What’s In Your Pockets?

If I may start with a sweeping generalization, we EMS folk maintain an odd and somewhat dysfunctional relationship with our gear. We love our gear, but we hate it. We chastise others for carrying to much stuff. We chastise ourselves for not carrying enough. Or just not carrying the thing that we could really use right now. (Read vomit bag, seat beltcutter, flashlight.)

There’s a commonly held belief that the longer you’re in EMS the less stuff on you tend to carry around with you. this observation is sometimes extended to paid vs. volunteer personnel as well. I’m not so sure that’s true. There are, however, clearly different styles.

Lately I got to thinking about what kind of stuff the typical EMT responder carries around with him / her. What is considered kosher and what’s excessive? Are there things we can all agree should be in your pocket or on your belt. Are there any equipment gems that I might be overlooking?

To that end I asked a whole bunch of EMS responders from around the Internet and around my system to tell me what they were carrying in their pockets. After editing out some of the more obvious or personal findings (Wallet, keys, Britney Spears fan club cards) here are my not-so-scientific results. Ask your doctor first, results may vary. Here’s what the folks who know are carrying with them. 

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Waiting Is Serving

Chief Mike West is one of those people with that EF Hutton sort of mystique about him. When he has something to say about emergency services people tend to listen. At least the folks who want to learn more about their job tend to listen. Today I’d like to pass on a little Chief West wisdom.

Depending on where you work, you may do a little waiting or a lot of waiting for your next call. Nobody in EMS in immune to the process of waiting for a call. It happens to us all. We have colloquialisms for the act of waiting. Going a whole shift without a call is termed “getting skunked.” Some love the slow shifts, some hate them. Regardless of your relationship with the act of waiting, the implication is the same. We believe that the periods where we are not assigned to a call is somehow separate from our job.

“Did you guys do anything today?”

“Naw, we didn’t do anything.”

I’ve always looked at it that same way. Until I heard Chief West make this statement; “Waiting, prepared to serve, is serving.” Mull that one over.

Waiting, prepared to serve, is serving.

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