By EMS1 Staff
Dr. Seuss, in “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!”, gave this vital piece of advice, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.”
Yes, it’s a children’s book. However, Seuss’ words ring true for every EMS provider — no matter if you’re starting day one or have 20-plus years on the job.
EMS1 columnist Kelly Grayson suggested 10 books that every paramedic should own. And because book choices tend to be highly subjective, Grayson opened the discussion to EMS1 Facebook fans. He asked and our readers delivered — with numerous book suggestions.
Here are 10 more book suggestions; be sure to provide yours in the comment section if you haven’t already.
1. “Kelly, your book ‘A Paramedic’s Story: Life, Death and Everything In Between’ is one I would include. I understand why you didn’t, and kudos to you for being a class act. But your book is one that inspired me to start blogging, so I personally would add it.” — Troy Shaffer
2. “Jeff Keneally’s ‘Pre-hospital Practice: Hypothetically Speaking.’” — Kimberly Fielding
3. “‘Touch of Life’ by Robert Fulford.” — Chris Faulknor
4. “‘Omaha Orange’ by Carl Post. Tough read, but great history lesson.” — Daniel Slattery
5. “As a 30-year EMS’er, I would say ‘Streetsense’ by Kate Dernonoeur and ‘The Magic of 3 a.m.’ by James Page.” — Lisa Hintz
6. “‘Capnography, King of the ABC’s: A Systematic Approach for Paramedics’ by Troy Valente.” — Matthew Robert Drake
7. “‘Talking Trauma: Storytelling Among Paramedics’ by Timothy Tangherlini, who is a folklorist at UCLA. He collected hundreds of hours of paramedics telling stories and then analyzed types of stories and the reasons we tell them.” — Niels Tangherlini
8. “When I was in junior high, I read the book, ‘Report from Engine Company 82' by Dennis Smith. I knew I had to become a firefighter and paramedic. I’d give anything to have an autographed copy.” — Robert Vahle
9. “‘Trauma Junkie’ by Janice Hudson. It’s about the journey of a flight nurse, but many of the lessons are applicable to EMS as well. Janice has a deep appreciation of EMS and it shows in her writing.” — Eric Williams
10. “I would add ‘How We Die’ by Sherwin Nuland, ‘Anatomy of an Illness (as perceived by the patient)’, and to round out the ethical commentary, ‘The House of God’ by Samuel Shem (a pseudonym by psychiatrist Samuel Bergman). Together, they help give a crash course in ethics.” — John Clemens