Happy EMS Week

Whether you realize it or not, you are likely protected by that other "safety net" known as EMS.  You know, the ambulance drivers?  The people who skip meals so they can take you to the ER because you are experiencing pain in your chest, or your child was injured at their baseball game yesterday, or you had a motor vehicle accident that you didnt think any of, but that caused you to have a cervical fracture you cant feel (yet), but that is going to be a problem sooner rather than later.

These are the same people who also skip sleep during a 24 hour period so they can take your neighbors to the hospital, miss the same baseball games that you attend with ease, and enjoy the experience of being vomited on, assaulted in regular numbers, and make on average less than your local Home Depot cashier.

Yes, I will show up to work when I have a 101F fever on Christmas Day.  (Let's face it, Santa wasn't coming to see me anyway.)  I really don't mind doing this.  Sick is okay.

But, all of this is to say, a thank you might be in order.  No, I don't want cookies or cakes brought to the station, but I would appreciate a gesture of respect.  Those gestures can be best defined as awareness that we have a job to do and you can make it easier on yourself and us.

Part one, on a consistent basis drivers will not even yield to the ambulance as we race to go perform CPR on a two year old.  Please realize we are not using lights and sirens just for fun as they lost their excitement for me about nineteen years ago in what is now a twenty year career.  I actually enjoy fixing that puzzle that is broken for you.

Part two.  Help yourself or at least help us help you.  Two things that the American College of Emergency Physicians are pushing are for citizens to learn CPR and to have a disaster preparedness kit.  These are two easy steps every citizen should take on for themselves.

While for years people have pushed automated defibrillators in the public square and they have worked, we still experience more than eighty percent of sudden cardiac arrest events in private!  This means that if you, the layperson, need to perform CPR, it is likely to be on someone you know and love.  What better reason is there for learning how to push hard and push fast?

The other part of that is the mentality that someone is coming to get you.  Whether it be Katrina, Ike, Rita or hurricanes for many years past there has been an idea that I will just ride it out.  After September 11th, this mentality has to go and it is a moral imperative to be prepared to take care of yourself as disaster approaches.  This may mean to indeed "ride it out," but it may mean to be relocate until the event has past you.  Putting together a kit is not as hard as it seems and with a little regular practice you and your family can be ready to help yourself when the time comes.

Yes, I will come rescue you.  I will sacrifice time with my family so that I can put your puzzle back together, but help me help you.  Now go find a responder and say thanks and stay safe out there.