Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 32, Number 2, March/April 2011 Page: 23
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Texas State Publications and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Why did you get into EMS?
When I was a young lad,
my dad started a fire district in
northern Louisiana. I would go
on the calls with him because
it was cool! It was my job to
hold the light still on the dash as
we raced to the scene. In other
words, I was important, if only
in my mind. I was eager to learn
and took every course I could. I
was actually certified as a first
responder at the ripe old age of
14. During high school I had an
agreement with the principal: If I
kept my grades up, I could leave
from school whenever a call came
in. Talk about respect. Everyone
knew I was on the fire department
and were kind of envious of me
because I was allowed to do things
that were way out of the norm for
someone my age. From that point
on, it was in my blood, and even
to this day, I wouldn't want to do
anything else. I truly love my job
and honestly care for the patients
I treat.
How has the field changed
since you've been in it?
There are so many things that
I've seen come and go since I
started in 1984. If I had to put it
into one word I would have to say
technology. The first ambulance
I worked out of was a high-top
Suburban. Soon after, the Type II
vans came into favor-they had
460-cubic-inch police interceptor
supercharger engines! The only
"governor" these big-block beasts
had was the floor board! Fast was
an understatement, but cooling
was a problem for those monsters.
It was not uncommon, but rather
the norm, to drive past an accident
scene and see all the hoods on/
,~0
O<'m
Circcal', il Me blue /impsiut, (I'S' i's I' ( 1)LIIL'll (s a v'alU 1'e/ Cddo I Ut Disl9i7 4.,
c-iiva 1987.the emergency vehicles up, trying
to keep them from overheating.
Hood scoops weren't for looks, but
actually functioned. Emergency
lights were all seal-beam bulbs
with electric motors used to rotate
them. The high idle had to be
engaged on scene or the batteries
on the truck would die and the rig
would have to be towed back to
the station. Cardiac monitors were
simple to use. The printer actually
"burned" the image onto a strip
of EKG paper. A heated stylette
was used to discolor the paper,
thus creating a tracing. You always
knew when you had a paper jam
because of the smoke. Spine boards
were made of wood, the KED was
unheard of, gloves were for wimps
and cars were made of real metal.
When you were dispatched to a
major accident, that's exactly what
you found when you got there.
Is there a particular moment
or call that stands out?
Actually my first call as a
first responder was a cardiac
arrest ... my uncle! He lived
behind us. I remember getting there
to find my dad in tears kneelingover his brother. I instantly started
CPR. Despite my best efforts,
he was pronounced later at the
hospital. My second call wasn't
much better. It was a few days later
at my uncle's funeral. My dad had
a massive hemorrhagic stroke. I
again sprang into action and did
what I was trained to do. Despite
having some right-side deficits, he
survived to later have two heart
attacks and another stroke (lucky
guy). I was there for all of them.
He brought me into this world and,
as ironic as it may seem, I kept him
in it. I consider us even!
What has been your favorite
part of your career in EMS?
Every day I get to go do
something that may hugely impact
someone else's life. I know
everyone says it, but it's true: we
are underpaid, overworked, not
recognized as well as fire and
police departments on the national
scene, but I still wouldn't trade it
for anything. I love my job. My
wife and kids are supportive and
understanding. What more could
any man ask for . .. well, besides
winning the lottery!March/April 2011 Texas EMS Magazine 23
V_ AA
'0. ~
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View eight pages within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas. Department of State Health Services. Texas EMS Magazine, Volume 32, Number 2, March/April 2011, periodical, April 2011; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth541927/m1/23/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.