(Spoiler alert: this is a rant but its neither pro nor con the ALS thing.) So, in two consecutive weeks there have been pretty horrendous motor vehicle accidents in the Gillespie area. I realize that for many its thought of as simply harmless curiosity, for some its an actual need for the latest juicy gossip and for a small few, its out of genuine concern for those involved and their families...but lets not kid ourselves, its typically just curiosity. As a paramedic who has to respond to these things, it really bothers me (probably more than it should) when Joe or Jane Blow on the street has the audacity to just out and ask So what happened with that wreck...shooting...stabbing...drowning...(fill in the blank)? based solely on the fact that Im a local paramedic and I should know. First of all, legally, ethically and morally it is not my place to tell you anything about anything that I see, hear or do as a paramedic. As a first responder, one of the most important things I do is gain and maintain the trust and confidence of my patients who ask me into their homes at their most vulnerable moments to care for them. So, no, Im not going to jeopardize my integrity and, for that matter my job, because you want some gossip. Secondly, if I tell you I dont know, wasnt on the call, your response (when you shouldnt have even asked in the first place) should be, Oh ok... not Oh come on, you gotta know something. (This happens...a lot.) Listen, I have enough demons to contend with from my own calls without getting caught up in someone elses. But, if I do know anything, its because someone told me in confidence because if we dont vent to one another and support one another in this business, were all headed straight to the loony bin. I certainly am not looking for sympathy nor a pat on the back because I love what I do and wouldnt change it for the world, but never once have I ever been approached by anyone who is not close family, close friend or colleague and been asked Hey, I heard you were on that (fill in the blank), are you ok? Yeah, you know if you do this for long enough, you do get a little calloused, you do learn how to distance yourself from it but it doesnt mean that you dont care and it certainly doesnt mean it doesnt affect you. In a small town, we are responding to friends and family, people we know. Its ridiculously ignorant to think that these things, in some way, dont affect us from time to time. And lastly, for Gods sake dont go fishing with this outrageous Well I heard this...I heard that crap because Ill neither confirm nor deny. Just do me and every other dispatcher, firefighter, police officer, EMT, paramedic, nurse etc a favor and wait like everyone else until the paper comes out or its on tv because I highly doubt Im the only one who feels this way and I doubt Im the only one who is tired of it. End. Rant. Apologies for hurt feelings.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 23:29:59 +0000
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