Having worked in EMS since 1976 in major metropolitan, urban and rural systems, I am eternally grateful for the thousands of patients and families that have called me to help them with some of the worst moments of their lives. I’ve also been amazed and humbled by the hundreds of partners I’ve had the privilege of working with.
EMS providers are incredible people. We share a common and very different culture. Although, at times I’ve seen some not so wonderful habits arise in the world of EMS. These are the top three habits we need to kick.
1. Believing we are invincible
Nearly every call we run is for a stranger, which creates a false sense of security and an indelible impression in our minds that trauma always happens to someone else. Those rare times when a friend or family member is injured, has an MI or a stroke, we chalk it up to chance. Rarely do we consider the risk factors that might be leading ourselves or our partners into the back of an ambulance.
Trauma is no accident, according to the American Trauma Society; the American Heart Association never ceases to try to impress on the public the contributions of risk factors such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity toward MIs and strokes. Yet, we continue to believe that we are invincible.
2. Forgetting where we are
EMS chit chat is often pretty grotesque. We share our experiences in blunt language that only other medical professionals would not find offensive. Yet, our workplace is not within the walls of a hospital, clinic or operating room. We’re out in public. In restaurants, libraries, gas stations and coffee shops. Sometimes - no actually, oftentimes, we forget that the people within earshot might not have the stomach for the conversations we consider routine.
3. We are impolite
We work in a very personal environment. Nothing is sacred, not even clothing. Somehow, this leads us to forget the manners we learned as children: ask permission before you do something, address people older than you by Mr. or Mrs., say thank you, I’m sorry and excuse me. Not sure why we forget our manners, but we do.
None of us is perfect and none of us will live forever. Recognizing our differences and maybe giving ourselves a little of the same advice we freely offer our patients would go a long way towards improving our wellness and longevity. We have the greatest job in the world. The closed culture we live and work in can lead us to develop some not so wonderful habits. An occasional reality check might help all of us to be happier and healthier.
