For EMS responders, there is no such thing as a “normal” day. as they work to keep our communities safe.
“We all love helping people, and that’s really the core that drives us,” paramedic Darren Marrs said.
But this week, our city is taking a turn serving our first responders for National EMS Week. Covenant Children’s and Aerocare hosted a barbeque lunch for first responders, but soon, they were back to work.
EverythingLubbock.com climbed in an ambulance and rode along to see what they do in a day.
Paramedic Kelli Barrera said there job is a balance between speed and safety.
“Drop what you are doing, go to the patient, get there in a timely manner,” Barrera said, adding they treat every call equally. “To them, a stubbed toe or a heart attack, it’s their emergency.”
Marrs said, the intensity of the job can take a toll on EMS personnel.
“PTSD is prevalent in emergency personnel, but it’s highest in EMS, even higher than fire or police,” Marrs said. “Because the reality is we do go into situations that aren’t normal for people.”
Marrs and Barrera said when they climb on board the ambulance, it becomes all about the patients.
“At the end of the day the patient is always the number one thing on every paramedics mind,” Marrs said.
Barrera said, “We see people in the worst moments of their life, so to be able to help them when they are going through that is pretty fulfilling.”
