When I was a young boy, I was always fascinated by fire fighters and paramedics. Every time I would see a fire engine whiz by or an ambulance speed past me, I would run into the house and turn on the radio, hoping to catch some news of their exploits whether in putting out fires or saving lives. For me, these brave people were the perfect epitome of the term, “heroes.”

When I attended secondary school, sometime in my year 10, a paramedic came and gave a short talk about having a future career in the paramedics or ambulance service. I can never recall the name of the bloke who gave the talk but, what I can never forget are the details he lectured about the ambulance service and saving the lives of people in need and in trouble.

After graduating from secondary and doing year 12, I decided to enter the ambulance service as a paramedic. At first, I enquired from some paramedic recruitment offices about the requirements and the training. Next, I did some research on the net. Mind you, I was starting to have doubts if I could even make the first stage of the recruitment, let alone the whole training. I started to doubt if I could pursue my dreams of becoming a paramedic.

Then, a friend of mine told me about howtobecomeaparamedic.co.uk. I had nothing to lose so I took a gander at the site. What I saw was at first unbelievable that I told myself, “why didn't I see this site before?”

With their advice, and tips, I was able to prepare myself for the challenges of the recruitment process. Also, by knowing that I am armed with insider information, I was able to focused on passing every stage of the recruitment and used my learning to gain a step ahead of other candidates and impress the recruitment staff by showing confidence, preparedness and determination in becoming a paramedic in the UK.

I cannot say everything went smooth. I almost breakdown during the role play. Luckily, I managed to compose myself and focused on the task at hand. Now, I am on my way to passing the last phase of the recruitment. Since I passed the other phases of the paramedic recruitment process, I am confident that I will be able to highlight my core competence during the final interview.

One step left and I will be able to help people. One step more and I finally be able to get my chance to give something back to the community. One final step and it is my turn to become a “hero.” 

A few days ago on my day off, I was enjoying a nice summer day,  not too hot, not too cool.  The sun was slowly setting on this small area.  My family was going about their normal business, as were the neighbors in the neighborhood.   I was sitting at the computer playing my music and surfing.   I heard my wife run in with my nephew and the dog, saying that I was needed outside now.  I quickly attempted to grab my 2-way radio, my socks, my shoes, and a pair of gloves, as well as my wallet and keys.  It seemed like forever in my mind.  I heard my wife exclaim, it was the neighbor, and it doesn't look good.  Trying to prepare myself I was so shell shocked I couldn't stand still or put my gloves on.  As I ran from the house, a neighbor who is a nurse was yelling she needed an airway. 

I ran to my truck and dug through my personal jump bag, I didn't have any airways, because my bag is just a quick kit, not an advanced bag.  A first responder had arrived and had pulled her bag and found the nurse was wanting a CPR mask.  I continued across the street seeing my nephew trying to run behind me, and my wife holding him back, I knew he didn't understand and wanted to follow his role model.  It made me think how proud I would be if he followed me into EMS. 

 I arrived at the patient CPR in progress, the ambulance arrived a few seconds later, but it seemed like forever.  As they arrived, I went into action gave a brief report to the medic, and pulled the cot from the truck, and lowered it a low position, and removed the straps, while the other medic was grabbing a board.  They placed the patient on the backboard, and secured him with the straps, and loaded him onto the cot and into the truck.  One of the first responders was in the truck with the medics.  I jumped in to make sure they didn't need anything, and I assisted to place the defib pads.  I ran some strips after I put on the ECG leads switching between the leads.  I placed the pulse ox on the patient's finger, and someone reported the patient was a diabetic.  One of the medic's tried intubating, but couldn't get it to work, so they ended up using a combitube.  The other started a line and started pushing the CODE drugs.

 We continued CPR, and ventilations.  I was in shock that the neighbor I had just seen out a few hours ago mowing is now under my hands as I do compressions, his color starting to come back in his face.  The monitor wasn't showing anything.  We worked him to the hospital, and I relinquinshed my duties to the ER Staff.

 I returned home and made sure to comfort my nephew, to make sure he was okay, I knew that at a young age that could be traumatic.  I sat down, and thoguht to myself.  I didn't cough or gag.  Usually my nerves have bothered me in the past to the fact that I felt as though my throat was closing off, and it makes me wonder if I am starting to fit into EMS the way I should, and it only took me this long.  I really have made leaps and bounds in my experiences and training.  I am more interested in complex things now, at least at times. 

Just a little intro about myself to start my blog off right....   I am a semi-aspiring writer.  I have been in and out of EMS for the past 5 years.  I worked 3 years on an ALS ambulance service as an EMT-Basic, where I learned many skills as a basic and will never forget those partners who have moved on.  I took a shot on the dark and left EMS for 2 years during which time I experienced the thrills of layoff's.  This year I found myself coming back into EMS yet again with a new light on life, and EMS.

 During about the last year of my first 3 years I started writing my stories down, and changing names, and some of the senarios to hide my identity, and that of my location.  I have about 20 pages in word of stories throughout the years.  I intended to start writing again after being gone and coming back, but I Haven't.   I really like writing and I think it is my method of calming myself.  I am back at the service I started at and enjoy it more now, I don't know why though, maybe because I don't have to live here to make a living now.  I hope that someone will find my stories helpful and maybe even funny.  

 I also do some volunteer EMS which I will share stories from too.

 Thanks for reading them.

 Medix

i went on my AMR ride along a few days ago for my emt-b class. i had no idea people were soooo stupid. i mean. wow. i really lost all faith in humanity. we were responding to a chest pain call and for some reason no one knows to pull to the right. as we are speeding down the boulevard most cars are pulling to the right but that doesn't keep a few people from staying in the left lane, pulling out into the intersection and some even pulling into on coming traffic! the paramedic on board used some very fancy language to describe that guy. it cracked me up so hard. i can't believe that people don't pay more attention. i feel for everyone in this profession that has to deal with total morons. must get real old.