucky to pull those calls in a months time.      For the most part, our job is very boring.  You can have a lot of down time.  What you do with that time is up to you and your partner.  If you are one of the lucky ones, you have a cell phone p
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Life in EMS

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       For the duration of my EMS career, I have had almost every call imaginable.  From the most ludicrous to the most serious.  I’ve had a 66 year old woman call 911 for a stubbed toe, a woman who used Wed MD to self diagnose her cold and she was convinced she had a pulmonary embolism, to more serious calls like shootings, stabbings, and pediatric full arrests.  If you are one of the lucky ones, you have not yet had that one call that makes you question what you do for a living.  Everyone has bad calls.  The ones where after your shift you need to tell your loved ones you love them or hug and kiss them when you get home.  If you are not scared of what could come over that radio next, I don’t want you on my ambulance.  If you are scared, you will do what it takes to save a life.      I remember my “questioning my career choice” call like it was yesterday.  It really wasn’t the call itself that messed with my head, it was the position we found our patient in.  My partner and I
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Life in EMS

   When you work for a private company in EMS, you do a lot more transfers than you do emergency calls.  I get, really I do, transfers are the money makers for and private EMS company.  Unfortunately, all the time and money you spend on becoming an EMT or a Paramedic, can feel like a waste of time.  One thing people need to understand about transfers, is most of them are dialysis transports.  We pick patients up and take them to and from dialysis.  It’s not a bad gig.  Most of our patients are pleasant enough.  What I do not like is when people start calling our dialysis transports “Slinging kidneys” or “Glorified taxi sponsored by Medicare”.   One statement rings true, healthy people do not need dialysis.  One thing you should always consider is that it is usually several health problems that led to end stage renal disease.  Uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension and polycystic kidney diseases are the top risk factors.  It really makes me upset to see a coworker that is riding in the bac
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Humor in EMS

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One thing you definitely need when you work in EMS is a great sense of humor.  Most humor in this profession is completely inappropriate and dark, but in a funny way.  Sometimes, it's the humor that helps you get through your shift.  There are a bunch of unwritten rules that we follow everyday.  Some of them are completely inappropriate and hilarious!  For instance, Rule #3-If you drop a baby, fake a seizure.  #7-All bleeding stops eventually.  One of my favorites is rule #15-If it's wet, sticky and not yours, don't touch it! Without a good sense of humor, you will be burned out in no time. It's also fun to joke with each other.  Pointing out that one time where you made a huge blunder and everyone in the county heard about it within a few short hours.  You messed up big on the radio, now you are the butt of everyone's joke and even writing it on the white boards in the local hospitals EMS room.  Joking about the most ridiculous calls you have ever been on.  An
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Life in EMS

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When you are fresh out of EMT class, you passed your National Registry tests, you get hired at a company and you are excited about finally being able to work the road. One of the most exciting things for all new EMT’s is the thought of running lights and sirens to a real life emergency call. There’s just something about it. Your blood starts pumping! Adrenalin is rushing through your body! You get all excited and nervous at the same time. The problem is, people really don’t understand the dangers of it.                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkLbG-n6_ic Even though everyone is taught what Due Regard is within the first couple of weeks of EMT school, it seems to go in one ear and out the other. Due Regard is the responsibility of the driver of the ambulance to maintain safe operation of the vehicle at all times. Even before you drive an emergency vehicle, you have to take a safety class. Depending on your company,
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Life in EMS

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I have been in EMS for almost 7 years now.  I have seen things nobody should ever see.  I have saved lives.  I have been used as a taxi service.  I have been someones hand to hold.  I have been a shoulder to cry on.  I've been spat on.  I've been called every name in the book.  My years in EMS have been interesting to say the least.  The best part of my job, is that every call is different.  You never know what to expect, from a dialysis transport or a shooting.  The spectrum is very broad.                                           Everyone has their different reasons for going into EMS.  I just wanted to do something fun and I am a trauma junkie, so it worked out perfectly!  I was a stay at home mom, had been for 12 years.  When our youngest child went into Kindergarten, I wanted a career. I knew what I wanted to do.  I signed up for classes through a local hospital's EMS education.                                                           I remember my first d
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