Letters to the Editor: March 2012

E-mail letters to the editor to editor@emsworld.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and to conform to space requirements.

The Real Deal
“The Show That Started It All” by Tim Perkins was a great article in the January 2012 issue of EMS World Magazine. I also grew up watching the show, and I believe to this day that is why I’m in the public safety field. Thank you for having such great articles in the magazine.
Kimberly Kinker, AAS, NREMT-P
Hanover, VA

I’m from Brownsville, PA, a small town about 35 miles south of Pittsburgh. I was only 2 years old when Emergency! debuted in 1972, but I NEVER missed it!

The show started a life-long passion for me for the job. I have been an active paramedic since 1996 and a volunteer firefighter since 1986. I am currently the assistant chief of my fire company. My brother, brother-in-law, 15-year-old daughter and two of my nephews are also involved with the fire company.

I was able to parlay my skills into a full-time teaching position at a local vocational-technical high school, teaching students first responder, EMT and various other certifications.
Ronald J. Barry, AAS, EMT-P
Brownsville, PA

Safety First, Always!
In the January 2012 issue, Skip Goulet comments on delaying treatment while waiting for law enforcement to make the scene safe, saying that rushing into a dangerous situation was “part of the game.”

I’m not sure what planet he is from, but scene safety is priority number one. I’m shocked at his thinking.
Goulet was commenting on a letter by Keith Hart in the October 2011 issue, which also talked about not delaying treatment while waiting on law enforcement to secure the scene.

In the real world, if there is a threat, we absolutely wait until they secure the scene. I refuse to put myself or my crew in harm’s way. End of discussion.
Lt. R.E. Stake
MFD, Melbourne, FL

Caring Is Key
I was looking through some back issues and found

Mike Rubin’s column “Candle Power” in the December 2010 issue. I agree wholeheartedly with what Mike said.

One of my biggest frustrations in this job is the arrogance many of my coworkers have in thinking it’s “cool” to talk about what you put a patient through. People complain about taking grandma back to the nursing home after an ED visit, but I try to imagine every patient I have may not have visitors on a regular basis, and I can be a bright spot in their life in a time of need. The article has inspired me to continue to care for others.
Joshua Hershberger
via e-mail