Fire and Rescue: Answering the call that no one else hears.

[EMSpassion94]

Spending these past couple months with the fire department and rescue squad, my view of Firefighters, EMT's and Paramedics has changed drastically. These people don't have to do this kind of work. They could have been lawyers, teachers, doctors. They could have chosen to do other things. But they CHOSE this profession, because they care. And what most people don't know? Most of them are volunteers. They don't get paid. They voluntarily put their life on the line, to save others. They crawl out of bed everyday, knowing it could be their last. Here is a short writing that first place winner of NAEMT's EMS essay contest Kelly Buddenhagen wrote:

Clicky: http://www.naemt.org/become_a_member/WhyEMSMattersEssayContestWinners.aspx

"As people pass on the street with their nose to the grindstone, their ears plugged into the latest app, their minds racing on how to get ahead, we answer the call.



Buildings crumble, cars crash, people fight and children cry. In EMS, we train, we respond, we serve, we care.



The call comes in, we respond. The door opens and we are welcomed in“ no questions asked.” It is taken for granted that our service will be the best. We are entrusted with life in all its fragility, intervening with gentle hands, sharp skills, and encompassing knowledge... taking into account the experiences of those who have come before us, all the while knowing it’s this patient’s first time. Holding a hand, brushing away a tear, gently listening, comforting the lonely; all make a difference in the world one life at a time. EMS is about taking the opportunity one moment at a time to show another person gentle reassurance that someone is there to help them.



I am honored to work in a profession whose members know what to do when they walk into someone’s life at the worst time, under the worst circumstances and remind them we are all worth saving. The power of our interaction with our patients, their families and bystanders oftentimes shapes their perspective of the event. We become the “if only” in so many people’s worlds. Because we came, because we tried, because we cared, we have the potential to change the ”if only” to ”everything that could have been done was done.”



From all the textbooks and from all the training, the most important skill we bring to the scene is the human factor that we care enough to work in EMS. We care enough to work the long hours, sacrifice our family time, and relentlessly train and retrain to become the best provider for the worst scenarios. And, we pray that the worse scenarios never happen.

We answer the call that no one else hears. And that makes the difference."

I wrote this poem to dedicate to all of the volunteer and paid Firefighter's, Paramedics, and EMT's, who care enough to put their life on the line. Thank you for all that you do.



We fall to our knees,



Every now and then.



We find the strength inside,



And get back up again.



We witness terrible tragedy,



And sometimes, we must cry.



But when someone needs our help,



We ignore the pain inside.



We hold our head up high



When we hear the call.



And we know we have each other's back;



We stay together, through it all.



The piercing calls and flashing lights



Keep us awake, most nights.



We know it's time to fight more flames,



Or save another's life.



You know it's not for the money



That we do this, every day;



Because most of us take on this job



For little, or no pay.



We don't do it for the glory,



And we don't do it for the fame.



We do it for the people



Who will live, because we came.



You think that we are heroes;



Angels without wings.



But if you look more closely,



You'll see just human beings.

 

[JPINFV]

Er... ok...

 

[foxfire]

That is a nice poem.
BTW, welcome to the forum, grab a cup of coffee and tell us a little about yourself.^_^

 

[fast65]

That is a nice poem.
BTW, welcome to the forum, grab a cup of coffee and tell us a little about yourself.^_^

+1

Nice job on the poem, now sit down and stay a little while.

 

[mycrofft]

I see by your profile your interests are fire/EMS related.

Be sure not to let this become your single passion. A well-rounded person with friends and other affiliations makes for a better responder, especically in a volunteer organization. Welcome aboard, and don't take anyone too seriously.