WE ARE NOT AMBULANCE DRIVERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOgUdUU_jYc

"Late night, brakes lock, hear the tires squeal
Red light, can't stop so I spin the wheel
My world goes black before I feel an angel steal me from the
Greedy jaws of death and chance, and pull me in with steady hands
They've given me a second chance, the artist in the ambulance"
- The Artist In the Ambulance - By Thrice

"EMTs are trained in emergency medical procedures that need to be deployed within a rapid time frame from onset of a patient's condition (e.g. treatments for cardiac arrest). The EMT's immediate focus is rapid evaluation of a patient's condition and maintaining a patient's airway, breathing and circulation. Immediate EMT interventions include providing CPR and cardiac defibrillation when necessary, controlling severe external bleeding, preventing shock, immobilization of the neck to prevent further spinal damage, immediate treatment (such as splinting) of bone fractures (both open and closed). Interventions are designed to prevent further injury or disability and preserve life or conditions conducive to life while EMT's expedite transport of the patient to a hospital emergency department for definitive medical care."
-Wikipedia 2008

I was talking with my friend yesterday who's about to begin his studies in Prehospital care, when he told me a story that I found disturbing. He told me he ran into an old friend that he went to school with a few years ago. She asked what he was up to, and he told her that he was about to start school to become a Paramedic, and the same question I always get was asked to him, "Wow, cool, does that pay a lot" he answered with the usual, "it's not bad but, Paramedics don't get paid as much as they should." and she answered back with..." Well you guys don't really do that much anyways."
The thing that bothers me so much about that comment is that she didn't say it to be mean or condescending, it's just that she doesn't fully understand the job a Paramedic does. No one does. All throughout my studies I've been called an "Ambulance Guy," an "Ambulance Driver", "An Ambulance" etc.... I always answer back with, "No, I'm a Paramedic."
I've been asked many many times if I'm going to drive the Ambulance, or take care of the person in the back. People still think that there are Ambulance Drivers. While yes, driving an Ambulance is a part of our tasks, what we do is so much more important and complex.
It seems as though Police, Firefighters, Nurses, and Doctors are praised on a regular basis, by both Hollywood, and regular civilians, and deservedly so, however they often forget that Paramedics are an equal part of that team.
Police prevent you from getting shot, but if you do it's the Paramedics that take care of you.
Firefighters put out fires and pull you from burning buildings, but if you do get burnt or inhale smoke, it's the Paramedics that take care of you
Nurses and Doctors, look after you in the hospital and diagnose you and tell you how to treat it, but it's the Paramedics that get you there, and keep you alive.
If it wasn't for Paramedics doctors and Nurses would have nothing to do. We're on the front line of medicine, what we do in the first 10 minutes of our intervention determine your outcome. If we don't get you, or keep you alive on the way to the hospital, the Doctors and Nurses wont be able to help you.
In one day a Paramedic has to be a Pediatrician, a Cardiologist, a Respiratory Therapist, a Gynecologist, a Neurologist, a Psychiatrist, and a best friend. While doctors choose what type of medicine they want to dabble in and choose what kind of patients they get, Paramedics have to be good in all fields and deal with all different kinds of patients.
What I ask for is a little respect and recognition, we don't do it for the money, or the fame, or to get a pat on the back, we do it because we love the job and we love our patients. Next time you see an Ambulance drive by, give them a little wave, next time you see them in line at Tim Hortons buying a coffee give a wave, a smile, and say "Thank You". You don't know what that Paramedic has seen that day, or what he will see in the Future. Everyday we interact with people who are having the worst day of their life, and we have to continue on and treat the next patient the best we possibly can.
So while you might have had a bad day at work, because you're completely swamped and your boss doesn't understand how much you do, keep in mind that, that Paramedic you see in Tim Hortons might have had a bad day because a child died in their arms.

So please click the link I posted at the beginning and see what it is we do, and no longer call us "Ambulance Drivers", we're Paramedics and we wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

..." Our Patients did not choose us....We have chosen them"
-PHTLS