As paramedics, myself and my colleagues in recruit school have been hearing the same story since Day 1: "Well, just because you're a paramedic, you're going to catch flak from people in the department because they don't like EMS in general." And it's true—not everyone on the job (particularly the older crowd) is keen on the idea of integrating Fire and EMS.
"Why are the firefighters going on stupid ambulance calls?"
"Why can't these guys just stay on the shitbox* where they belong?"
Granted, it's not common; but it's there. However, such is the burden of working in a department where the administration has embraced the combination system—especially the idea of a paramedic engine company.
Either way, we've become fairly immune to the groans and (mostly) good-natured ribbing that occurs when someone reads "Firefighter/Paramedic" on our nametags. For the most part, the medics I came through rookie school with actually enjoy the job, and that's been our saving grace throughout this whole process.
Every so often, however, you find a voice in the crowd who offers a hopeful, uplifting viewpoint on the situation. Such was my experience on Monday, when I was bounced around like a pinball to finally come to rest doing a ride-along with the EMS Supervisor for the 4th Battalion. (My original preceptor at E15 was off, and I had an ALS evaluation test to go to, so I was at three different locations until I finally found a home for any reasonable length of time.)
Having joined DC in 1987 after many years of both volunteer and career fire/EMS experience, this Lieutenant has been involved in EMS for longer than I've been alive. Extremely laid back, he carried an easygoing mix of confidence and humor about himself, which has apparently served him well for decades.
There wasn't too much going on in the 4th, so we didn't have the chance to go to any interesting scenes. We ran a few calls here and there, but they were mostly uneventful. The large majority of the time was spent talking, and he was able to pass on some advice that I would have been unwise to pass up.
Like I said before, you can learn damn near anything from the experienced guys around you; you just have to know when to shut up and listen.
I suppose it was surprising to find someone who spoke so highly of EMS and the medical aspect of a fire department. He really loves his job—a rare find in a world where most people would rather complain.
—————
With any luck, I'll be back to my (sort-of) home at 15 for the next tour. I think these occasional adventures in other houses are a good way to gain perspective on different houses, but it's fun over on the other side of the river.
No matter what happens to me, I'm usually guaranteed an interesting twenty-four hours no matter where I go. That's just how my luck goes.
As the EMS Lieutenant said to me as we drove along the Mall that night:
"It's a great city. You'll get your share of it eventually, but just keep your head up and you'll get through all these hoops."
Well said, sir. I suppose that's all that any of us can do, really.
* Shit box [\ˈshit \ˈbäks\] Slang. An ambulance, particularly one with a notorious history of being poor quality or generally non-working.
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