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God Bless America

HEAR ME AMERICA, I AM, THE EMT

I see your people as you never see them.

Mighty and small they are beggars before me, their faces all frightened, beseeching, bewildered and hopeful of help from one more frightened than any...

I see their pitiful nakedness, their limbs twisted, their bodies tattered, their blood on the asphalt, their children crying. They trust me to help them. The know I will help them.

I see their illness too in your big cities. Their fevers I feel as you dream at midnight in little towns. They call to me whose hearts are aching and whose dreams are shattered and they touch me with their weariness.

Sometimes they seek me who are simply alone and who cannot bear the night, and I am their servant too.

Fallen from tractors in fields I find them, and in stilled cars they are silent and pale on cold rainy nights. The crunching of glass under black heavy boots tells my coming. I fold them in blankets.

My beacons light up your streets as their babies are born. My wail carries down your boulevards, past your shiny glass walls, your stockyards and quiet farms, and your people look up from their work as I go by. Time is metered in heartbeats.

I fight the battles to keep them alive. I cover their eyes when they breathe no more.

My partner is a hero, but no one knows his name.

So Why Do We Become Paramedics?

Why does one become a Paramedic? Individuals who become emergency medical technicians as well as paramedics have a special drive, they have a deep desire to help the sick and injured. The men and women of emergency medical services are rare breed, these brave and committed individuals do not do it for the money as the average E. M. T. and paramedic makes under $30,000.00 a year.

Yet they devote two years of their life in training to treat both the sick and the injured. Once they've graduated they join agencies whether they are public, volunteer or private. These very special people to do not work 9:00 to 5:00 jobs, instead the vast majority of emergency medical personnel work twelve to fourteen hour shifts, others work 24 hour shifts. An average work week for these individuals range from four to five days a week, the job of an emergency medical technician is a stressful one and can be stressful on their families.

Over the past decade emergency medical personnel have been faced with domestic terrorism, international terrorism, and school shootings. In Oklahoma City 168 individuals were killed after a domestic and sadistic attack at the Murrah Federal Building, countless others were injured. In 1993 the world trade center was attacked resulting in several deaths. In the nineties, emergency medical personnel witnessed the senseless murders and additionally the wounding of students on school campuses. These senseless tragedies faced by our emergency medical services personnel are facing these situations more frequently. Then on September 11, 2001, EMS Personnel faced their greatest challenge, with the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and in the failed hijacking that resulted in the crash of flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

In the past decade request for emergency medical services have dramatically changed. As E. M. T's and Paramedic's, their job take's them into several diverse cultures, a example of this would be, a heart attack victim in a professional building, to areas that individuals refer to as skid row, they respond to car accident's on prom night with the occupants entwined in the twisted wreckage, they respond to calls in affluent neighborhoods, as well as the inner city. These professionals transport the elderly from nursing homes to hospitals and hospitals to nursing homes.

So why do we become Paramedics? Do we do it for the media coverage, no, the news media is still naïve and unaware of the prices paid by these unselfish, and caring group of highly trained and exceptionally trained professionals. Newspaper articles in news media coverage often refers to these professionals as "ambulance drivers," so why do we become paramedics? The answer is very simple, emergency medical technicians and paramedics do not do their job for glory, or hero worship, and they do not do it for the money. They do their job because of their dedication to preserving life; they are courageous and professional men and women who are the unsung heroes of emergency medical services.

Written by: David

THE EMT

I see people as you have never seen them.

Mighty and small they are beggars before me,

their faces all frightened, beseeching, bewildered and hopeful of help from one more frightened than any...

I see their pitiful nakedness, their limbs twisted, their bodies tattered, their blood on the asphalt, their children crying. They trust me to help them. The know I will help them.

Sometimes they seek me who are simply alone and who cannot bear the night, and I am their servant too.

Fallen from tractors in fields I find them, and in stilled cars they are silent and pale on cold rainy nights.

The crunching of glass under black heavy boots tells my coming. I fold them in blankets.

I fight the battles to keep them alive. I cover their eyes when they breathe no more.

My partner is a hero, but no one knows his name.

The Heart of EMS

Sorry if we woke you

In the middle of the night

But someone in your neighborhood

Is fighting for his life.

Sorry if we blocked the road

And made you turn around.

But there's been a bad wreck

with injured people on the ground.

When you see us coming

I hope you'll understand

Let us have the right of way

Someone needs a helping hand.

Sometimes a child is choking.

Sometimes a broken leg.

Sometimes a heart stops beating

If we don't arrive it may be too late.

So if you see us crying

When we think we're alone

You'll know we had a bad one

And we're feeling mighty down

We don't do it for the money

You know we don't get paid.

We don't do it for the glory

But for the life that might be saved.

Somewhere deep within us

Our souls are crying out

We're here to help our neighbors

In their hour of pain and doubt.

God gave us something special

To help us see you through

We do it cause we love you

And we care about you too.

What it is like in EMS

I delivered a baby on the ambulance gurney; I baptized a newborn whose life ended before it began.

I hugged a frightened child; I was kissed by an intoxicated old man.

I held the hand of a teenage girl as she delivered a 3-pound baby; I listened to the mournful squeak of a stretcher being wheeled to the morgue.

I gently stroked the fragile hand of a 102 year old woman; I hesitated at the outreached hand of a 300 pound prisoner in handcuffs.

I trudged for 10 hours in my boots; I had a teenager vomit on those same boots.

I rubbed the feverish body of a 14 year old cancer patient; I cradled the ice-cold hand of a child hit by a car.

I was referred to as "an angel of mercy;" I was called every four-letter word in the book.

I always see fear in people's eyes; I never see joy or relief.

I listened to a tormented voice pleading for the preservation of life; I heard the threatening words of one bent on self-destruction.

I spoke with the girl who was hoping she had the flu, not a pregnancy; I see innocent people hurt or killed by a drunk driver, and the drunk driver is never hurt.

I marveled at the genius of a cardiologist; I saw a 12 year old boy who shot himself in the head, and the gun was still loaded at his feet.

I talked in circles with a schizophrenic person; I was horrified at the battered body of a child whose parents were incapable of love.

I gazed at a horribly burned body; I shuddered at a cold water drowning.

I see women beaten up by their spouses, but they never press charges; I walk into houses and do CPR with family watching over my shoulder in tears.

I arrive at serious auto accidents, and the first words I hear are, "Am I going to die?;" I find out hours later they did die.

I listen to the repeated question, "Why?" from a family devastated by death; I search my soul for the answers to their question. Just another day in EMS.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through station all was quiet except for our snoring dalmation. Our boots had been placed by the bunk sides with care in hopes that the shift change would finally be here.

The lights were turned down and the TV was off the rigs had been washed and the floors had been mopped. Firefighters and Medics lie nestled in bed while visions of home life danced through their heads.

When out of the darkness, arose ringing and light The Claxton brought tidings of something not right. The Firefighters and Medics were dressed in an instant aboard their trucks and racing into the distance.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow reflected the lights in a hellish, red glow. The sirens, they wailed while the Federal screamed moving too slowly, as if in a dream.

The wreckage was there and came slowly in sight Lending fear, pain, and loss to our silent night. Each of us thought of our own Wife, Daughter or Son each prayed in silence, "Let me save at least one."

We leaped to the task without further a thought and for more than two hours we worked and we fought... To free the two drivers who hadn't been thinking their driving would suffer after a full night of drinking.

The smoke of the flares, and the stench of the blood the screaming of metal as we rolled back the hood. The cry of one driver, the whine of the Jaws Putting fear aside, we never gave pause.

With one driver out, and the other pronounced dead we focused our efforts on keeping our heads. C-spine and backboard and IV in place we loaded him up and we started the race.

The monitor showed a heart rate to slow BP revealed a systolic too low. Level of consciousness rapidly dying despite all of this...the Medics kept trying.

Atropine, Dopamine, Epi and more... to keep our reason for being from opening death's door. We fought and we prayed and tried all that was known while trying to believe fault wasn't our own.

The sun, she was rising as we reached the ER we'd given all that we know, and all that we are. The Doctors pronounced with barely more than a glance. And gone in a blink, was the patient's last chance.

The ride back to the station was quiet, and then.... Despite what we'd been through, the singing began. At first it was one and then all followed suit this effort together was merely the fruit...

Of a labor that however needlessly bared was one of a million we knew we had shared. As we sang out the words of the song, "Silent Night" We acknowledged to ourselves that we put up a good fight.

The punch of the clock, the start of a car we all realized and loved who we are. And on Christmas morning, as we all drive away... We know we'll all try in a couple of days...

To give someone back their one chance to live now matter how hard or how much we must give. So please, when you pray on this new Christmas morn add something for us, and for all that we've borne.

Merry Christmas to all my brothers and sisters in EMS, Fire and Police. We're all here together,and we all come back another day.

My Dad is a Paramedic

It doesn't matter day or night When off the pager goes He grabs his bag and her vest To help people he doesn't know. I always get a hug and kiss he tells me not to worry, He tells me that he loves me lots But is always in a hurry.

There is someone else that needs him

So I will share him for awhile They may be sick or hurt or dying As the ambulance leaves the station I am as proud as I can be I wave and I blow kisses Knowing someone needs him more than me.

He holds a dying mother Whose babies are at his feet He saves a child that's choking on a piece of meat. He comforts the father Whose daughter he pulled from a car He cares and prays for her in the ambulance Knowing the hospital may be to far. My dad does this because he's well trained, My dad does this to help peopleAnd for the life that may be saved.

I meet my dad at the door When he gets back from his call I tell him that I missed him But that I love him most of all.

Some times my dad is happy because, he saved a life Some times my dad weeps because the call didn't go good and someone died.

I hug him every night And he says that he loves me and I know that when I get older..............

I to want to be an EMT!

Time to Go

Pardon me, doctor, but may I

Die?

I know your oath requires you to

try to keep me alive

So long as my body is warm and

there is a breath of life,

But listen, Doc, I've buried my

wife,

My children are grown and on

their own.

My friends are all gone, and I

want to go, too.

No mortal man should keep me

here

When the call from Him is unmis-

takably clear.

I deserve the right to slip quietly

away.

My work is done and I am tired.

Your motives are noble, but now

I pray That you can read in my eyes what my lips can't say.

Listen to my heart and you'll

hear it cry

Pardon me, Doc, but may I die?

A Paramedics Day

of Judgement

The medic stood and faced God

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his uniform was clean,

He'd gotten dressed kinda fast.

"Step forward now, paramedic.

How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To my church have you been true?"

The medic squared his shoulders and said, "No Lord, I quess I Haven't.

Cause those of us who wade in blood

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

and at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep... Though I worked alot of overtime when the bills got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place

among the people here. They never wanted me around, except to calm their fears.

If you have a place for me, Lord.

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or have had too much. And if you don't, I understand."

There was silence all around the throne, with saints all around. As the medic waited quietly for the judgment from our God the Almighty.

"Step forward now, Paramedic.

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on heavens streets.

Now is your time to rest which you have earned."

To Our Paramedics, Firefighters, & Police Officers

There are men and women everywhere

They serve us in everyway.

They place their lives in danger to save us every day.

They are our public servants,

We thank you from our hearts

For your work and dedication to help the public out.

They never think a moment of the danger they are in.

They give their lives for you and me,

They truly are our friends.

They're our EMS and firefighters, our police officers as well,

They give so much of themselves

They put their own lives on the line.

We thank you and we pray for God to keep you ever safe

May He guard you and protect you from harm in any way.

May you wake up with your family to enjoy another day.

We honor you and praise you in all cities and towns,

From New York where you died trying to save so many lives.

All across our nation we give you tribute and our praise!

For our heroes fallen; their greatest sacrifice was made.

We thank you all our heroes!

We honor all of you everyday.

Proud To Be An American

God Bless The U.S.A.

by Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone, I'd worked for all my life. And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife.

I'd thank my lucky stars, to be livin here today.

'Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee. Across the plains of Texas, From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Huston, and New York to L.A. Well there's pride in every American heart, and its time we stand and say.

That I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

And I'm proud to be and American, where at least I know I'm free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today.

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God Bless the USA

We Respond To Your Call

When you see us coming up behind you, don't be frightened that we're there, we're going to help someone in need, because we care...

We won't push you out of the way, we only ask for your kindness, to let us get by so that we can get there faster...

Going to a wreck, or responding to someone sick, is not a pleasure for us, it's a gift in our hearts, to know someone needs our helping hands...

We drive big trucks, equipped with flashers and a siren, we are committed to saving lives, it's our job that we do...

We're here to help your friends, families and others, and to care for those in need, to help our fellow brothers...

If you ever need our help, we are here to help anytime, we hope and pray that every call will end just fine...

Call us if you need us, we're here to help and won't take long, and in our hearts and mind, you'll never be gone.

WHAT IS AN EMT?

MOST DON'T REALIZE WHAT AN EMT IS, OR WHAT THEY DO SOME SAY THEY'RE JUST AMBULANCE DRIVERS THIS PLAINLY IS NOT TRUE

THEY DO DRIVE THE AMBULANCE WITH THE LIGHTS AND THE SIREN BLOWING BUT OTHER TIMES THAT SAME DRIVER IS IN THE BACK TRYING TO KEEP A LIFE GOING

OR THAT SOME PERSON MAY BE OUT IN THE MUCK, THE BLOOD, AND POURING DOWN RAIN WORKING TO GET A DRIVER OUT OF THE CAR WHO IS IN SEVERE PAIN

BUT THE CALL THAT HURTS THE WORST FOR ALL EMT'S INVOLVED IS THE CALL WITH THE CHILD WHOSE PROBLEM CANNOT BE SOLVED

EVEN WITH ALL THE TRAINING ONE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE TAKEN SOMETIMES THAT TRAINING DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

IT IS THEN THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT STRONG EMT

WITH TEARS RUNNING DOWN THEIR FACES AND A LOOK OF HUMILITY

THE THOUGHTS OF THIS CALL WILL NEVER GO AWAY BUT THE EMT REALIZES THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY

A DAY IN THEIR LIFE THAT THEY LISTEN FOR THE CALL AND WHEN THEY ARRIVE ON THE SCENE THEY REALIZE AFTER ALL

THAT SOME DAYS ARE GOOD AND SOME DAYS ARE BAD BUT ONE THING FOR CERTAIN, WITHOUT THE EMT'S LIFE WOULD CERTAINLY BE SAD

I'm already going to lose you.

I don't even know your name.

In a world of flashing lights

The sounds of glass and steel breaking free,

For those few minutes, you belonged only to me.

It was I who cut your shirt away

To see your broken ribs

Watching you labour with each breath

As you fought to live.

It was I who wiped the blood away

When it pooled in your eyes,

It was I who watched your heart beat

As the Jaws freed you from your car.

When we finally freed you,

I was still there as we ran

To the back of the ambulance,

It was I who held your hand.

The sounds of the sirens

Rang loudly in my ears

I looked for some small sign,

Your lack of response renewed my fears.

I breathed for you when you could not,

I compressed your chest when your heart wouldn't beat.

I prayed for you with each failure,

I did not want to see defeat.

I finally had to walk away

Knowing the battle had been lost

I saw your father in the hallway,

One look, and I saw the awful cost.

I gathered my equipment together,

And I finally learned your name.

Only 21, I said beneath my breath,

My friends, I feel so drained.

Your blood alcohol came back zero,

The driver of the other car did not.

He was alive and breathing,

No witness to the battle we fought.

I don't know how to say good-bye

We never really said hello,

But a piece of you is with me

Everywhere I go.

Sometimes We Try, Sometimes They Die

What's it all for?

On such a bright and sunny day,A child walks home without a care in the world a semi truck is making a final run of the day.

A child starts to cross the road to meet a friend on the other side. The driver of the truck swerves to miss the child; this day it happened to late.

Without a cry, without a chance to make a difference in the world; a small child lies in the road. A small life is ending much too soon;

what is all for.....

An Ambulance is called to help; the Medics arrive to find life quickly fading from the small child.

Thier years of training and experience; yet there's nothing they can do;

What it all for......

Only God know why it had to happen......

The Medic'a stops and ponder as they wonder;

What's it all for......

TO REMEMBER ME.....

The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a hospital mattress located in a hospital busily occupied with the living and dying. At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all practical purposes, my life has ended. When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don't call this my deathbed. Let it be called the "Bed of Life," and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives. Give my sight to the man who has never seen the sun rise, a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman. Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain. Give my blood to a teenager who has been pulled from the wreckage of his or her car, so that he or she might live to see his or her grandchildren play. Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist week to week. Take my bones, every nerve and muscle in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk. Explore every corner of my brain. Take my cells, if necessary and let them grow so that, someday a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window. And when you bury me, let it be my faults, my weakness and all prejudices against my fellow man. Give my sins to the devil; Give my soul to GOD. Remember me, with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do as I ask I will live FOREVER......

The Final Act

Screeching tires, shattering glass, twisting metal, fiberglass.

The scene is set it all goes black, The curtain raised the final act. Sirens raging in the night, sounds of horror, gasps of fright. Intense pain, the smell of blood tearing eyes begin to flood.

They pull out our bodies one by one, What is going on, we were only having fun! One of my friends is missing, what did I do? Her scattered belongings everywhere, in the road there lies her shoe.

A man is leaning over me and looking in my eyes, "What were you thinking, son"? "Did you really think that you could drive?"

He pulled up the sheet still looking in my eyes, "If you'd only called your Mom or Dad, you'd still be alive!"

I started to scream, I started to yell; But no one could hear me, no one could tell. They put me in an ambulance; they took me away.

The doctor at the hospital exclaimed, "DOA!" My father's in shock, my mother in tears, she collapses in grief, overcome by the fear. They take me to this house and place me in this box.

I keep asking what is happening, But I cant make it stop. Everyone is crying, my family is so sad. I wish someone would answer me, I'm starting to get mad. My mother leans over me and kisses me good-bye, My father pulling her away, she is screaming, "WHY"?

They lower my body into a dirt grave, It feels so very cold, I yell to be saved. Then I see an angel; I begin to cry. Can you tell me what is happening? she replies "YOU DIED."

I can't be dead; I'm still so young! I want to do so many things - like sing, and dance, and run.

What about college or graduation day? what about a wedding? Please - I want to stay. The angel looked upon me, and with a saddened voice, "It didn't have to end like this; you knew you had a choice." "I'm sorry it's too late now; time I can't turn back."

"Your life is finished; that, my son, is a fact!" Why did this happen? I didn't want to die! The angel, she embraced me and with her words she sighed, "Son, this is the consequence you paid to drink and drive.

I wish you made a better choice, If you did you would be alive. It doesn't matter if you beg me, or plead on bended knee, There is nothing I can do, you have to come with me."

Looking down at my family, I said my last good-bye. "I'm sorry I disappointed you, Dad. Mommy, please don't cry, I didn't mean to hurt you, or cause you any pain.

I'm sorry all you're left with is a grave that bears my name. I'm sorry all your dreams for me have all been ripped away; the plans for my future all gathered in a grave. It was such a stupid thing I did, I wish I could take it back;

But the curtain is being lowered.

SO ENDS THE FINAL ACT...

Prom night I went to a party, Mom,

I remembered what you said.

You told me not to drink, Mom,

So I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom,

The way you said I would.

I didn't drink and drive, Mom

Even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom,

I know you are always right.

Now the party is finally ending, Mom,

As everyone is driving out of sight.

As I got into my car, Mom,

I knew I'd get home in one piece

Because of the way you raised me,

So reasonable and sweet.

I started to drive away, Mom,

But as I pulled out into the road,

The other car didn't see, Mom,

And hit me like a load.

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,

I hear the policeman say,

The other guy is drunk, Mom,

And now I'm the one who will pay.

I'm lying here dying, Mom,

I wish you'd get here soon.

How could this happen to me, Mom?

My life just burst like a balloon.

There is blood all around me, Mom,

And most of it is mine.

I hear the medic say, Mom,

I'll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom,

I swear I didn't drink.

It was the others, Mom,

The others didn't think.

He was probably at the same party as I.

The only difference is, he drank and I will die.

Why do people drink, Mom?

It can ruin your whole life.

I'm feeling sharp pains now.

Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,

And I don't think it's fair.

I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare.

Tell my brother not to cry, Mom,

Tell Daddy to be brave.

And when I go to Heaven, Mom,

Put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.

Someone should have told him, Mom,

Not to drink and drive.

If only they had told him, Mom,

I would still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter, Mom,

I'm becoming very scared.

Please don't cry for me, Mom,

When I needed you, you were always there.

I have one last question, Mom,

Before I say good bye

I didn't drink and drive,

So why am I the one to die?

Our Public Servants

There are men and women everywhere; They serve us every way!

They put their lives in danger,

To save us everyday!

They are, our public servants,

We thank you very much, They never think a moment, of the danger they are in.

They give their life for you and me; they truly are, our friends.

They're our police and fire fighters; Our EMS as well, they give so much To all of us, They work hard every day!

We could not live without you;

We thank you and we pray; That God will keep you safe; Out of harm's way!

To wake up with your families;

To see another day!

We honor you and praise you;

In cities and in towns, from New York where you died; to save so many lives!

All across our Nation; In tribute and in praise!

We thank you for your service;

We honor you today!

For all the brave ones fallen; that died and went away; you will always be remembered.

And honored every day!

We thank you for your service;

We honor you today!