To my Brothers and Sisters, EMS Week

To my Brothers and Sisters.

If you know what a KED is (and which strap gets tightened first),
If you know the awesome relief of seeing flash in the cath for the kid with a glucose level of 750 who NEEDS that line,
If you have sat in the seat of your rig from midnight to 5 in the morning posting for the crews half a county away from your bed,
If you have slept on a crew bench,
If you know the feel of ribs letting go on the first 3 CPR thrusts,
If you know how and when to insert an NPA and when to go for the ET instead,
If you know the heartbreak of pulling the limp form of a baby out of the upside down car,
or the ecstacy of getting a rhythm back that generates a pulse,
If you have picked up the same little old lady a dozen times but KNOW that THIS time you won't be bringing her home,
If you have crawled inside the car and held C-Spine traction while they rolled it back over or while they cut the roof off,
If you have caught the squirmy, squealing, slippery, messy 6 pound baby and set her on her mother's belly and rejoiced with her as the child cries,
If you have zipped a body bag around a team mate,
If you have spent "white nights" asking "Why?"
If you have sat and cried with your whole crew over a child,
If you have flown your bird when half the advisories said not to, because there was a stroke patient that HAD to get to the right hospital, or a neonate that needed the BEST hospital,
Then this is your week.

If you have had perfect strangers come up to you becasue you wear a Rescue Squad jacket and thank you,
If you have gotten up from a meal in a restaurant to go to an MVA and come back to pay and had the restaurant hold one last meal of what you ordered for you and had the boss refuse your money,
If you have walked into a room and seen someone you took care of 3 weeks ago and had them thank you like you had saved their life and all you did was take them in with a fracture,
If you have "resupplied" your ambulance from the ER,
(if a hospital has assigned an orderly for each of your crew members at one of the biggest hospitals in NYS when your squad came in)
If you have had family members walk up to you and thank you for the dignity you showed their mom last week,
If you have done any of this at 40 below or 110 in the shade, with rain running down your neck or snow lashing your eyes,
If you have had the discussion with the orthopedist as to how to put on a splint and have asked him to step outside into the snowstorm to continue the discussion and have him refuse, but get the point,

This is Your Week.


In case no one has thanked you yet for the things that you do,


THANK YOU.

You've certainly got my thanks and more. I don't have the guts to do your job.

Maureen

Heres to us, and them like us, and them who wish they could be like us! This year I celebrate 20 years in EMS, and still love to get up and go to work. This really is one of those jobs that you actually do get to make a difference in!

While we approach the subject from a slightly different angle, I too want to add my thanks and deepest respect.
Good post ND, and thanks for the reminder.
I'd like to add just one more to the list...
Thank you to the thousands of US&R handlers and their dogs who go in to harm's way.
wardogs

Here's my thanks to everyone in this field! Thank you!! Keep your head up, and your eyes open.

First round is on me, even if it means coffee. We're a fine bunch overall and proud to be a part of it.

I can't imagine doing anything else. Yeah, it has it's ups and downs, but at the end of the day/night or anywhere in between, it feels good. Despite my screaming back and knees and acid reflux from too much coffee and not enough sleep. I'll take that personal suffering to make a difference to someone who needs help more then I do.

Stay safe out there, and do good work my brothers and sisters.

I want to add my thanks to the growing list here. I haven't had the opportunity to make use of your servies...yet. Hopefully I never will. But it is a comfort knowing that you are there.

Recently an ambulance driver was shot returning from a run in E. St. Louis. http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=146593
My 21 yo son responded, "Hey now, that's just not right." I gotta agree but sometimes, it danger comes with the job.

And here's to those who tried, who REALLY tried, but burned out from seeing mankind's inhumanity.

(My wife's cousin is one who was an EMT in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, NY, and totally burned out mentally and emotionally.)

--Rich

And the Classic: You know you have been a Paramedic or an Emergency Medical Technition too long when someone calls you an "Ambulance Driver" and it does not make you mad.

or a Knuckle-dragger

If this isn't my 1000th post, it's darn close - and I can't think of a better one.

THANK YOU!!!!

squeeks

WHEW!!!!

At first I thought you were warning about PMS week.

We should also take a moment and honor those who fell in the line of duty. The National EMS Memorial Service will take place on May 24th at 6:00 p.m., Roanoke VA. Here's the website: http://www.nemsms.org/. And a list of the 2008 Honorees. May that list be smaller in future years.

Joe Alvarez, Jr of East Texas Medical Center EMS, Waco, TX, who died in the line of duty in an on duty motor vehicle collision on September 13, 2006.

James C Archer of North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, MS, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 5, 2005.

Michael Baker of Air Evac Lifeteam, West Plains, MO, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 30, 2007.

George Beeler of Slater Ambulance District, Slater, MO, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on August 17, 2007.

Louis Berra of West County EMS & Fire Protection District, Ballwin, MO, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on January 18, 2008.

Lee W Bothwell of Airlift Northwest, Seattle, WA, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on September 11, 1995.

Lance Brabham of Lifeguard Alaska, Anchorage, AK, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 3, 2007.

Allan W Bragwell of Air Evac Lifeteam, West Plains, MO, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 30, 2007.

David Eric Spencer Brooks of Aeromed, Kennewick, WA, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 8, 1996.

Michael Timothy Browne of Acme Delco Riegelwood Fire-Rescue, Riegelwood, NC, who died in the line of duty of injuries received in a tornado while responding to a call on November 16, 2006.

Christa Dawn Burchett of City of Paintsville Fire-Rescue-EMS, Paintsville, KY, who died in the line of duty when struck while operating on scene of a call on January 22, 2008.

Ricky Byers of Southwest Med Evac, Las Cruces, NM, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on August 5, 2007.

Cameron Casey Carter of Lifeguard Alaska, Anchorage, AK, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 3, 2007.

Janez Case of Clayton OK EMS, Oklahoma City, OK, who died in the line of duty of injuries sustained in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on January 22, 2007.

Jack Chase of AIRHeart - Sacred Heart Health System, Pensacola, FL, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on October 20, 2004.

Timothy H Clowers of Emergency Ambulance Service, White Hall, AR, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on February 15, 2006.

Vicki Collman of Aeromed, Kennewick, WA, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 8, 1996.

Tennille Annette Davis of Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority, Charleston, WV, who died in the line of duty in an on duty motor vehicle collision on January 14, 2007.

Dana Dedman of Eagle Air Med, Blanding, UT, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on October 4, 2007.
Darcy Lynn Dengel of Benefis Healthcare Mercy Flight, Great Falls, MT, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on February 6, 2007.

Craig Dorsey, II of Ghent Fire Department, Ghent, WV, who died in the line of duty when caught in a propane explosion while operating at the scene of a call on January 30, 2007.

Diane Elaine Efaw of FlightSource, Morgantown, WV, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 26, 2006.

Brien Patrick Eisaman of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Honolulu, HI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on March 8, 2006.

Brian Ellicott of New York City Fire Department EMS, New York, NY, who died in the line of duty of complications of toxic exposure while operating at the WTC site on November 26, 2007.

Paul J Erickson of Benefis Healthcare Mercy Flight, Great Falls, MT, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on February 6, 2007.

Marna Bloom Fleetwood of Airlift Northwest, Seattle, WA, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on September 11, 1995.

James Earl Travis Fryman of Nicholas Co. EMS, Carlisle, KY, who died in the line of duty in an on duty motor vehicle collision on January 26, 2008.

Billy A Gafford, Jr of Birmingham Fire-Rescue, Birmingham, AL, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on April 25, 2007.

James Kent Goodman of Emergency Ambulance Service, White Hall, AR, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on February 15, 2006.

Albert Tracy Gunter, Sr of Williston Rescue Squad, Williston, SC, who died in the line of duty in an on duty motor vehicle collision on February 7, 2007.

Lisa Hansen of OSF St Francis Hospital, Escanaba, MI, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on March 6, 2007.

Robert D Heighton of South Walton Fire Department, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on October 20, 2004.

Ronnie Helton, Jr of Eagle Air Med, Blanding, UT, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on October 4, 2007.

Michael Hendricks of Southwest Ambulance, Mesa, AZ, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on June 24, 1992.

Joe A Jones of Pilot Mountain Rescue, Pilot Mountain, NC, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on February 12, 2007.

Cheryl Lynn Kiefer of Jackson Community Ambulance, Ann Arbor, MI, who died in the line of duty after being struck and pinned while operating at the scene of an MVC on January 26, 2008.

Woodford Woody King of Richland County EMS, Lexington, SC, who died in the line of duty of a cardiac arrest while responding to a call on August 5, 2006.

Vince Leo Kirol of Benefis Healthcare Mercy Flight, Great Falls, MT, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on February 6, 2007.

Katrina J Kish of Mercy Air Ambulance, Englewood, CO, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 10, 2006.

Matthew Lamb of Empire State Ambulance, Fishkill, NY, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on November 8, 2007.

Paul G Latour of Mercy Air Ambulance, Englewood, CO, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 10, 2006.

Michael James Latta of Patriot Ambulance, Chelmsford, MA, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on April 26, 2007.

Ron Laubacher of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Honolulu, HI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 31, 2004.

Wilford Livingston of Cole County Sheriff First Responders, Jefferson City, MO, who died in the line of duty of a cardiac arrest while treating a patient on November 28, 2007.

Scott Lofgren of Mutual Aid Response Service, San Francisco, CA, who died in the line of duty when stuck while laying flares on the scene of a call on December 18, 2005.

Natala Rose Lowery of AAA Medical Transport, Crofton, MD, who died in the line of duty at the scene of an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on April 17, 2006.

Heidi L McDougall of Antwerp EMS, Antwerp, OH, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on July 20, 2007.

Maureen Mary McGee of FlightSource, Morgantown, WV, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 26, 2006.

Tim McKeown of Mat Su Medical Transport, Wasilla, AK, who died in the line of duty of a cardiac arrest while responding to a call on September 1, 2006.

Tiffany Crowson Miles of Air Evac Lifeteam, West Plains, MO, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 30, 2007.

Brian Miller of Southwest Med Evac, Las Cruces, NM, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on August 5, 2007.

Jerald W Miller of Mercy Air Ambulance, Englewood, CO, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 10, 2006.

Peter A Miller of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Honolulu, HI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on March 8, 2006.

Richard Albert Miller of Eagle Air Med, Blanding, UT, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on October 4, 2007.

Tammy Renae Mundell of Southwest Ambulance, Chandler, AZ, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on April 28, 2004.

Joseph E Murawski of Raritan Bay Medical Center MICU, Perth Amboy, NJ, who died in the line of duty of a cardiac arrest while treating a patient on June 17, 2007.

Joseph Newsome of Chesterfield Fire-EMS, Chesterfield, VA, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on April 23, 2007.

Tom Palcic of AIRHeart - Sacred Heart Health System, Pensacola, FL, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on October 20, 2004.

Deanna Palmer of Southwest Med Evac, Las Cruces, NM, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on August 5, 2007.

Robert Antonio Paoli of American Medical Response, Santa Rosa, CA, who died in the line of duty of a cardiac arrest while treating a patient on November 7, 2006.

Allan D Parsons of Northern Oxford Regional Ambulance Service (Med-Care), Mexico, ME, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on July 5, 2007.

Richard H Powers of Beauport Ambulance Service, Gloucester, MA, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on July 30, 2007.

Kelly J Rager of Antwerp EMS, Antwerp, OH, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on July 20, 2007.

Amelia Daws Tomecko Riebe of Airlift Northwest, Seattle, WA, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on September 11, 1995.

David Aaron Sauder of Leola Ambulance Association, Leola, PA, who died in the line of duty in an motor vehicle collision while responding to a call on February 16, 2007.

Mandy Takeshi Shiraki of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Honolulu, HI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 31, 2004.

Sammy Ray Smith of Antwerp EMS, Antwerp, OH, who died in the line of duty in an ambulance involved motor vehicle collision on July 20, 2007.

John Edward Stumpff of Lifeguard Alaska, Anchorage, AK, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 3, 2007.

James W Sutherland of Highlands Ambulance Service, Lebanon, VA, who died in the line of duty of a cardiac arrest while on duty on October 14, 2006.

Joseph Daniel Villiaros of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Honolulu, HI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 31, 2004.

James J Vincent, Jr of County Rescue EAGLE III, Green Bay, WI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on April 13, 2006.

Rose Ann Woodbridge of Hanover Fire Department, Hamilton, OH, who died in the line of duty in a motor vehicle collision while responding to a call on July 28, 2006.

Marlena Lee Yomes of Hawaii Air Ambulance, Honolulu, HI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on March 8, 2006.

I am in awe of the EMS.

I have seen them in action many times over my lifetime and the professionalism and care they exhibit is incredible.

It doesn't matter the condition of the patient, the condition of the surroundings, the atmosphere they walk into - hostile or panicked - they just do their thing and do it well.
As well as working methodically to save lives - they also have an instinctive caring side that puts their patients and loved ones at ease..

I salute you EMT, EMS!

A great big THANK YOU from me for those who do this work. You are a special breed. And a big Thank you to those who serve their communities as volunteer EMS.

6 times in the last 3 years, my DW's life has been saved by EMT's. To say they are extraordinary people is like saying Motzart wrote some nice music.

The work these people do is incredible. The conditions they do it under are usually stressful and sometimes dangerous. The heartbreak they have to endure because of the condition of some of their patients is stuff most people could never imagine.

It takes all my courage and strength to take care of one person, my DW. I know her condition, I know she trusts me, I have the experience with her that makes it a little easier. EMT's take care of all kinds of different people in all kinds of different situations. Some are calm, some are not. Some are willing to be treated, some will fight to the death to die.

That type of courage and commitment is never fully recogonized or rewarded. My hats off to all of you.

Back to the top with a heart felt thanks for all you do. Kinda like our guys and gals in blue, a thankless job that is critical and highly underpaid and undervalued. You guys are a special breed. Thanks.


Sage

I wrote a long thank you letter 8 years ago to our local EMS when my infant son had a non life threatening (though I did not know it at the time) prolonged febrile seizure. They were great and calm with this hysterical mother.

My daughter is an extraordinary EMT.......

and I don't know how she does it......her poor mother (me) spends so much time praying that she drives safely when it is her turn to do so when the roads are icy and it takes 3 hours to do a one hour trip. And that she won't have to find a deceased person in the next accident, and that her back will hold up when she has to pick up the gurney with a 400 lb man on it.

But we are so proud of her and what she is able to do to help others......and best of all she loves it.

Many years ago I took an EMT course, worked at it for almost a year and just couldn't deal with it. My admiration for those that can do it is unbounded. I still have many good friends "in the business" and I admire them immensely. Thank you to all who are able to do what I just couldn't deal with. Thank you for being there for the rest of us.

Many thanks to all those who serve in this way. It is very difficult and yet rewarding.

"Ricky Byers of Southwest Med Evac, Las Cruces, NM, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on August 5, 2007."



"Deanna Palmer of Southwest Med Evac, Las Cruces, NM, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on August 5, 2007."



"Brian Miller of Southwest Med Evac, Las Cruces, NM, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on August 5, 2007."

I knew Mr. Byers & Mr. Miller here in ABQ... transported them many times with patients in my rig.

May God rest their souls...

My son is assistant fire chief and EMR for our community volunteer fire dept. He has my utmost respect for the service he provides. He has many times, over the years, gone home after a call and only had time to take a shower before going to his regular job, with no sleep at all.

Thank you to all Emergencie Medical people and Firefighters! You're very special people.

Sully

Kelly Conti, RN and Capt Bill Spence....6 years ago this past January....I new and worked with both of them....and worked the next shift that day.


http://www.chardonfire.com/newsline32.htm

Thank you to all the EMS, firemen (and firewomen) , and other first responders on this board.

Dad was a FD Capt for the State, Mom was a RN/Paramedic, I was a EMT-B and sis is a Bat. Chief with a Central Valley FD, so she's a EMT-B also.

Too many friends are in this line of work.

Too many have gone 10-7 in heaven.

To Absent Companions.

Good thread ND.

Jumpy Frog said:

Dad was a FD Capt for the State, Mom was a RN/Paramedic, I was a EMT-B and sis is a Bat. Chief with a Central Valley FD, so she's a EMT-B also.

Too many friends are in this line of work.

Too many have gone 10-7 in heaven.

To Absent Companions.

Good thread ND.

Click to expand...

To absent companions.

Mo

We celebrated EMS week last week here at my hospital. Had a wonderful banquet for them and gave out awards.

Thankyou to all those that serve in this field. I am so proud of my son who is a firefighter and emt.

May God bless them all and keep them safe.