EMS is very difficult. This career is far different than most. No one asks if you’re ready before they send you on the next call. No one briefs you on the details of what you’re going to encounter. Even the call information you are given can be riddled with inaccuracies. Once on scene you have a lot to take in and decisions to make. You may have difficult skills to perform under extreme stress, limited time and in less-than-ideal environments. Even after you hand off care to the hospital, you must ready the rig for another call as you try and recover mentally from what just happened.
These stressful calls range in frequency and difficulty. Sometimes it may be a difficult situation you have to witness like the death of a child or a tough skill you have to perform like a difficult intubation. Either way, the mental strain can be hard to recover from.
Something that has been on my mind since I started this platform has been to recognize those providers that have dealt with these difficult calls and continue to perform excellent medicine every single day.
Kelly (paramedic) and Sadie (EMT) are two such providers that deserve some excellent recognition for their care. I want to avoid violating HIPPA, and the details of the call aren’t really that important. What’s important is that these two faced a difficult situation and came out on the other side still willing to do this job day in and day out with a resilient mindset.
If you’ve been in emergency medicine for any length of time, you have likely faced similarly difficult calls. This is unlikely to be the only difficult call these two will face even this month.
What I want everyone to know is that I see you and I understand the challenges that you face daily.
If you ever need someone to talk to or vent to, please reach out. Aaron@practicalEMS.com
