8 Tragic EMS Behavior Flaws to Avoid

In Greek tragedies, the hero typically displays some form of hamarita, also known as a “tragic flaw.” Hamlet was brooding, Othello was jealous, Macbeth was ambitious. For the most part, it is their tragic flaw that is usually the key to their undoing. When the hero ultimately falls, they tend to sow the seeds of their own demise with their respective tragic flaws.

People often use the word hero when they refer to EMS caregivers. EMT’s, paramedics, firefighters, we all get the hero moniker pinned on us from time to time. I cringe at the term. Most of us are uncomfortable with it to different degrees. And, if there is any truth to our hero title, it is certainly closer to the heroes of Greek tragedy that the comic book heroes we grew up with.

In other words, we all have our tragic flaws. Yes, all of us.

Here are eight of the most common tragic flaws of the EMS hero persona. I have, at one time or another in my career, embodied each and every one of these flaws to one degree or another. I’ve lived each one of them. I would guess that most of us do.

Continue Reading…

The Ultimate EMS Protocol

I don’t handle the card much anymore. It stays inside a plastic sleeve in my planner. The edges are worn and the words are faded. It wasn’t printed on kind of paper that travels well in a wallet for twenty plus years. But it’s been worth carrying. It is, quite simply, the ultimate EMS protocol.

I don’t read it often. I’ve read it enough times over the past two decades to have it pretty well memorized. It’s my STAR CARE card.

I got it back when I was a paramedic student at Baystar Ambulance in San Mateo California. It was 1992. I always believed the original author was none-other-than EMS guru Mike Taigman. Mike had signed on to be the quality care guy at the fledgling service and I knew the cards had originated in his office.

The idea was simple. We can’t write a policy for eveything you may encounter in the field. Instead, use this guideline. If the decision you’re about to make passes these eight tests, we support you. NO matter what. Come hell or high water … we have your back.

It’s brilliant really. It’s the policy to end all policies. It’s the grand daddy algorithm. It’s the ultimate protocol.

Continue Reading…

What Makes A Good EMT (Part 2)

Still struggling with the good EMT thing. I’m glad to be at your service. Grab a pen and answer these questions for yourself.

• What’s your internal bias toward dealing with patients and their challenges?  When patients have needs that don’t meet with your expectations how do you tend to react? Could you do that better? How?
• What’s it like to be your partner? How do people feel about you after they’ve run calls with you? Is that by your design?
• How do you handle it when you fail? When you have a bad call or things don’t go right? Are you willing to be fallible before your peers and own your mistakes? If you really felt that you were good at what you do, what would be the ideal way to address these inevitable errors?
• What is your tolerance for learning. Are you still in an active learning process or have you stagnated in your growth since you entered the field. What did you learn today?

Continue Reading…

Five Things Sports Can Teach You About Being A Good EMT

Some of my favorite movies are sports movies. Movies like Bull Durham, The Natural, Hoosiers and Miracle. I love them. There is something about sports that encapsulates our human struggles like few other things do.

Sports can teach us a few lessons about being a good EMT as well. There are good ideas to be gleaned from successful athletes about running a scene and coordinating emergency care well. Here are my top five.

Have A Good Coach

Everyone needs a mentor. At least everyone who wants to be better at what they do needs one. Look around you for the EMT’s, paramedics, nurses and doctors who you respect. People who may have more experience and training in the field (but not necessarily). Find those people who you would like to be more like and talk with them. You’ll be surprised at how willing people are to offer advice and give input on subjects that can help you become a better clinician.

There is an old Buddhist proverb that says, “When the student is ready, the master appears.” There are people all around you that could be mentors and coaches. You’ll find them when you open yourself to the idea of using others to grow and improve yourself. And if you still feel starved for coaching you can always come here.  

Continue Reading…