Deadly Oversights: 48 Critical Errors First Responders Urge EMTs and Civilians to Avoid
If you catch yourself working up, take a second and take a deep breath, ground yourself, and get back into it.
Thinking they [new first responders] have to adopt the jaded a*****e’s attitude and demeanor to be taken seriously.
Panicking. It’s a whole new, crazy world they’re being exposed to. I reacted way out of proportion plenty of times when I was new, and almost everyone does it when they’re new, too. Hard to pace yourself when your sense of scale in regard to emergencies is non-existent. If you told me not every chest pain patient was critical when I was a brand new EMT, I’d have thought you were crazy.
Driving skills (EASY on the brake). Taking feedback without assuming it’s a personal attack. Being able to admit you don’t know.
Outside of work: get your d**n self in the gym and lift a weight or two a few times a week. This is a physical job. Most of our services are a disgrace to the uniform. Eat properly. Even better, go to a jiujitsu, wrestling, or mma gym and learn some self defense so you have some idea of what to do if and when someone picks a fight with you. Go to therapy, sooner rather than later. Figure out your coping skills so you don’t take stuff out on your partners and patients.
Not an “on the road” mistake but still something I think is important: Taking criticism from senior medics as personal attacks. 9.5 times out of 10 we’re not saying you’re s**t, we’re trying to help you learn and grow. A lot of new medics take things too personally. And actually listen to the criticism and implement it going forwards, we genuinely don’t want you making the same mistake over and over because that’s when it will start to get personal.
Not taking responsibility for their own wellbeing. Don’t work stupid hours. Sleep. Eat. Exercise. Have a non-paramedic social life. Have a hobby. Avoid gossip. Avoid toxic attitudes and behaviours — try some gratitude, compassion, and levity.
Trying to diagnose things. Diagnosing things and feeling confident about it. Hint: it’s not always a UTI.
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