Welcome to EMS
a career it’s in which is expected no less
than to give our very best.
We answer the call of one and all
to help victims of medical or trauma calls.
We are passionate and love what we do
and give a piece of us to help a stranger like you.
If only my family, friends and public could see our strife
trying to stop the hurt, the aches, the grasp at life.
Though we try and try with all our might
losing so many keeps us awake at night.
We, you see have wounds that won’t heal
the ones we do our best to conceal
caring as much as we do
it’s part of the job to feel your hurt too.
The death of your loved one in my care
so many calls with death and despair.
If it were only once the sight I could handle
yet the image a fixture, like a picture on a mantle.
Over and over those images in my brain they sear
too often, too much, too many times I fear.
The burden of those we couldn’t save
take a toll on us in such a personal way.
Anger, fear, drinking and drugs
become internal demons attacking like thugs.
It was not purposeful this behavior and perception change
heal thyself healer, so who’s to blame?
Suck it up, be tough or quit
that is the culture we are forced to deal with.
Lacking support from our peers who we were taught to respect
with trash talk like that what should you expect?
It’s truly a career like no other
where some eat their young like a cannibal mother.
For those who last more than a few years
we have shed more than our fair share of tears.
EMS can be fun and exciting
it’s not all doom and gloom like I’m writing.
I am showing you parts you may not hear in your classes
the world is not as it seems through rose colored glasses.
So welcome to EMS more than a job it’s a calling
just don’t lose yourself in that rig while you’re hauling.
-Kip Teitsort 2/20/2015