Real Life EMS

I shot the photo you see on the right while riding with the Portland Fire Department MEDCU. I liked the photo because it was a slice of real-life EMS. Not blood. Not guts. Not dramatic. Just real life EMS.

It has been my contention for some time on this blog that EMS is about taking care of people. Finding the pleasure in simple moments with a patient will keep you vital in EMS when there isn't enough trauma, sirens and excitement any more.

I submitted this photo to an EMS magazine for consideration for cover placement. No go. I'll admit that it isn't the most dynamic photo. But it is real. And it is a moment.

Are we being fed a diet of excitement when in fact we really nibble on routine call after call?

I took the rejection relatively well. Then I thought more about it. Maybe I should create my own magazine: Real Life EMS. Imagine what would be between the covers of this magazine every month.

Imagine no longer. This blog will frequently host covers of Real Life EMS Magazine. The magazine covers you will see are a combination of satire and commentary. I'm sure you have experienced more than one of these situations during your real life EMS experience.

Here is the first cover. Click on it to see a larger version. Enjoy!