Everyday Hero
Over the years that I've known my husband, he has spent a great deal of time getting to know my world. It's a world filled with horses, manure, vet visits, farriers, bruises, hay hauling, tack cleaning, and dirt. Not glamorous, but hey - I like it -- so that means Dana's in too.
That said, it was only fair that I spend an equal amount of time getting to know his world. And let me tell you -- it's a WAY (Seriously... waaaaay) more complicated world than my world is. He and the people he works with are heroes EVERY day. No pressure, right?
Now, if I asked you who the heroes in your town are, 99% of you would mention the wonderful Police officers and Firefighters that serve your communities -- and you would absolutely be right! But there is another group of heroes that rarely get the acknowledgement that they deserve. To date, I have a very hard time finding any cool t-shirts, bumper stickers, fabric, plaques, figurines, paintings, or even awards that represent these guys well.
The group I'm talking about are the wonderful people that serve our communities through Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
When I first met Dana -- If I had any thoughts about EMS, they were these, HIGHLY uneducated thoughts:
~Definition of EMS = An ambulance that shows up to take me to the hospital where they will 'actually' take care of me.
~Basic, Advanced, Intermediate, Paramedic, Critical Care Medic... didn't mean anything. An "EMT's" job is to pick me up and babysit me in the ambulance until we get to the hospital where the 'real' medical people are -- where I will finally 'be in good hands'.
To be honest, I didn't really think about EMS - and when I say "didn't really" I mean, like, at all. I had never had to call for them, and I didn't see commercials, or fliers for fundraisers, or newspaper articles about their heroics, so, in truth -- it never occurred to me that I might someday need them.
What I knew about the amazing people in the world of EMS was so wrong, it's almost emarassing. The EMT's and Paramedics that I've met have proved themselves to be some of the most dedicated, selfless, compassionate people that I know. Lest you think I make them sound like a bunch of sissies, please know -- they also tend to be type A, take charge, 'I'm here to fix it so get out of the way' type people. And they have to be. They are, on a daily basis, exposed to the worst humanity has to offer:
Car accidents
Murder
Stabbings
Drug Overdoses
Seizures
Alcoholism
Strokes
Heart Attacks
Child Death
Drowning
All of this and more, and if they're lucky they're doing it on 2 hours of sleep, that meal they had (was it 14 hours ago...ish?), and a cup of coffee.
A slogan I once saw on a training center wall stated it well: "Study for the day that you are all that stands between your patient and death."
Yikes -- Last time I checked, if I mess up while training a horse, I'm probably going to wind up on a sore butt in the dirt; but no one else's life is on the line.
Our EMT's and Paramedics run towards emergencies with our firefighters and police officers. They run to people that may be a victim of someone else's bad decisions, or even people that are deserving of the situation that they're in. And the people in EMS treat their patients all the same -- to them -- every life is worth saving.
They show up. Every time.
They show up for someone who is pinned in a car after an accident, for someone who has had a stomach ache for 27 hours and waited until 2 am to call 9-1-1, for someone who fell off a ladder, someone who is deathly allergic to bees, or someone who's child has stopped breathing.
And the thanks they get?
In many cases, grumbling and complaints from the public about the expense of ambulance services in their communities. (Look into it -- it's probably costing you more for garbage disposal every year than for the right to have EMS show up at your door when you need it the most.)
Pretty Average wages. (McDonald's employees? Ya'll might just want to sit down and be quiet now.)
Complicated Rules & Regulations at the National, State, and Local levels and poor reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid that all but cripple their ability to effectively do their jobs.
Newspaper articles that frequently seem to miss the fact that EMS was at a scene, right alongside their fire and police counterparts.
A public that is ignorant of the months and years of training for the various levels that they've been through, to keep you alive--and who more commonly refer to them as 'ambulance drivers'.
And yet -- They show up.
Do they have a rather morbid sense of humor? Probably. Are they unsympathetic when you complain about your paper cut? Definitely. Will they get distracted by flashing lights regardless of what city, state, or country they're in? Um, yes. (Ahem... I'm not naming names... *cough* Dana.)
All that said... and in honor of National EMS week:
If you don't know anything about your local EMS agency, I encourage you... take an interest! Give them your support, your thanks, and your voice at public meetings. Learn the difference between Basic, Advanced, EMT, Paramedic, and Critical Care. You would be hard pressed to find a group of people that are more willing to roll up their sleeves, get up in the middle of the night, or put themselves in harms way for your sake.
If you're an EMT or Medic of any level -- I want to say thank you. Thank you for your service, your dedication, your willingness to put our emergencies before your own needs. Thank you for being willing to go out and help in a blizzard, thunder storm, flood, or tornado. Thank you for the sleepless nights, missed meals, and aching feet. Thank you for risking your own safety for the sake of us and our loved ones. Thank you for the hours of training and refreshers you work through to stay on top of life saving techniques. Thanks for knowing the difference between Ketamine, Compazine, and Amiodarone. Most of all, Thank you for showing up.
You are our heroes.
