Live, love, learn.

One thing I have learned in EMS is to be humble.

I rode with my volunteer service tonight. I was mostly on firetruck. I did get a chance to ride on the ambulance. I was translating Spanish for one of the victims of one of our MVC.

We had two MVC's, a sick person and difficulty breathing.

With the MVC's, we had a good one and a bad one. When I say bad, it's means it is good for us. We get a chance to use our skills that we learned. Remember, we meet you on the worst day of your life.

My issue was with the bad one is we have a brand-new, card-carrying 3 day old EMT.

The police were trying to do their job. (Remember these are the guys we use as a shield and traffic cones.) this young man was pacing back and forth. Sighing loudly. Me and another EMT were making use of a passerby to translate for us.

This young man just wanted to pack and go. He made it know we were taking too long and we needed to hurry up.

When he did do patient care, his log roll was horrible. I handed him a NRB, but he opened the one in his hand. He refused to do two man take down on a woman with a neck and back injury. When I suggested a way to correct these behaviors, he got defensive.

I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

I have been doing this for three years now. I will except criticism from any EMT or paramedic has more years and experience than I do (yes, and even some newbies).

I believe we are always learning. Thus the reason why we have CEU's. In order for us to make sure that our skills are sharp. To help us to understand the new concepts and techniques that are out there in the world of EMS.

Another reason why I join CoEMS2.0. I want to know what else is out there. I want to keep learning. One man cannot know everything in this world.

This young man's cockiness is going to hurt someone some day.

I also learned he was applying to place so he can make EMS a career, but he expects medics wages.

I hate to tell him he joined EMS for all the wrong reasons. I joined EMS, because; I am trying to right a wrong, that happened 13 years ago. I'm out there to help other people. I am not really here to make a paycheck (although sometimes it is nice). They reason I use my NREMT is it was they only skill I have that was hiring at the time. Yes, I will be going back to the paid service, but for a medium sized company where the employees own part of the company.

We all know that there is not a lot of money in the land of EMS. We are all here for one reason or another. We are also here to learn more from one another and to share our experiences. Please if you are reading this take criticism, learn from it, and grow from it.

The life (and certifications) you save may be your own.