Quote:
Originally Posted by Betonov
when there's a doctor at the scene before the paramedics it's a coincidence, but anyone can be a medic, you don't have to be certified to save a life,
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In the US, a medic is almost a 2 year program. You need 6 months or so to get your EMTB (basic), and then another year or so to get your EMTP (Paramedic). I personally went on and did another year to get my Critical Care Paramedic cert.
I have the ability to do anything, except surgery and some drugs (insulin for one), that an ER can do within the first 45 minutes. So most of the time, we are staying on scene and actually saving the patients life. Quite often I'd roll into the ER, say "Here ya go! I fixed him!", and then they would have nothing left to do.
Doctors don't go on the squads in the US, unless they are dumbass students who just get in our way, or the Head of the emergency department (basically our boss (medical control)) who just sit back and observe.
Yes, I have been hit with a spleen. I have flicked oil soaked body parts into the bushes because they were too small and ruined to collect. I have walked into an ER holding a spurting artery clamped shut between my fingers. While working in an ER, I have done more thoracotomies than I should have. I have held a blue apneic 3 year old in one arm, while dragging a 250 pound gun shot victim with the other (that day had a lot of beer at the end of it). I have carried a 1200 pound man down a flight of stairs (not alone of course).
But that's the point of my post. Doctors get all the credit for saving the lives, because it takes time for the family to get to the ED, and that's what they see.
"Oh thank you doctor for saving mom's life!"
"No, maam, thank the medics over there!"
"Oh them, that's just the ambulance drivers"
I lost a lot of colleagues on 9/11. Everyone knows the 343 firefighters died, but name me one person who knows how many EMS workers died? Anybody?
Anybody?
Hell, I don't even know the number, but there's more than enough to be remembered.
Try this.
It's a thankless, underpaid job. Maybe twice a year somebody would actually come up to me an give a heartfelt 'Thank you' to me. And I don't mean the "hey thanks for the same ride the taxi I should have called would have given me" thanks, but a Thank you from the heart because I was able to help them in a time of crisis.
To put it in perspective, My last partner was getting paid $8.00 / hour to do this job. I got quite a bit less than twice that (experience and certifications). There was that kid not to long ago complaining about pushing a broom for $9/hr. Betcha you get shot at a lot less in that job. Course, whenever I get shot at or a gun pointed at me, I get mad and start screaming at them. Usually works somehow
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But I didn't do it for the money. I did it to help people. And that's why Betonov has done it too, I hope. One day there may come a time where he can use his skills to affect the outcome of somebodies life, and it will be a point in your life that you can look back on and be
genuinely and
thoroughly proud of.
Betonov, I hope you do well with it, and congratulations again on your cert. Welcome to the fraternity.
Sorry for hijacking your thread.