By Jennifer Royer, Paramedic
I had just started as an EMT at Christian Hospital. I was a BLS-EMT, doing transfers for 8-10 hours a shift.
There was a very bad car accident, and they called for every on-duty medic and EMT. I jumped in the back of an ambulance and went to the scene.
When we arrived and I got out, the first thing I saw was a firefighter vomiting on the side of the road. I then saw some patients with injuries that were horrific.
I took a moment and thought about my choices:
- Start heaving like the firefighter.
- Get back in the ambulance and wait for a ride back — career over.
- Start helping, even though I was as green as fertilized grass and didn’t have a clue.
I decided that this was what I really wanted to do, so I jumped in and helped, and that was 24 years ago. I have never regretted that decision.