👶👶👶 A Thousand Naked Strangers, by Kevin Hazzard

What a fascinating look into the world of an EMT and paramedic! There are just so many things in life that we take for granted; the immediate availability of emergency personnel when tragedy strikes, is just one of many. When one takes into account what goes on in any given city at any given time, it is astonishing that these brave and selfless individuals don’t receive more extolment. Mr. Hazzard did a tremendous job of giving insight into a little known career in a humorous, albeit audacious, manner.

I had no idea the turnover rate in this field is so high! I’ve always thought of emergency work as a type of lifelong calling, for individuals who had an inner desire to help others in need. The author did clarify that while this is the case for some, it is by no means, the reason the great majority of EMT’s choose this career path. He goes on to explain that burnout, as one can imagine, is a very real problem in this field.

Some of the stories are shocking, unimaginable, and downright gruesome. What some human beings are capable of, is quite disconcerting. I couldn’t quite stomach a few of the tales, but they were written in such a manner that I couldn’t quite turn away either. I certainly did learn a lot from this wild ride!

Read 4/16/16