How Do Paramedics Cope?
Paramedics deal with life and death situations as a routine part of their work. Like any health care practitioner, a paramedic can only do so much – no matter how skilled. There’s no rhyme or explanation, despite best efforts put forth, why one patient lives and another dies.
A typical day on the job may not present itself with much more than transporting patients who are not desperately ill to and from hospitals for their appointments. Sometimes a paramedic might have to use specialized equipment such as an electric hoist or hydraulic jack to save a life. Other days a paramedic might be called in to assist with a situation that he or she never dreamed to be involved with, or only learned about in theory class. The day to day experiences are all over the map, and one day may not guarantee that the next will be anything similar.