Re: Interesting question for everyone

[Guest guest]

I would imagine we've all had both. Several times over.

>>> bombmedic1051@... 1/19/2005 12:16:51 AM >>>

I was talking to a medic friend of mine from high school here in

California, and he posed this question to me. Is there one event that

sticks out in your mind that almost made you question this career

choice? And, is there one that made you realize that it was all worth

it. Doesn't have to be a specific call, just an event.

I still dont have my own answers, but I've got a 1500 mile drive

back to Fort Worth tomorrow to contemplate it...

Take Care,

Jeff

[Guest guest]

I would imagine we've all had both. Several times over.

>>> bombmedic1051@... 1/19/2005 12:16:51 AM >>>

I was talking to a medic friend of mine from high school here in

California, and he posed this question to me. Is there one event that

sticks out in your mind that almost made you question this career

choice? And, is there one that made you realize that it was all worth

it. Doesn't have to be a specific call, just an event.

I still dont have my own answers, but I've got a 1500 mile drive

back to Fort Worth tomorrow to contemplate it...

Take Care,

Jeff

[Guest guest]

I would imagine we've all had both. Several times over.

>>> bombmedic1051@... 1/19/2005 12:16:51 AM >>>

I was talking to a medic friend of mine from high school here in

California, and he posed this question to me. Is there one event that

sticks out in your mind that almost made you question this career

choice? And, is there one that made you realize that it was all worth

it. Doesn't have to be a specific call, just an event.

I still dont have my own answers, but I've got a 1500 mile drive

back to Fort Worth tomorrow to contemplate it...

Take Care,

Jeff

[Guest guest]

The first run that made me question my career choice was one of my earliest

runs. When the flying bits of asphalt from the gunshots flew past me, I

quickly realized it wasn't going to be all fun and games after all.

The run that most profoundly made me question my career choice was the one

that ultimately ended my career when my neck was broken in the ambulance

wreck.

The run that I most remember making me feel that it was indeed all worth it

was one of the very last runs I ever made. Elderly female lying on the

floor of her living room in complete heart block with PROFOUND cardiogenic

shock. Despite our best efforts, she was still circling the drain when my

partner and I left the ER on another run. Hours later, when we returned to

the ER, I asked a nurse what happened to that lady, fully expecting that she

had expired shortly after we left. I was shocked to learn that she was

alive and in ICU. I went upstairs, expecting to see her unconscious and on

a ventilator. Instead I walked into her room to see her sitting upright,

smiling, and eating dinner. Her husband rushed across the room to embrace

me and tearfully thank me for saving his wife of fifty years' life. Waiting

behind him to do the same thing were their children and grandchildren. By

the time I got around to hug the lady herself, I was crying like a baby. It

was really the perfect way to end a twenty year career. I hope that each

and every one of you get to go out on the same note.

Rob

[Guest guest]

What a profound pair of questions....

The only time I really got to a what's the point stage was when I

had responded to the same house for like the 4th or 5th time because

this 30 something year old jerk couldn't stop beating on his 19 year old

wife and listening to her wailing how much she loved him as the deputies

were stuffing him into the back of a patrol car. I'm kind of ashamed to

admit it, but I did find myself asking her if she thought he would be

impressed with her love when he killed her. They ended up moving so I

don't know how they ended up. I had a long talk at the station that

night with another member of our VFD. He was a tough old bird who had

been involved in the fire service and such since the late 60's, and was

an Army MP before that. He told quite a few stories of what he had seen

over the years and figured that no bad call was worth not helping others

when they need it, but right after that call I was about ready to call

it quits as a volunteer.

The best stick it out memory comes from a call I made even before I

finished EMT classes. I was a first responder for my local VFD (who was

footing the bill for me to attend EMT-B training) and made a call for a

pregnant woman having seizures. I made the scene with another member of

my dept (who was a certified EMT at the time) and was lead inside by the

patients mother. We found a female in her early 20's in her bathtub

having seizures that were beginning to subside. My partner started his

assessment and was radioing info to the responding ambulance while I

held her hand and talked to her. You know, letting her know that an

ambulance was coming and such, just trying to keep her calm and holding

a folded towel on the side of the tub (her mom had pulled the plug and

put in the towel to keep her from hitting her head on the side of the

tub). She was crying and worrying that she was going loose her baby

(she was about 8 months along). A unit arrived about 15 minutes after

we did, and the Paramedics did their thing and got her to the hospital

post haste. I assured he she was in good hands gave her hand a final

squeeze as she was loaded up. That was in 97'. The thing that makes

this story fall into the " it's worth it " column actually took place

about 2 years later. I was at a convenience store in my neighborhood

when I was approached by the same woman holding a toddler while I was

paying for my gas. She said that she thought she recognized me and

asked if my name was , and was wondering if I remembered her (which

I did), and she introduced me to her daughter . It was kind of

humbling to me. I wasn't the one taking vitals or giving medications or

anything, but she remembered who I was and how I helped, even in a small

way, and I made enough of an impression for her to remember who I was

and say thanks being there. I know I'm not in the same caliber as

most of the folks on this list. I'm no Paramedic, and I don't work for

an EMS service, but I love the part I do play, both as a first

responder, and working in the clinic at the plant I work in.

Jeff Ellison wrote:

> I was talking to a medic friend of mine from high school here in

>California, and he posed this question to me. Is there one event that

>sticks out in your mind that almost made you question this career

>choice? And, is there one that made you realize that it was all worth

>it. Doesn't have to be a specific call, just an event.

>

> I still dont have my own answers, but I've got a 1500 mile drive

>back to Fort Worth tomorrow to contemplate it...

>

>Take Care,

>

>Jeff

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jeff Ellison wrote: " ... Is there one event that sticks out in your mind that

almost made you question this career choice? And, is there one that made you

realize that it was all worth it. ... "

I questioned this career choice years ago when I had a partner killed by a

nutcase that already killed his family and set up a random ambush.

My partner had been from a small town, and didn't have a strong sense of scene

safety. He was still in the idealistic 'save the world' mode, and walked right

into it, despite my efforts to have him change his ways.

The call that made me realize this was a worthy calling wasn't even a call. My

wife (at the time) and I were eating dinner and a woman went down.

It was a 'no air moving, turning blue' airway obstruction, that we were able to

correct and she started breathing on her own. The look on the family's

collective faces were well worth it.

Larry RN LP

[Guest guest]

Jeff Ellison wrote: " ... Is there one event that sticks out in your mind that

almost made you question this career choice? And, is there one that made you

realize that it was all worth it. ... "

I questioned this career choice years ago when I had a partner killed by a

nutcase that already killed his family and set up a random ambush.

My partner had been from a small town, and didn't have a strong sense of scene

safety. He was still in the idealistic 'save the world' mode, and walked right

into it, despite my efforts to have him change his ways.

The call that made me realize this was a worthy calling wasn't even a call. My

wife (at the time) and I were eating dinner and a woman went down.

It was a 'no air moving, turning blue' airway obstruction, that we were able to

correct and she started breathing on her own. The look on the family's

collective faces were well worth it.

Larry RN LP

[Guest guest]

Welcome back, Jeff. Glad you survived the trip in one piece! And I what

you mean about portable DVD players!

Barry

Re: Interesting question for everyone

Ahhh, back in Texas. That is a LONG drive from LA. Especially with 3 kids.

Whoever invented the portable DVD player should be awarded the Nobel Prize

for Peace.

[Guest guest]

Welcome back, Jeff. Glad you survived the trip in one piece! And I what

you mean about portable DVD players!

Barry

Re: Interesting question for everyone

Ahhh, back in Texas. That is a LONG drive from LA. Especially with 3 kids.

Whoever invented the portable DVD player should be awarded the Nobel Prize

for Peace.