I have no intentions of writing this letter to take any kind of heroism away from anyone.
I am an EMT-I. I have been so, for some years now. I work closely with Paramedics & other EMT's. I watch everyday, how we put ourselves out there for the "good" of the community. We live in a world, where we are called on, to help & save the people of our community. We are called on, when someone is having the 'worse' day of their lives.
I have personally seen, when the life in someone's eye, is turned back on with the help of myself &/or other EMT's/Paramedics. We have seen the breath escape the lips of a child, being held in our arms, as the mothers screams in the background. We hold the nightmares at night. We are the ones, that cry silently when we could not save them, and return to work with a smile on our face.
I work in a fire department, where my firemen are one of the best in the state...I love my fire department. I know my guys are heroic & it takes a special someone to run into the fire, for not alone the people, but to help save the property. I honor them.
So, with what I am about to say, I don't want it to come off like I don't respect the job a fireman does.
This might be my jealousy speaking...I am almost sickened by the way the people glorify the firemen & not the EMT's/Paramedics. I am so appalled how 'overlooked' we are. I know my firemen are heroic...but, they DO NOT, save lives. They rescue. They hand the injured patient to, whom? The EMT's/Paramedics. We save the life. We are overlooked. We have almost 8x's the amount of calls a day (some area's are even more so) then the firemen. We have come face to face with a person is who suffering from altered mental status & had to not only try to protect ourselves, but our patient. We have had to fight for our own safety, with no team to help.
The public, is unaware of our network of life savers. Or the public, does not care. You walk into a toy store, the vehicles you see on the shelves are firetrucks...no ambulance in sight. The public has fire prevention month, fill the boot, dinners/lunches catered, where as we get EMS week, only recognized by the hospitals, we take our patients to. The public does not hear about the EMT/Paramedic who passes in the line of duty. I sometimes am unaware, until I go to EMS conference, once a year.The only time we are recognized, is (sometimes) by the family member of some one we saved. It is not a public act, but a private one, that we hold deep in our hearts.
Our job is not pretty. It is not for the weak at heart. We DO put our lives on the line for the public everyday, multiple times a day with no break, no food, no sleep, & sometimes will put our family second for our jobs. While my firemen, sit at the station for hours to days on end, waiting for that one fire. Anyone can drive by almost any fire station & look in the bay. You will see the fire trucks parked & no ambulance in the bay. Why? Cause they are out running ca after call. We are the reason for someone to pick up the phone & dial 911.
My hero...Is not my firemen of my department. It's not my fellow EMT's/Paramedics. My hero, is the police. They are the one's who makes sure that our scene is safe for us to do our jobs. They are the one's we plead for on the radio, when a patient wants to go hand to hand with us. We call the police over our firemen. And, they are there every time. They are my hero's...
I just wanted to write this letter, and yes maybe vent...because it literally brings a tear to my eye, when we are so over looked at what we do & the lives we save. The cops & my fellow EMT's/Paramedics are the true hero's of Houston. They are the one's who are not glorified & are over looked...The public does not seem to care about us, and we are the one's that secure you in this city, with your home, car, work...we secretly help make your life a better one. And we are the ones who have been taken advantage of.
Thank you for your time,
Becky W. 4951