One of the seasoned medics in our Recert Class today gets so frustrated with some of the firefighters he works with, because they aren’t as interested in the EMS side of things as they are the Fire Suppression side of things.  He took a few lines from the movie “A Few Good Men” to drive home the point that they HAVE to understand the importance of EMS within their job.  I loved it.

I begged him to let me share it with you, but he said he would only do it on the condition of anonymity.

So, without further ado, for your enjoyment,  Ladies and Gentlemen, May I present to you (…you see, the joke here is that this is all further ado.  Oh, never mind.)

A Few Good Medics

Kaffee:  Colonel Jessep, is EMS the backbone of the fire service?

Judge:  You don’t have to answer that question!

Col. Jessep:  I’ll answer the question!  You want answers?

Kaffee:  I think I’m entitled.

Col. Jessup:  You want answers?

Kaffee:  I want the truth!

Col. Jessup:  You can’t handle the truth!  Son, we live in a world of sick people, and those people have to get to the hospital by men in ambulances.  Who’s going to do it? You?  You, Lt. Weinburg?

I have a greater responsibility than you can fathom.  You weep for the firefighters and curse EMS.  You have the luxury of not knowing what I know.  That you don’t fight many fires, though tragic, is a fact.  And our existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.  You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at the firehouse, you want us on that ambulance, you need us on that ambulance.

We use words like Compassion. Caring. Empathy.  We use these words as the backbone of a service dedicated to the community.

You use them as a punchline.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very service that we provide, then treat us like the bastard children of the department.  I would rather you just said “Thank you,” and went on your way.

Otherwise, I suggest you pick up an aide bag and ride an ambulance.  Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.

Kaffee:  Is EMS the backbone of the fire service?

Col. Jessep:  We do the job.

Kaffee:  Is EMS the backbone of the fire service?

Col. Jessep:  You’re Goddamn right it is!

End Scene

Did that give you chills, or what?  It gave me chills.  Maybe it makes more sense to people actually involved in Fire and Rescue, but you get the idea.

EMS is like the red-headed stepchild of Fire and Rescue, and I don’t understand why.   It’s the most important part of what it’s all about.  Maybe it is because so many citizens abuse the system, and use 911 for non-emergent calls.  Maybe it’s because so many people thank their doctors and nurses, but forget about the EMTs and Medics who get them there.  Maybe it’s because mopping up blood and urine and vomit is never as glamorous as you might think it is (DO you think it is?).

You never see or smell the vomit on EMS related TV shows.   And believe me, there is a lot of Vomit in EMS.   Vomit doesn’t sell, apparently.  If it did, you would see more vomit on TV and in the movies.  But vomit doesn’t sell.

And that is all I have to say about Vomit.

Except that the smell is really unglamorous.

And nasty.

And dry-heave inducing.

Hey….now that I think about it, that might be one of the reasons EMS is the red-headed stepchild of the Fire and Rescue service.  They can’t handle the vomit!