The Handover Meets “Emergency”: The Best of EMS

Welcome to The Handover – the Carnival of EMS!

Emergiblog is proud to host this edition of the best of the EMS blogosphere!

The theme for this month is “Emergency”.

Is there a single paramedic/EMT alive today who didn’t love this show? Is there a single nurse “of a certain age” who didn’t wish she was Dixie McCall?

That’s what I thought!

So let’s get going with Johnny and Roy and the guys of Rescue 51 as we begin The Handover…..

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I know Medics who eventually become firefighters, but sometimes it happens the other way around. Lt.Michael Morse of the Providence, Rhode Island Fire Department looks back at how he found himself working rescue in Stay Safe Out There, from his blog (and book!), Rescuing Providence.

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Ambulance driver? No way does anyone still think this!  Do they?  Chris Kaiser NREMT-P, EMT-PS, EMT-P, EMT-P has heard it all and begs to differ in Oh no you didn’t…, posted at Life Under the Lights. As Chris notes, “information saves lives”.

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There comes a time when every medic has to ask themselves just what type of medic they really are. Steve at The EMT Spot asks Are You the Opening Act or the Rock Star?

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It’s easy to laugh at “Emergency” when we watch it these days, but Happy Medic takes away a different message as described in the poignant post They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To at You Called 911…For This?

Suicide is devastating.  For all who are impacted by it, including the medics.  Medic999 discusses his feelings about this horrible tragedy in a sensitive post that raises more questions than answers.

When it’s the death of a co-worker, the question is simply “Why?”. Manchmedic shares his feelings about this in Marathon, at Life in Manch Vegas. For background, read A Slap in the Face.

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Medic/Nurse has seen the system from both sides of the ambulance entrance. Another poignant story awaits at Medic/Nurse’s Blog in 94 Years Old.

Ever feel like you have a black cloud over your head? Meet Black Cloud ER Tech.  He has 12 years of EMS experience behind him (and he isn’t even thirty!).  In a guest blogger post on Emergiblog, he looks back on his career and shares tips on how he manages to handle it all in Riding the Storm – a 12 Year Storm.

Jamie Davis produces a podcast for EMS at MedicCast.com. The lastest episode looks at Ambulance MVA’s in the News.

Epijunky takes a looks at her latest shift in Today, by the Numbers at Pink, Warm and Dry. It’s a list, and it’s beautiful. For when you need to remember why you do what you do.

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Safety net or free ride? No matter how many stories you hear like this, your jaw still drops. Paramedic Supermonkey takes on the Oregon Health Plan in “Free” Health Care.

This. Is. EMS. Truths (II) at Drug-induced Hallucinations.

When it isn’t supposed to be “bad one”…take a ride with Kal, a Scotland medic, and see if your adrenaline doesn’t start flowing as you read along with Qismet, at Trauma Queen.

LOL! I’m sure there’s a great story behind this post at Ridin’ the Bus, but I think we’ll need to read between the…uh…lines of Attention L&D Nurses…

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And now let’s hear from Dixie McCall, the medics’ friend.  Look behind the overacting emotion and listen to the message.

No, nurses don’t resent paramedics or EMTs.

They have our respect.

And we will defend them just as passionately today.

We just don’t get to wear totally cool caps when we do it.

Thanks guys (and gals)…and be careful out there.

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The next Handover will be held over at Michael’s place, Rescuing Providence, and the theme is “Partners”.

Many thanks to Mark at Medic999 for allowing me to host.

Thanks for reading!