Anyone know of an amputee paramedic?

[Jeep_911]

Full respects for those individuals working in the field with such great challenges of those challenges that deal with on top of being medics.Another example of making life what you want it to be. I applaud them.

[OldSCPmedic]

It comes from inside a person. If you really stop and think about it, it is no different than the drive shown by EMS folks everywhere for sticking to it even when their better judgement says run like hell. I stayed (20years or so) in for the same reasons that other old medics here stuck around....to make it better for the next generation and first and foremost do the job right. We all have alot in common.....I just hope the new generation does the same.

OldSCPmedic

[PRPGfirerescuetech]

I work with one now, great guy, didnt know he was an amputee until he climbed onto the couch for our first night tour, he was getting ready, pulled off his pants and removed his leg.

Needless to say...I was....suprised.... :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[MGB]

That's me he's talking about.

I lost my right leg below my knee when I was six years old. I'm 34 years old and have been a paramedic for 12 years. I love the job and rarely have any difficulty because of my prosthesis. I have lived through the progression from simple "sach foot" type legs that were basically made of wood to today's prosthetics that are made of carbon and titanium. The amputees of today are as able and sometimes more able to perform their duty as anyone else. I never hid the fact that I was an amputee but I never proclaimed it either. I used to like to see the expression on someone’s face when I would take my leg off.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have. I am not aware of any above the knee amputee that are on the job. I will say that I would find it much more difficult if I was an above the knee amputee than below the knee. The work we do requires articulation and control of the knee.

Good luck and stay safe.

[PRPGfirerescuetech]

That's me he's talking about.

I lost my right leg below my knee when I was six years old. I'm 34 years old and have been a paramedic for 12 years. I love the job and rarely have any difficulty because of my prosthesis. I have lived through the progression from simple "sach foot" type legs that were basically made of wood to today's prosthetics that are made of carbon and titanium. The amputees of today are as able and sometimes more able to perform their duty as anyone else. I never hid the fact that I was an amputee but I never proclaimed it either. I used to like to see the expression on someone’s face when I would take my leg off.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have. I am not aware of any above the knee amputee that are on the job. I will say that I would find it much more difficult if I was an above the knee amputee than below the knee. The work we do requires articulation and control of the knee.

Good luck and stay safe.

Welcome to EMTcity sir, good to see a friendly face.

To all, MGB is one of the finest and most knowledgeable medics i've worked with in a long time...a good addition here.

[OldSCPmedic]

Kudos to ya MGB! Are you the fellow from Texas?

Mine is an above the knee, a full length prosthesis that attaches at the hip. A pneumatic knee (MOUCK) lets me control my gait and speed with the motion of my hip. I lifted basically with one leg and used my prosthesis to balance myself. There is a fellow in florida somewhere near clearwater last I heard (1990), that has a BK like yours. It amazed me.....and I still enjoy hearing about others too. Are you near or from the Houston area? I know that when I first began EMS, I got a lot of raised eyebrows at first as in those days not even women worked in the business.

OldSCPmedic