Job or career??

"What are your plans after EMS?". I had this question put to me this week while working overtime. Let me just say I'm not anywhere close to retirement so I was a little confused as this person is a fairly new employee and doesn't really know anything about me. I replied that I didn't really have any other plans at the moment. "Oh. I am hoping to medical school." he replied. I continued to read the paper that was lying on the fire house table not really thinking much about it. Later that day I began to think about his question. I thought of how many coworkers had came and left during my career. Had all of them came to EMS looking for a career and just got burned out or where they looking for a paycheck till they for their plans in order. There have always been the people who come for the patient contact hours for PA school or needing a place to work that fit with their schedule for nursing school. How many people come to the job looking for a "job". The question has puzzled me for a few days now. Also is this the new trend in EMS? "the economy is bad so I'll go be am emt till it gets better". The fire and police departments don't seem to have this issue. I have never talked to a firefighter who told me they were just doing this till I get into med school. These guys are lifers. Which brings up another set of questions. What is the difference between the two professions? Is it the benefits? The pay? The management? The brotherhood? (or the lack of but that's another rant). The burn out of getting excited enroute to a call that maybe something good only to find someone who knows how to work the system and answer the questions the way to get everyone there running traffic for a stiff neck? This isn't anything new I suppose. I look back at the people my dad worked with and the pattern was there as well. It just seems to be accelerated. The are new people coming into the profession everyday and they already have their plan on how to get out. Just some things to ponder.

"The Good Old Days"

I have always been a history buff. In high school I took every history class available. I also think that is why I have always been drawn to emergency services. Tonight I got to spend sometime listening to some "old heads" relive some of their glory days. They told of big fires and major car crashes. They spun yarns to made the rookie in me eyes light up with excitement. Even after 18 years of doing emergency work I still love to hear a good story. Even better were their stories of past coworkers. These guys were more than just worker on a job, they were friends. You could tell by their stories. Not the stories of the "big one", but the stories of cooking dinner. Helping them move. Stories of weddings and family trips to the beach. Later I reflected on my own time and my memories of my coworkers and how I hope that one day I would e remembered in such a manor as a witnessed tonight.

Did Johnny and Roy have to deal with this??

I have to say I came by EMS honestly.  My father was a paramedic for 25 years so I grew up around Criag 4 channel scanners and Ford E350 high top vans.  I also remember hanging out at the base when I was a kid and hearing the dispatch of calls, and for a young kid I remember everything seemed like life or death.  Maybe that was the case or maybe I was just a doe eyed kid who thought my dad was just awesome (a fact I still believe to this day!).  After several years in the business I wonder was that really the case or has society changed that much.  Today it seems that very few calls we are dispatched to are "life or death" emergencies.  Hell alot of them aren't even considered emergencies.  I really began thinking about this alot over the last few weeks and transporting a few "emergencies".  Case in point, a lady decides it will be a good idea to eat two frozen pizzas.  a couple hours later she calls 911 because "my stomach hurts and I vomited".  Really, you think you need an $800 ambulance ride and a $3000 ER bill because you were stupid and ate 2 pizzas??  Is this really worth tying up an ambulance and fire truck for??   So back to my orginal question,  has society changed that much or did Johnny and Roy have to deal with these issues?

"Here comes the ambulance drivers!"

Well I finally made the leap and started a blog.  For sometime I have been bouncing the idea around and finally decided to do it.  My main focus is to share some of my thought and expereinces of working urban EMS.  Also to share some thoughts on emergency services and our "customers" in general.  Hopefully I can pass along some helpful information and occasionally a rant about "the man".  Hope you enjoy.