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You're welcome.

by

 
Dear Carol,

I think that's terrific!

I think every one of us that watched Emergency!, thought it would be really cool to do the things that Roy and Johnny did.

What strikes me, looking now at the episodes, and back on my training, is how much EMS has changed since the LACoFD began the paramedic program.

The knowledge I was given, in the late 80's, is far superior, in many ways, to what Roy and Johnny were. At least on the basic level. Remember that they didn't even HAVE the Heimlich maneuver back when Emergency first aired.*s*

Now, here we are today... and what you are learning, is superior to the training that I underwent. (We never used anything for airways, but the old oral airways... anything else, was a Paramedic level skill... and the Automated Defibrillators, we just barely coming into existance, and EMTs were generally not permitted to use them in my state. Now... they're all over the place)

I think you're going to have a lot of fun. And yes, I think you're going to have days where you look up and say, "Damn... why in the heck did I get into this profession! It sucks!"

All that comes with the territory. There's some sad calls, calls that just don't go right at all, calls that your first instinct, is to run away from... all part of the game. (And yes, some of those calls, where that 'flight' instinct pops up, you're GOING to run, and probably be glad you did.)

I wish you a long and fulfilling career.

Enjoy your training, and be safe.*s*

Paul Schewene
Retired FF/EMT



Posted on Nov 7, 2000, 4:39 AM

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