SamIAm

let's see, I was interduced to EMS when I took my 2 year old to the local fire station to see the trucks, somehow they roped me into being a volunteer dispatcher, this only lasted a short time since I quickly realized I was missing all the good stuff sitting on my butt at the station! I took the fast track 1st Responder and passed my registery, since I lived in a rural area, the 1st Responders are the drivers for the ambulance, this of course was amazing and I loved it, but yet again came to the realization after a few months that I was still missing all the stuff going on while I was sitting on my butt!

The service I volunteered for decided they should send me on for my basic, I LOVED it! That was back in 2005 and I worked as a volunteer for the basic service for a while, until my son had reached the age when he needed me at home more and would panic when my pager went off, so I stepped back and put the family first.

I let my license lapse, I got a divorce and moved into town. I missed EMS horribly, always knew I would go back, but just had to wait until my ducks fell back into line. My son, now 8, says mom, you should go back to working the truck, you loved it! I then met my now husband, who is a Paramedic and he kicked that last little duck back in line, so I headed back to school and again took the Basic program, took my registry and am now working PRN for a couple of different ambulance companies.

The unfortunate part is it's so hard to make a living in just EMS, so I do the over-paid desk jocky job to pay the bills, and the EMS for the love of it. I strive to balance home life and shifts, making sure not to miss my weekends with my son and 3 step kids and then work all the shifts I can get in between "the other parent" visits.

And I have just reached that point yet again, since now I work for Paramedic level companies, that I am missing it all sitting on my butt! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a Basic, I truly love every second of the patient interaction, the moments you get to share with these people in the worst moments makes a lasting memory for me. But I see many a medic that doesn't talk with their patients, doesn't interact, converse, show compassion or even comfort. They act put out, because it wasn't a MVC or an exciting call, this breaks my heart, because to the patient, they are having the worst day of their lives, be it mental, medical or trauma or they just need something from us that they can't get anywhere else. So now, I am chomping at the bit to get back to school and be the best Paramedic I can be.

Any way, there's a glimpse at me, now I'm off to get the kidlets for a little much needed family time!

Be Safe, Don't forget to smile, and always offer a hand of comfort!