Man...this has been a rough year...

[Hockey9019]

Not sure if this is just a freak thing happening or does it happen every year but it has me seriously starting to rethink if I want to go into EMS...


A couple of months ago, I lost a really good friend who trained me during my EMT class to a car accident (as she was less than 2 miles from her base). A few days later, an EMT that I know, and he was best friends with a good friend of mine was killed in an accident leaving a wedding. http://obits.mlive.com/Flint/DeathNo...onId=113443418

I started my new job 2 weeks ago and its already been bad. A girl that left 3-4 weeks ago (I think) killed herself. She was a mother. From the sounds of it she wasn't all stable from day one.

Well on 9/16, a paramedic who worked for a neighboring company that worked along side with us died. She was only 29. 3 kids. Nothing was wrong with her. She was sleeping (working a 24) they got a call, partner went to wake her up, she was agonal. CPR for 2 hours and nothing. She was gone... (They think she died from a PE-thats scary if you ask me how you can just die like that...) http://www.emsresponder.com/article/...&siteSection=2

2 days later, we lost one of our own from my agency. He did a little bit of training with me and we talked for sometime a few days before he died. His wife just dropped him off and (normally you can kayak over this small dam but with the recent flooding it made it more difficult/dangerous) he kayaked down the river. Tried to go over dam, flipped his kayak and drowned...
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/in...ovan_dies.html



I've talked with a few people and they do agree its not like this every year. Its crazy and of course you wonder in the back of your head if you're next sometimes...


I'm ready for this year to be over for sure...


Has it been like this anywhere else?

[scott715us]

That sucks Hockey. Sorry for the recent losses of friends. I think we (officers) develop a wall because it is something we deal with quite often. Then something like your situation occurs where we actually know the victims and it brings it back home again. Makes you want to live in a bubble doesn't it?

Be safe!

[Lena]

Definitely need to have some way to deal with/understand death in EMS. The thing that makes up for it all for me... is being in the back of a rig and having a patient either tell me how good I am at my job or thank me for being there. I've had it happen a few times... and that is what I am in EMS for.

Just my way of handling it all =)

[noelchabanel]

Sorry to hear that man. It's pretty quiet here, I think your area is just having a bad year.

I have been lucky to not have anyone I know well on a call yet--of course, living in the town I serve, it's just a matter of time. I like knowing I do what I can to help the people I serve when they call me. Sometimes they thank me too, but it's rewarding whatever the outcome.

[Jennifer]

Awww..Hockey, I'm sorry to hear that. Life is strange sometimes, things just seem to happen for no reason.