Effective Immediately

My day with the Chief went very well. We did a few routine calls, a man who had fallen down a flight of stairs with an obvious closed tib/fib fracture, another man who's plaster ceiling had fallen down on his head while he was washing the dishes. I assessed the patients, directed other crewmembers on scene, and made treatment decisions based on my clinical impressions. I was nervous, and sweating in the 90 degree heat, but apparently avoided screwing up too badly as at the end of the shift I got a handshake and congratulations. "Do your best to kill as few people as possible," he said with a smile.

And I was done.

It seems a little odd now, after having jumped through so many hoops, filed so much paperwork, and paid all of my dues: here I am now with nothing else to do other than go out and work. What do you mean I'm cut loose to practice on my own? You mean I get to go out all by myself, with just an EMT?

I received a letter today from my Medical Control hospital:



Effective Immediately, but the feeling hasn't quite yet hit home.


My first shift as a paramedic will be tonight. 6pm till midnight or so, I am doing a quickie shift with a good friend of mine watching over a boxing event. I guess I should brush up a little on my trauma protocols?