A poll was taken asking that famous question, “What Makes a Great Paramedic?”

Here are some of your many great answers….

“Never forget to be humanly.”

“Being a Good Basic 1st.”

“Gain more knowledge to improve better as Paramedic job”

“Being able to treat the BS patients as well as the very sick patients…”

“How much fun he/she has on his/her day off.”

“A good EMT Partner makes you a Great Paramedic…”

“Having good common sense….”

“Driving fast to the hospital.”

“Never forgetting you compassion for the patient and how you treat them,even if it is a b.s. call.”

” Team work & understanding in paramedic job.”

“Realizing why you are REALLY there and knowing what’s in your toolbox of things to offer.”

“Not being a Cookbook medic. Having a complete understanding of what your doing and why.”

“A good paramedic knows when, where and how to use all of the equipment available. A great paramedic knows the previous but knows that maybe the little ole lady just needs you to hold her hand.”

“A whole lot of patience. And the ability to pull those emergency skills/knowledge out when the need occassionally surfaces.”

“personally i would like to be cared by a paramedic who know how to do there job and that i feel comfortable having my life in ther hands.(if im consious) im not a paremdeic but ik thats a few things id like to see.”

“Knowing that you don’t know everything and always striving to learn something new everyday. Tx every patient you would want your family treated, regardless of who or what they are. Everyone belongs to someone. Treat everyone with respect.”

“nothing in words makes a good Paramedic They just ARE!”

“”its not about how many drugs you give, its about if you can start from the basics and work your way up” That was told to me by a medic during my medic clinicals.”

“When you wake up and enjoy your job, show a little compassion with the ability to be a little firm… A strong knowledge base with the ability to act/react… Have faith/confidence in what you do…. And last but not least…a little thick skin! When someone tells you that you don’t need to know something…odds are, you do!!!”

So, when I began to ask this question to all you, I already had a clear picture of “What a Great Paramedic is…”  There hasn’t been a time in my life or anyone’s that I can remember that hasn’t had the unfortunate opportunity to be treated by a Medic or Firefighter / EMT. 

Being an EMS writer, REHAB Support volunteer supporting/interfacing with Fire and EMS Responders and everything that is associated in the Medical field – I personally commend each and every one of you.  For the time commitment you began your training, the time you dedicate yourself to come to work each and every day (or your assigned shift), to the patients you deal with day in and day out though some can probably be dramatizing it or be really really sick.  You use your knowledge, skills and experiences to help people throughout their worst times in their lives.  The most valuable you possess is your golden heart and compassion.

  For the new Medics going through training, we promise – it gets easier.  Keep focused and be like a sponge soaking up everything around you.  For those recently graduated – CONGRATULATIONS! you are on your way to a spectacular career.  For those who have been in for awhile, you are all should be proud of yourselves for what you do every day.  For those who may have retired or are going to retire, you have left a great mark on this world and we thank you!!

A Special Thanks to all of my friends, family and those who contributed on FaceBook.  Your input was greatly appreciated!

Keep up the great work that you all are doing out there, be safe and continue to spread your compassion around, patients may not appreciate it or you may seem unappreciated, please be reassured that you are greatly appreciated many….!

Written by Lisa Swenson

(c) 2012 The NW Fire Blog

Sources: FaceBook quotations are property of the Paramedics on FaceBook page.