Hi there world. I have created this site as a place where I can post and organize my thoughts and stories. I am working on a book about the inner workings of the field of EMS ( Emergency Medical Services). I picked the title If they only knew because I always say to my partner when I am working of the general public, "If they only knew........" How many of you out there have ever had to call 911 or whatever number it is in your area for an ambulance or fire? I believe that all phones should have a stopwatch built into them No matter if you are right next door to the station and we are there in 30 seconds or if you are way on the other side of town everyone who calls always thinks it took forever for us to get there. Recently I have been fed up by the EMS industry. One of my best friends and former partner when I used to work full time in EMS was just fired for a fabricated reason. He has been a Paramedic for 13 years and is the best medic I know. A few years ago he had a nasty medical condition turn up. No not a drug addiction. He had a cardiac event. That is the politically correct way to say he had a heart attack. Ever since then the company he works for has been targeting him time and time again trying to harrass him into leaving or coming up with a way to fire him. This time they made it stick by blackmailing him into leaving. I am sure I will get arround later to the gory details but needless to say I am really mad! :-( I have been asked many times at parties and gatherings when I meet new people, "What's the worst thing you have ever seen?" The answer is, the private parts of a 90 year old woman. That usually leaves them thinking. The real worst thing was the night I responded to a call for a shooting. When I arrived being the rookie on the truck in training, I jumped out and ran inside with the big trauma bag full of equipment. Just before going in, the two medics I was training with must have gotten the signal from the cops on scene and knew the patient was dead and it was messy. They shouted to me that I was running this call. This meant that I was in charge and had to decide what to do. I stepped into the room and as I looked up from the floor with a red pool on it I ran my gaze up from the mans feet. I saw the shot gun lying on the floor, as my eyes shifted upward I started to see the mans face. Actually to say face is an overstatement. Most of his face and head was splattered on the wall behind him. I lost it. I started swearing at the other medics because they were laughing behind me. There I was, all ready to get busy and save some guys life, or at least try. This guy was real dead. So much for my big chance to run a call. So if this story did not make you sick, come back soon and read on. Who know it might save you $14.95 some day when it gets published.