The Obsessive Compulsive Paramedic
By
Perfect Paramedic, that's what they call me. Funny, I'm far from being perfect. Just because I think one should follow proper procedure and that rules were made for a reason, and I don't mean to be broken, I'm considered the walking rule book.
When I signed up for the paramedic program I had one goal and that was to help people. At the time my thoughts were, going by the book was the only way to reach that goal. Real life situations dictate we handle our jobs with the high standard we were taught, but with a human touch. I definitely am not a touchy feely type person, but when treating a patient, I've found they respond better to treatment if I'm less clinical and more personable. Desoto set me straight about that.
Roy DeSoto, he's first rate paramedic. The first time I worked with him was after his partner had gotten hit by a car. We butted heads about minute things like, keeping the squad storage doors locked, the arrangement of the drug box or me taking my turn at driving, all trivial disagreements in the realm of life.
We responded to a man down call. After taking his vitals, I could tell he was probably having a heart attack. Both the victim and his wife became extremely agitated when I voiced what I speculated. Afterwards I got a lecture from DeSoto about how insensitive I had been. I began to think that maybe I had been a little harsh with my comments.
Yes, a good man that DeSoto and apparently a saint, he'd have to be with John Gage as a partner. I couldn't even be upset with him when he tricked me. As chairman of the Paramedic Advisory Committee, I tried to run the meetings strictly according to Robert Rules of Order, that was until DeSoto came up with a legal way to eliminate them all together. I'm still trying to figure how he out smarted me on that one.
Gage now there's an anomaly. He will rant about anything and everything. He even lost his voice at one of our PAC meetings trying to get his point across. But he is one hell of a paramedic, he's got finesse. At first I was envious of his and DeSoto's partnership, but now I have one that in my opinion could equal theirs.
Bob "the Animal" Bellingham and myself were partnered together after
DeSoto was injured at a warehouse fire, I thought the people down at headquarters
were crazy pairing me with the biggest slob in the department, but we clicked.
What a pair we are, total opposites in every way, yet he's the best partner
and friend a guy could ever want. I'm still not a rule breaker, but have learned
to bend them from time to time, the Animal has seen to that. He said it makes
me almost human. It's a good thing I have a sense of humor, or I might have
been offended.
When all is said and done, my life as a firefigher/paramedic has been a personal learning experience. I have changed, I think for the better.
But no matter what anyone else thinks, using ones last name as opposed to their first, helps keep confusion down.
The End