Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

[Guest guest]

I agree 100% !!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Don,

I look forward to seeing you in November at the conference. I'll be the one

with the black hat voicing our opinions. (Oh yea I'll take a Bud light) Take

care.

FF/LP

Vernon College

FIRE/EMS Training Program

4105 Maplewood

Wichita Falls, Texas 76308

(940)696-8752 ext. 3233

agarcia@...

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> I believe that most non-fire based personnel feel that the fraternal

> nature of the fire service is exclusionary, confrontational,

> self-indulgent and often argumentative. Perhaps as a friendly gesture

> and demonstration of good faith and brotherly love, the International

> Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) should expand its' membership

> structure to include non-union, non-fire based EMS personnel.

>

> Such a gesture would provide ample evidence of the fire service's desire

> to extend an " olive branch " to their non-fire based brothers. It would

> break down ALL of the barriers and feelings of ill will, and extend the

> hand of brotherly love and affection to all emergency response

> personnel. And, if you believe that such a change would ever come to

> pass, I have a ranch on Seti Alpha 5 that you might be interested in.

>

> Bob Kellow

>

> emsbrando@... wrote:

>

> > All this is very true. EMS workers are not united and do not share

> > the same

> > Brother/Sisterhood as Firefighters.

> >

> > I have been in EMS 33 years, Fire Service as a volunteer for 17.

> >

> > Yesterday, when I saw a fellow brother from FDNY, or another fire

> > service, I

> > was greeted with a friendly smile, and a handshake. I saw brothers

> > from

> > Ohio, Brownsville Texas, Oklahoma, Great Britain, Michigan, New

> > Jersey, and

> > other places from around the country and the world. The FDNY brothers

> > asked

> > me if I was comfortable, if I needed anything, and wanted to know

> > about my

> > department in Carthage. We stood and talked for a little bit and we

> > all had

> > the same name, " Brother " and it was a name we all used often when

> > addressing

> > one and other.

> >

> > I saw a Paramedic from North Carolina, two from South Carolina, and

> > one from

> > Ohio. I tried to talk with them and they smiled, said " hi " and kept

> > going.

> >

> > This was yesterday, Sept. 11, while I was at ground zero in New York.

> >

> > The problem we face in our lacking of a brother and/or sisterhood is

> > one that

> > is not particular to Texas. All of us everywhere need to finally

> > realize

> > that we are all in this together, that we all do the same thing in our

> > cities

> > and towns, face the same dangers, and have the same concerns.

> >

> > The fire service has no boundries when it comes to the brotherhood,

> > (and that

> > does include the female firefighters), but when we in EMS get

> > together we

> > are too busy drawing lines on the ground daring each other to cross,

> > and we

> > fail to check our egos at the door because we are too busy pinning

> > them on

> > our chests.

> >

> > There is only one hill, and if you are in the fire service you help

> > others

> > with the climb and they will help you, if you fall, there is someone

> > there to

> > pick you up, and all of you climb the hill as a group.

> >

> > If you are in EMS, everyone wants to be king of the hill, and if you

> > fall

> > while climbing you better watch it or you'll be stepped on.

> >

> > If I have rambled, I'm sorry. I'm a little tired.

> >

> > Ed Brando

> > ETMC/EMS

> >

> > I was also in New York on Sept. 10, presenting a gift from the

> > Carthage Fire

> > Department to Engine 24, Ladder 5 in Greenwich Village. Them boys

> > cook a

> > fantastic Italian Sausage sandwich.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Henry hows the fishing?

FF/LP

Vernon College

FIRE/EMS Training Program

4105 Maplewood

Wichita Falls, Texas 76308

(940)696-8752 ext. 3233

agarcia@...

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> >

> > simply put... if we cannot take the time to unify... who are we to blame?

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Doing fine here and it sounds like life is good with you. One of these days I am

going to have to take some time off and just come see for myself how good the

fishing is down there. Take care my friend.

FF/LP

Vernon College

FIRE/EMS Training Program

4105 Maplewood

Wichita Falls, Texas 76308

(940)696-8752 ext. 3233

agarcia@...

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> > >

> > > simply put... if we cannot take the time to unify... who are we to

blame?

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

FIRST OFF I MEANT NO ILL WILL TOWARDS THE CAPITAL LETTERS! IT WAS SET SO I USED

IT. HOWEVER, IT IS PERFECTLY FINE FOR YOU TO GET ON THIS SITE AND POST A

MILLIONS TIMES YOUR OPINION AND IF SOMEONE DOES NOT AGREE WITH YOU, OR HAPPEN TO

FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ALSO DO NOT AGREE WITH, WHO ARE YOU TO BE SO

RUDE AND TELL THEM THEY NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER SITE? IS THAT YOUR SOLUTION? IF

I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU THEN I NEED TO LEAVE OR NOT POST MY OPINION? I THINK

NOT! IGNORE MY POST AND DO NOT RESPOND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY

OR TO BE SAID TACKFULLY. YOU PICK FIGHTS WITH FOLKS ALL THE TIME. I AM A

PARAMEDIC WHO HAS BEEN ON THIS SITE FOR YEARS, SOME THINGS I DO NOT AGREE WITH I

KEEP TO MYSELF OR I POST MYOPINION AND DO NOT TELL PEOPLE TO BASICALLY BE

PRODUCTIVE OR GO SOME WHERE ELSE. WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO DO THAT? I DID NOT

REALIZE I HAD TO BE IN A DEFENSIVE MODE WHEN HAVING AN OPINION WHEN YOU ARE

ONLINE. I WILL USE CAPS BECAUSE IT IS EASIER FOR ME TO READ AND DARN IT, IT

LOOKS PRETTY! I HAVE USED NO PROFANITY OR CALLED ANY NAMES MUCH LESS TRIED TO

HURT FEELINGS INTENTIONALLY. YOU ARE UPSET BECAUSE YOU ARE A FIREMAN.... GOOD

FOR YOU. I PERSONALLY FEEL EMS IS NEEDED MORE THAN FIRE (STRICKLY MY OPINION)

AND TIRED OF BEING AN AMBULANCE DRIVER IN THE COMMUNITIES EYES. CALL ME

JEALOUS, I CAN TAKE IT. AND AS FAR AS THE POLICE.. I AM REFERRING TO AN

EXPERIENCE I SAW ONETIME.... WOMAN DROPS BABY TO POLICEMAN OUT OF WINDOW DUE TO

FIRE, THAT IS WHAT THEY PUT ON THE NEWS, HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND TURNED AND

RAN TO THE PARAMEDIC AND HANDED THE BABY OFF TO THEM. GUESS WHO WAS THE HERO

THAT DAY? YOU GUESSED IT... THE FAMILY EVEN THANKED THE POLICEMAN FOR SAVING

THEIR BABY. I KNEW THE MEDIC THAT SAVED THAT BABY, HE NEVER COMPLAINED JUST

LIKE MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE BUT FOR THAT MOMENT TO HAVE THE FAMILY TO

SAY THANKS WOULD HAVE MADE US ALL PROUD. WHAT IS WRONG WITH WANTING TO BE A

HERO EVERY NOW AND THEN? ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU EARN IT DAILY. I HAVE MANY

FIREMEN FRIENDS AND EVEN VOL. ONCE, THEY KNOW HOW I FEEL AND RESPECT MY OPINION

BECAUSE I SAY IT TO THEIR FACE. I AM ALSO THE FIRST ONE TO BRING THEM HOMEMADE

COOKIES WHEN THEY HELP ME ON A DIFFICULT SCENE. SO GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE, I

WILL STILL BE HERE POSTING MY OPINION IN CAPITAL LETTERS (WHETHER YOU THINK IT

IS UNPROFESSIONAL OR NOT) (I STILL THINK IT IS PRETTIER, I AM A WOMAN !) HOPE

WE NOW HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING. I AM A PROFESSIONAL OPINIONATED WOMAN WHO WANTS

US TO BE SEEN AS THE HEROS THAT WE ARE, OR EVEN JUST APPRECIATED FOR ONCE.

STRICTLY MY OPINION!

KELLY

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE ALL TO

BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE ARE

GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW MORE

OF

US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND WHO

DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A POLICEMAN?

NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE

OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME KNOW.

I

AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

KELLY BRYAN

UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

[Guest guest]

I ALSO TAKE IT PERSONALLY THAT YOU CALLED ME STUPID, IS THAT THE

PROFESSIONALISM YOU WERE SPEAKING OF? NAME CALLING, I HOPE I GROW UP TO BE

JUST LIKE YOU. NOT.

KELLY

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE ALL TO

BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE ARE

GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW MORE

OF

US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND WHO

DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A POLICEMAN?

NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE

OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME KNOW.

I

AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

KELLY BRYAN

UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

[Guest guest]

In ThE iNtErEsT oF KeEpInG ThIs DiScUsSiOn fAiR aNd BaLaNcEd, CaN't We

JuSt AlL gEt AlOnG?.

baystarems wrote:

> I ALSO TAKE IT PERSONALLY THAT YOU CALLED ME STUPID, IS THAT THE

> PROFESSIONALISM YOU WERE SPEAKING OF? NAME CALLING, I HOPE I GROW UP

> TO BE JUST LIKE YOU. NOT.

>

> KELLY

>

> Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

I cAn ApPrecIAte YouR HUmoR! ThanK YOu....

kelly

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have tried to ignore this thread but feel I must contribute my humble opinion

to the fray.

The reason EMS is not being hailed as heroes in this event is exactly as Mr.

explained it, in New York City the EMS is run by the Fire Department. I am

sure that had the event occurred in a city such as Austin, then people would be

commenting on the heroes in EMS.

This discussion has cause me to feel a little concerned about our profession.

Is it really true that a portion of our profession is SEEKING the recognition as

a hero?

Hero status isn't sought by PR agencies, or Unions for that matter, but by

actions. The firemen and police officers that were killed in the World Trade

Center attack are heroes not because of their union or PR but because they took

action when it was needed and died because of that choice.

This is no different than the men (and women) that have surged forward in the

face of machine gun fire on the beaches of Normandy, Iwo Jima, Salerno, etc...or

those soldiers that fought through nightmares like Bougainville or Viet

Nam............, or those medics that ran across fields of fire to reach wounded

soldiers or any number of heroes the Armed Forces have (and I did not even

mention a tenth of the possible battlefields). They are no different than the

heroes that give their lives every year in the Fire, Police or EMS services.

True professionals do not seek publication or fame, they know they did their

job, nothing more, nothing less. The public knows this and will not respect

those that seek this recognition.

If you are seeking hero status, go buy a red cape and try to fly, if you want to

treat patients, care for the elderly, transport people home or between hospitals

and nursing homes, and occasionally get to participate in a save, come to EMS.

Hopefully, you will not be asked to become a hero, because true heroes pay for

that title with the ultimate sacrifice!

Think about it!

Steve Dralle

San , TX

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

In ThE iNtErEsT oF KeEpInG ThIs DiScUsSiOn fAiR aNd BaLaNcEd, CaN't We

JuSt AlL gEt AlOnG?.

baystarems wrote:

> I ALSO TAKE IT PERSONALLY THAT YOU CALLED ME STUPID, IS THAT THE

> PROFESSIONALISM YOU WERE SPEAKING OF? NAME CALLING, I HOPE I GROW UP

> TO BE JUST LIKE YOU. NOT.

>

> KELLY

>

> Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

what did you not understand? i did not say " i want to be a hero " . ems

personnel died too. do they not deserve to be recognized as a paramedic? some

do not want to be classified as a fireman even though they work in a fire dept

as a paramedic only. you are reading too much into it. why was it not said the

fire, police and ems workers that died in the attacks? my sole complaint is we

are not recognized on our own. why not? why can't we be unified like he said

and be individuals as well? and what is wrong with being proud of being a

paramedic, are we less than if we chose to not be a fireman as well? how many

firemen do you know that are only emt's because the dept. made them? i know

plenty. a hero i am not, nor do i wish to be. however i do know plenty of

medics who are and should be recognized for their bravery. i will not apologize

for being proud of my profession and wanting it to be respected in the

community. firemen demand respect, why can't we?

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

YoU'rE mOsT wElCoMe, KeLlY.

baystarems wrote:

> I cAn ApPrecIAte YouR HUmoR! ThanK YOu....

>

> kelly

> Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> >

> >

> > I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE

> ARE

> > ALL TO

> > BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC.

> WE

> > ARE

> > GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS

> IN

> > EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A

> FEW

> > MORE

> > OF

> > US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO

> AND

> > WHO

> > DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> > POLICEMAN?

> > NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> > IMPROVE

> > OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

>

> > KNOW.

> > I

> > AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

> >

> > KELLY BRYAN

> > UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

The EMS people that died were members of the New York Fire Department. That is

why they are being remembered as Firemen/Firewomen. You are reading too much

into what the media is saying. You are also not reading my post. I never said

not to be proud of your profession. I too am paramedic and I do not work for a

Fire Department. I am also proud of what I do but I do not care if the media

ever broadcasts what I do. I know that the patients I treat and have

transported know that I am a professional. I could care less about what anyone

else thinks. That was the message I was trying to send to you.

You did say you want to be a hero, " WHAT IS WRONG WITH WANTING TO BE A HERO

EVERY NOW AND THEN? " . The problem is that we all want to be brave and do what

is right when we are called to do it. But that is not being a hero. Being a

hero is to sacrifice your most prized possession, your life. Everybody in

EMS/Fire/Police/Military and many in the civilian sector (the flight that had

the shoe bomber on it comes to mind) has a level of bravery and dedication but

to be a hero requires a lot more than that. You can not stand up and shout or

cry for the title or recognition, it just comes when it does.

I recommend you watch a movie called " State of Emergency " . It was made in the

early 90's by HBO to illustrate the growing problem of ER overloading, a problem

that has become a crisis today, but that is not why you should watch it. After

the whole course of the movie the lead character tells another physician

something to the effect of, " ...when it is all over the only reward [in health

care], the only one that matters, is that you know that someone out there is

breathing because of you. " The other replies, " What if it that is not enough? "

He replies, " It just has to be " .

EMS is not about glamour, recognition, fame, glory, herofication, trauma,

running code, saving lives or any of the other crap people list as their reasons

for being in this profession. It is about caring for people PERIOD! It doesn't

matter if they are going to dialysis, home, the nursing home or the ER. They

are people and that is your job, to care for them, to make them feel like you

would do anything to help them in any way. If you are not doing that, then you

are not professional!

Steve Dralle, EMT-P

San , TX

These views are my own and do not represent the views of my employer.

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

what did you not understand? i did not say " i want to be a hero " . ems

personnel died too. do they not deserve to be recognized as a paramedic? some

do not want to be classified as a fireman even though they work in a fire dept

as a paramedic only. you are reading too much into it. why was it not said the

fire, police and ems workers that died in the attacks? my sole complaint is we

are not recognized on our own. why not? why can't we be unified like he said

and be individuals as well? and what is wrong with being proud of being a

paramedic, are we less than if we chose to not be a fireman as well? how many

firemen do you know that are only emt's because the dept. made them? i know

plenty. a hero i am not, nor do i wish to be. however i do know plenty of

medics who are and should be recognized for their bravery. i will not apologize

for being proud of my profession and wanting it to be respected in the

community. firemen demand respect, why can't we?

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

i still feel you have taken a simple statement and blown it out of proportion.

can you tell me when you meet someone and they say " oh, you are an ambulance

driver. " deep down it makes you want to say " no ma'am i am a paramedic. " just

so they will know we are professionals. not in any " glory " way, just to educate

that we take pride in our field. how many times have you heard policemen say, i

am a police officer, not a " cop " ? i understand. i do emergencies and

non-emergencies and you know everyone that rides with me is family, i do not

forget my patients, i know their names, their children's names, if they need

their glasses and nine times out of ten i know their hx as well. i listen to

their problems, carry their flowers, encourage their families to ride with us,

you name it i have probably gone out of my way to make peoples time of need a

little more comfortable, because i want to, not because it is my job, i want to.

just like everyone else in this field. i just would like to see people be glad

and feel relief when an ambulance comes because they know we are knowledgeable

and there to help. that is it, no praising, no hero status, just for folks to

know we can and have the means to help them.

kelly

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

Not all medics are Paramedics, and those that died on 9/11/01 were not all

Paramedics. But to add a little comment to yours, why are all medics called

Paramedics? There are more EMT-B's than Paramedics. You ned to remember

that EMS is not just Paramedics. Each level has it's place and is needed.

I like to think that EMS is about giving the best care possible thru

education, kindness, caring and compassion for those who need us. Not about

petty jealousies on who gets more recognition. And for the record, I'm a

retired Vol. Firefighter and a woman. Each service has it's place in the

world. Bet you're glad to see those Firefighters when the Jaws of Life are

needed or that vehicle fire put out.

I also agree with Steve that if you're in this for " atta boys " and pats on

the back, then you are definitely in the wrong profession. The only

recognition I need is knowing that I was there to help someone when they

needed it. I'm sure that when my time comes to go to that EMS station in

the sky, I will then be recognized for my good deeds. If not, then who

really cares when you think about all those people who lost loved ones a

year ago? Is recognition really so important in the grand scheme of things

after all that has happened? Will recognition bring those people back? Do

you need or want recognition at the expense of other's suffering? I would

hope not.

I'm not slamming you here, but if you really want that " recognition " , then

maybe you should join EMSAT and help the entire profession get recognized.

As for EMS (Paramedics) not being recognized for 9-11-01, I would like you

to know that San College had a beautiful ceremony honoring those

that have gone before us, those still here, and those that are taking that

step to become medics of the future. The ceremony recognitized and honored

EMS, Fire and Law Enforcement along with the military. I felt honored to be

included in the ceremony and to know that all at San College

remembered ALL those involved. So, just because Paramedics or EMS wasn't

mentioned specifically, please know that there are those out there that did

remember.

You EARN respect, not demand it.

Debbie Breiten EMT-I

17 years in EMS from ECA to Paramedic

Asst. Program Director

San College EMS Academy

----Original Message Follows----

Reply-To:

To: < >

Subject: Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 20:08:16 -0400

what did you not understand? i did not say " i want to be a hero " . ems

personnel died too. do they not deserve to be recognized as a paramedic?

some do not want to be classified as a fireman even though they work in a

fire dept as a paramedic only. you are reading too much into it. why was

it not said the fire, police and ems workers that died in the attacks? my

sole complaint is we are not recognized on our own. why not? why can't we

be unified like he said and be individuals as well? and what is wrong with

being proud of being a paramedic, are we less than if we chose to not be a

fireman as well? how many firemen do you know that are only emt's because

the dept. made them? i know plenty. a hero i am not, nor do i wish to be.

however i do know plenty of medics who are and should be recognized for

their bravery. i will not apologize for being proud of my profession and

wanting it to be respected in the community. firemen demand respect, why

can't we?

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

Before anyone slams me for my typos, It's been a long day. So shoot me

please, I could use the vacation.

----Original Message Follows----

Reply-To:

To:

Subject: Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 22:19:35 -0500

Not all medics are Paramedics, and those that died on 9/11/01 were not all

Paramedics. But to add a little comment to yours, why are all medics called

Paramedics? There are more EMT-B's than Paramedics. You ned to remember

that EMS is not just Paramedics. Each level has it's place and is needed.

I like to think that EMS is about giving the best care possible thru

education, kindness, caring and compassion for those who need us. Not about

petty jealousies on who gets more recognition. And for the record, I'm a

retired Vol. Firefighter and a woman. Each service has it's place in the

world. Bet you're glad to see those Firefighters when the Jaws of Life are

needed or that vehicle fire put out.

I also agree with Steve that if you're in this for " atta boys " and pats on

the back, then you are definitely in the wrong profession. The only

recognition I need is knowing that I was there to help someone when they

needed it. I'm sure that when my time comes to go to that EMS station in

the sky, I will then be recognized for my good deeds. If not, then who

really cares when you think about all those people who lost loved ones a

year ago? Is recognition really so important in the grand scheme of things

after all that has happened? Will recognition bring those people back? Do

you need or want recognition at the expense of other's suffering? I would

hope not.

I'm not slamming you here, but if you really want that " recognition " , then

maybe you should join EMSAT and help the entire profession get recognized.

As for EMS (Paramedics) not being recognized for 9-11-01, I would like you

to know that San College had a beautiful ceremony honoring those

that have gone before us, those still here, and those that are taking that

step to become medics of the future. The ceremony recognitized and honored

EMS, Fire and Law Enforcement along with the military. I felt honored to be

included in the ceremony and to know that all at San College

remembered ALL those involved. So, just because Paramedics or EMS wasn't

mentioned specifically, please know that there are those out there that did

remember.

You EARN respect, not demand it.

Debbie Breiten EMT-I

17 years in EMS from ECA to Paramedic

Asst. Program Director

San College EMS Academy

----Original Message Follows----

Reply-To:

To: < >

Subject: Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 20:08:16 -0400

what did you not understand? i did not say " i want to be a hero " . ems

personnel died too. do they not deserve to be recognized as a paramedic?

some do not want to be classified as a fireman even though they work in a

fire dept as a paramedic only. you are reading too much into it. why was

it not said the fire, police and ems workers that died in the attacks? my

sole complaint is we are not recognized on our own. why not? why can't we

be unified like he said and be individuals as well? and what is wrong with

being proud of being a paramedic, are we less than if we chose to not be a

fireman as well? how many firemen do you know that are only emt's because

the dept. made them? i know plenty. a hero i am not, nor do i wish to be.

however i do know plenty of medics who are and should be recognized for

their bravery. i will not apologize for being proud of my profession and

wanting it to be respected in the community. firemen demand respect, why

can't we?

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND

> WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

i referred paramedic because i understood him to be a paramedic and i am

myself, i did not mean any disrespect towards emt's or emt-i's for where

would i be w/out my emt partner to to remind me of my basics. and again....

I do not want praise, recognition, or to be a hero.

please understand that already. i just want people in the community to

realize we are knowledgeable and to want to call 911 for an ambulance

because they know we will help just like fire and police. i have stated

this once already. i admitted i am jealous that they have a more

professional reputation with the public. i wish we could be the same in the

communities eyes. that is all. i could not care less if my name was in the

paper, if i was ever recognized at an event... i just want us to be known as

ems personnel not " ambulance drivers. " with the community seeing us as

professionals maybe the pay will increase to where not everyone you know is

working 2 or 3 jobs to support their families. it has nothing to do with

me, i want it for my co-workers who are barely surviving and still going to

school. Aren't nurses viewed " less than " by some folks in the hospital

setting? they complain daily that they wish they could be seen in a more

professional manner too. looks like it is coming around for them. $45.00

an sounds good to me. i would settle for being able just to challenge their

test, i would gladly take some of their nursing courses if i could even be

considered to have some knowledge. they can challenge our test w/out ever

taking an emt class. why is this? and is it wrong that i would like to see

you have respect when you drop your patient in the er and have the doctors

and nurses listen to you because they are confident in you and your report

because they know you are not just a driver. i realize most have wonderful

relationships with their er. fortunately, i do, my medical director is

there and his staff treats us well and listens to our reports. it is a

wonderful relationship. now, i can go to a hospital that i am not familiar

with and be disregarded and by the staff easily. we all have this happen to

us. i just want people to realize we care about each and every pt and do

our best on every call. have i made myself understood? again i do not want

it for me, i want it for you and everyone else. if me wanting the best for

you is wrong then o.k. my mistake.

kelly bryan

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> >

> >

> > I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> > ALL TO

> > BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> > ARE

> > GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> > EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> > MORE

> > OF

> > US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO

AND

> > WHO

> > DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> > POLICEMAN?

> > NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> > IMPROVE

> > OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> > KNOW.

> > I

> > AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

> >

> > KELLY BRYAN

> > UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

If the people in your community are having a problem with realizing that you

are knowledgeable then the problem is a lack of educating the public. I had

the honor of starting at and staying at a small rural service, and our

medics regularly educated the public thru visiting the schools, the Lion's

Club, The Rotary, Senior Citizens groups, putting on free CPR classes,

offering free blood pressure checks on a regular basis, working the First

Aid station at our County Fair, participating in National Night Out, etc.

This is how you get the public to stop calling you an " ambulance driver " .

When they say that to me I see it as an opportunity to educate them. We

also had weekly articles in our local paper to introduce our medics to the

public. We had a column where we gave First Aid info on how to recognize

Heat Exhaustion, Diabetic Emergencies, CVAs, Heart Attacks, etc and what to

do while waiting for us to arrive. We attended funerals of those that we

have transported or who were DOS. We make ourselves visible. We had

contests for the schools to promote bicycle safety, did car seat checks, had

a haunted house at Halloween. As you can see, we were part of the community

- all of us lived there anyway. But it still didn't stop a few from calling

us ambulance drivers. Once we explained to them about our education they

would apologize and thank us.

Instead of getting upset about it, educate them.

Nurses do have to take some EMS courses to challenge the Paramedic or any

other level test depending on their work experience. Do you think an OB

nurse (nothing against OB nurses) is going to be able to pass the Paramedic

test without some of the other courses that a medic has to take? Nope.

They also have to do their clinicals - ride-outs and hospital - if they are

not ED nurses. At least thru our training program. So it's not as easy as

it sounds.

If you have been reading the messages here for very long, you will realize

that pay is an issue for all concerned. But instead of sitting and

complaining about it, you and all the others should get off their backsides

and do something to change it. I have a saying that applies to this, " Those

that can - do, those that can't, bitch about those that can. " So to repeat

what others have been saying for a long time on here, LET'S UNITE. Remember

the saying " United we stand, divided we fall " ? Don't you think it applies

here also? Why should a few work their rears off for so many when we could

get so much more accomplished by banning together. I've have heard for

years that EMS eats it's young. I now understand that. How can we be

recognized as professionals when we constantly degrade each other? Where is

the bond that we say we have? Do we only have a bond with those in our

individual services? Isn't everyone getting tired of the one upsmanship

going on? I'd be willing to bet that a large majority if not all medics are

having to work 2 or more jobs to survive. I do, and have for 17 years. I

knew going into this that I would never get rich. I tell my students during

the very first class that this is not a profession they can make a living

at. I give them the brutal truth about wages. But I also give them

information on how to change that, and that's by getting involved in their

future. It will only change when we all stand together to change it.

I commend you on wanting that for your fellow EMS brothers and sisters. But

the way to get it is to get involved. I know I keep repeating that, but it

is the answer.

I apologize if I offended you. But your emails have come across as it being

all about you and you wanting recognition. It wasn't until you started

getting responses that you started explaining yourself a little better.

With 52,000 medics banning together, we will be heard.

Debbie

----Original Message Follows----

Reply-To:

To: < >

Subject: Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 00:01:42 -0400

i referred paramedic because i understood him to be a paramedic and i am

myself, i did not mean any disrespect towards emt's or emt-i's for where

would i be w/out my emt partner to to remind me of my basics. and again....

I do not want praise, recognition, or to be a hero.

please understand that already. i just want people in the community to

realize we are knowledgeable and to want to call 911 for an ambulance

because they know we will help just like fire and police. i have stated

this once already. i admitted i am jealous that they have a more

professional reputation with the public. i wish we could be the same in the

communities eyes. that is all. i could not care less if my name was in the

paper, if i was ever recognized at an event... i just want us to be known as

ems personnel not " ambulance drivers. " with the community seeing us as

professionals maybe the pay will increase to where not everyone you know is

working 2 or 3 jobs to support their families. it has nothing to do with

me, i want it for my co-workers who are barely surviving and still going to

school. Aren't nurses viewed " less than " by some folks in the hospital

setting? they complain daily that they wish they could be seen in a more

professional manner too. looks like it is coming around for them. $45.00

an sounds good to me. i would settle for being able just to challenge their

test, i would gladly take some of their nursing courses if i could even be

considered to have some knowledge. they can challenge our test w/out ever

taking an emt class. why is this? and is it wrong that i would like to see

you have respect when you drop your patient in the er and have the doctors

and nurses listen to you because they are confident in you and your report

because they know you are not just a driver. i realize most have wonderful

relationships with their er. fortunately, i do, my medical director is

there and his staff treats us well and listens to our reports. it is a

wonderful relationship. now, i can go to a hospital that i am not familiar

with and be disregarded and by the staff easily. we all have this happen to

us. i just want people to realize we care about each and every pt and do

our best on every call. have i made myself understood? again i do not want

it for me, i want it for you and everyone else. if me wanting the best for

you is wrong then o.k. my mistake.

kelly bryan

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> >

> >

> > I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE

> > ALL TO

> > BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE

> > ARE

> > GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> > EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW

> > MORE

> > OF

> > US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO

AND

> > WHO

> > DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> > POLICEMAN?

> > NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> > IMPROVE

> > OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> > KNOW.

> > I

> > AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

> >

> > KELLY BRYAN

> > UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Debbie (good example of a WooWoo)

Chill out! Take a pain killer. The station in the sky! How old are

you. You really need to change jobs. Try the post office. They

could use someone such as yourself.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated Fri, 13 Sep 2002 11:01:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

baystarems@... writes:

> i just want people in the community to

> realize we are knowledgeable and to want to call 911 for an

> ambulance

> because they know we will help just like fire and police.

I think we are known by the community to be knowledgable more so than say 20

years ago. It comes by education of the public and by being professional,

knowledgable and possessing good skills.

e, LP

[Guest guest]

again i must explain myself specifically so i will not be misunderstood. we

are active in the community and do numerous things as well however, it would

be nice to be to the point where everyone knows that we have multiple tools

to help them. yes, education is the point and we do so daily, it would just

be nice to be to that place in our profession to where people know already.

that is it simply put. if i am upset it is because you accused me of

needing a " pat on the back " . when that is so not what i am trying to

express.

as far as nurses, i am referring to er nurses, and a little riding time is a

lot easier than what we have to do. you have to agree that it is easier for

them than it is for us to " cross-over " .

how do you see the pay getting any better? medicare cuts, and insurance co.

refuse to pay on the majority of the calls and it is only getting worse. i

know of licensed paramedics making less than me who is only certified. what

is the solution? how do we get off our back-sides and make the pay better?

i am open to your suggestion, don't tell me to get involved, educate me on

how and something other than telling me to join emsat. there has to be

more.

in most of my posts i have said from the beginning that i agree we must

unite to become one voice. and for the record i was not the original person

who asked 9/11... EMS workers heroes too. i simply made the mistake

of using capital letters (cause they are easier on my eyes and just

prettier) my mistake, i meant no harm by the caps. so go to the beginning

and see i am not the only one who would like to see us educated in the

publics eyes. he asked why we were not mentioned and so it began form there.

and what part of my e-mails said i want recognition? again i will say i

want the community aware for all of us, to make it better for us, you, what

ever you need to hear to make you understand it is not about me..... it is

about ems. have you not noticed en-rollment is down? only 4 people signed

up at our local college for emt-i class. something is wrong here. can you

not agree with me on this new problem we face? another example of the

community unaware of our profession.

kelly

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> > >

> > >

> > > I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE

ARE

> > > ALL TO

> > > BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC.

WE

> > > ARE

> > > GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS

IN

> > > EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A

FEW

> > > MORE

> > > OF

> > > US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO

> AND

> > > WHO

> > > DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> > > POLICEMAN?

> > > NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> > > IMPROVE

> > > OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME

> > > KNOW.

> > > I

> > > AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

> > >

> > > KELLY BRYAN

> > > UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I searched this entire thread. I could find no references, other than

yours, to the word " stupid. " Exactly where did I call you stupid?

The entire thread is intact below. Feel free to quote the part where you

get called " stupid. "

Mike

>

>Reply-To:

>To: < >

>Subject: Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 19:02:05 -0400

>

>I ALSO TAKE IT PERSONALLY THAT YOU CALLED ME STUPID, IS THAT THE

>PROFESSIONALISM YOU WERE SPEAKING OF? NAME CALLING, I HOPE I GROW UP TO

>BE JUST LIKE YOU. NOT.

>

>KELLY

>

> Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

I do apologize for your misinterpretation of my use of capital letters, which

you found offensive. I never meant to offend you, I do apologize for your

misunderstanding. However, I personally felt your comment " I just wish you had

the sense to keep it to yourself " was disrespectful. my interpretation of your

reply was that you called me stupid. the exact word " stupid " you did not use,

but when you refer to someone as to whether they have enough sense to do

something you refer to their intellect and I take that as an insult. how else do

you take a comment like that? I felt you called me stupid.

kelly

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

>

>

> I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE ARE ALL TO

> BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC. WE ARE

> GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS IN

> EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A FEW MORE

> OF

> US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE TOO AND WHO

> DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A POLICEMAN?

> NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE

> OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET ME KNOW.

> I

> AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

>

> KELLY BRYAN

> UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

>

>

[Guest guest]

Actually, our enrollment is up, we must be doing something right, or else

the need is greater down this way.

You didn't say " ER " nurses, yours was a blanket statement about all nurses.

I was just trying to correct a misconception. And there's more involved

than " a little ride out time " for all the nurses due to the difference in

our training. I can tell you that at SAC, they do more than " a little ride

out time " . And no it isn't fair that we have no cross-over program yet.

Not knowing much about your sevice or it's service area, I can't say why

those you come into contact with aren't knowledgeable about EMS and what we

do. Educating the public takes time. Instead of getting defensive about

it, calmly explain who and what you are and what you're capable of doing. I

don't see how that can be a problem. We all love talking about who and what

we are. I'm sure that the general public isn't trying to slam us in any

way, they are just misinformed or uneducated about it. And I'm sure that a

lot more people out there are aware of what we do than you might think. It

has been my experience that it is usually the elderly who are unaware of our

education and training because early on in EMS in a lot of places, there

wasn't a whole lot of treatment going on in the back of the

ambulance/hearse. (Just a little joke for those who started in rural EMS

where the funeral home was also the local EMS service).

How do I see pay getting better? The same way it has for any other

profession who united and made their voices heard. EVERYONE in the medical

field is effected by all the problems you listed. But in order for us to be

recognized as a profession we have to have representation, to have

representation you have to have a group, union, whatever you might want to

call it, who will fight for you. One person or a small group can't do it.

WE make the changes. Even though teachers don't make much more than we do,

they do have representation as do nurses and a lot of other professions.

How do you think those groups got what they asked for? Not by being the

sole voice. I'm sorry if I can't explain it any better. If you're really

interested in EMSAT, Ron Haussacker has posted the link here numerous times.

At any time you can go there and read about it. There are other

knowledgeable people on this list that you can ask about EMSAT. No sense in

turning your back on possibly the only group that could help at the moment.

You want to know that sad part? When EMSAT becomes what it wants to be, it

will be for the benefit of ALL medics, not just those that belong. EMSAT

will be fighting for your rights and your recognition whether you join or

not. You and all the others who sit and lament on our poor pay or lack or

recognition will benefit from the hard work of a few. But it would be

easier to become a voice if we all joined in to help. There have been plenty

of posts here detailing ways to help us get where we want to be, please go

back and read them. If you have ideas that haven't been mentioned, then

join, attend the meetings, voice your ideas. Maybe you have some ideas that

others haven't thought of yet. Enough said about EMSAT, if you aren't

interested now, then you never will be.

I'm not trying to start an argument with you, I'm trying to explain the

nature of the beast of EMS. I started out as a volunteer a long time ago.

It wasn't until recently that I started getting paid for what I love to do.

You commented on the pay for LPs vs. CPs. I can tell you that at the

service I worked at the the experienced medics were paid the same rate as

the fresh out of training medics. After 17 years with the service and 17

years of hard earned experience, I was making $7.50/hr. Do I think that's

fair? No. But it was all the service could afford if it wanted to keep

it's doors open. Does our area need EMS? Yes. Do I like working 2 jobs

and being away from my family on holidays and birthdays and such? No. But

I chose to do what I did because I saw the need. No pats on the back

needed. I knew that someday my family would need EMS and I wanted to make

sure there was one for them. I wholeheartedly agree that EMS as a profession

is not recognized, but I'm at least doing something about changing that.

Are you?

I'm offering an olive branch here. I just felt that you made some comments

that weren't true or fair. Again, if I offended you I apologize.

Debbie

----Original Message Follows----

Reply-To:

To: < >

Subject: Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 01:50:31 -0400

again i must explain myself specifically so i will not be misunderstood. we

are active in the community and do numerous things as well however, it would

be nice to be to the point where everyone knows that we have multiple tools

to help them. yes, education is the point and we do so daily, it would just

be nice to be to that place in our profession to where people know already.

that is it simply put. if i am upset it is because you accused me of

needing a " pat on the back " . when that is so not what i am trying to

express.

as far as nurses, i am referring to er nurses, and a little riding time is a

lot easier than what we have to do. you have to agree that it is easier for

them than it is for us to " cross-over " .

how do you see the pay getting any better? medicare cuts, and insurance co.

refuse to pay on the majority of the calls and it is only getting worse. i

know of licensed paramedics making less than me who is only certified. what

is the solution? how do we get off our back-sides and make the pay better?

i am open to your suggestion, don't tell me to get involved, educate me on

how and something other than telling me to join emsat. there has to be

more.

in most of my posts i have said from the beginning that i agree we must

unite to become one voice. and for the record i was not the original person

who asked 9/11... EMS workers heroes too. i simply made the mistake

of using capital letters (cause they are easier on my eyes and just

prettier) my mistake, i meant no harm by the caps. so go to the beginning

and see i am not the only one who would like to see us educated in the

publics eyes. he asked why we were not mentioned and so it began form there.

and what part of my e-mails said i want recognition? again i will say i

want the community aware for all of us, to make it better for us, you, what

ever you need to hear to make you understand it is not about me..... it is

about ems. have you not noticed en-rollment is down? only 4 people signed

up at our local college for emt-i class. something is wrong here. can you

not agree with me on this new problem we face? another example of the

community unaware of our profession.

kelly

Re: 9/11... EMS workers heroes too

> > >

> > >

> > > I AGREE WITH YOU, FIRE AND POLICE HAVE AMAZING PR REPS. WE

ARE

> > > ALL TO

> > > BUSY " BITCHING " ABOUT WHETHER PRIVATE IS BETTER THAN PUBLIC.

WE

> > > ARE

> > > GREATLY NEEDED AND YET NO ONE SEES HOW IMPORTANT OUR ROLE IS

IN

> > > EMERGENCY SERVICE. I VOICE MY OPINION DAILY AND MAYBE IF A

FEW

> > > MORE

> > > OF

> > > US REMINDED PEOPLE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT WE WERE THERE

TOO

> AND

> > > WHO

> > > DO THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE INJURED TO? A

> > > POLICEMAN?

> > > NO! I COULD GET ON A LONG SESSION ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO

> > > IMPROVE

> > > OURSELVES BUT, I WON'T. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO UNITE... LET

ME

> > > KNOW.

> > > I

> > > AM ALREADY A FIREMAN, I WATER MY YARD WITH A HOSE EVERY WEEK.

> > >

> > > KELLY BRYAN

> > > UNDER-RATED AMBULANCE DRIVER

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I agree. Although I support the acknowledgement of the EMS personnel who

also gave their lives as did fire and police personnel, a true hero is

someone else. It is someone who holds the hand of a grief stricken parent

sobbing over the injury or death of their child, all the time holding back

their own tears. It is the medic or EMT who responds to people living in

some of the worst living conditions putting their feelings and opinions aside

and gives the patient the respect they deserve as a human being. It's

someone staying in the ER a little longer to comfort a lonely, scared patient

who has no family to be with them. It's the person who does the little

things on scene, in the unit, and in the ER that ease the patient and family

fears, yet will probably go un-noticed. It's the medic who agrees to work an

additional shift so another crew member can enjoy a child's birthday.

An EMS hero is someone who puts others before themselves and looks at what

they can do to make their shift, company, community, and their profession

better than what it was the day before.

Before you start asking for all the recognition and PR, take a good look at

yourself and ask if you really deserve it. Are you a hero because you are in

EMS? Anyone can get a certification patch, but not everyone has earned the

respect that goes with it.

Just my meager thoughts

Joanna Burgan LP