# I saved a life last night **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 24, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saved-a-life-last-night/586707 "2011-06-24T14:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saved-a-life-last-night/586707/21 "2011-06-26T16:13:52Z")
> [@Whiteknight](#): > > Look at the bright side, you have something to look forward to while I’m likely destined for a volunteer career of nothing but slip and falls and old ladies who can’t find their diabetes meds. Hey, now, if you’ve had a slip and fall injury, EMTs showing up to help you probably FEELS like you’re saving their lives (and with our winter weather, you actually might be). My husband had a terrible gall bladder attack a couple of years ago (the attack that ended with the gall bladder coming out), and when the paramedics got to our house and gave him the morphine, I think he was about ready to give them all a big smooch on the lips. Don’t underestimate how appreciated the “little” things are. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saved-a-life-last-night/586707/22 "2011-06-26T16:36:45Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Hey, now, if you’ve had a slip and fall injury, EMTs showing up to help you probably FEELS like you’re saving their lives (and with our winter weather, you actually might be). My husband had a terrible gall bladder attack a couple of years ago (the attack that ended with the gall bladder coming out), and when the paramedics got to our house and gave him the morphine, I think he was about ready to give them all a big smooch on the lips. Don’t underestimate how appreciated the “little” things are. 🙂 Very true. These things aren’t nearly so exciting for the EMT’s, but they’re still heroic lifesaving events to the patients and their families. If my grandma loses her diabetes meds, or slips and falls (again), I’m sure glad someone is trained in helping her! ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saved-a-life-last-night/586707/23 "2011-06-26T17:18:41Z")
I have taken the ride a few times for breaking my left leg. First time in college (motorcycle accident) I cursed the whole trip in and wasn’t a good patient. Second time three years ago when I shattered my femur I didn’t react well when the medics asked me if I could ‘walk over to the ambo’ because they didn’t fee like bringing the stretcher up the hill to me. Once they realized I wasn’t kidding we were cool. Two months ago when I broke my heel the crew was great - very considerate and it was a good trip in. Yes the little things are very important to the receivers, and a lot of them are not going to be thankful enough at the time, either because they are distracted by what ails them or are just jerks. Hopefully you will find your work rewarding for a long time. Thanks for the story! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saved-a-life-last-night/586707/24 "2011-06-27T06:14:48Z")
Now this is the real reason I love this place. I’m very glad of you, OP. ---
**Author:** ![Whiteknight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whiteknight/32/4962_2.png) [@Whiteknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiteknight)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saved-a-life-last-night/586707/25 "2011-06-28T11:26:45Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Hey, now, if you’ve had a slip and fall injury, EMTs showing up to help you probably FEELS like you’re saving their lives (and with our winter weather, you actually might be). My husband had a terrible gall bladder attack a couple of years ago (the attack that ended with the gall bladder coming out), and when the paramedics got to our house and gave him the morphine, I think he was about ready to give them all a big smooch on the lips. Don’t underestimate how appreciated the “little” things are. 🙂 No doubt. I don’t mean to knock the little things and I’m looking forward to being able to make a difference in my patients’ lives. That said, I’m sure it’ll be nice to have some excitement once in a while as well. Edit: As of Saturday, our patient was in the ICU but had been extubated and was conscious and alert! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saved-a-life-last-night/586707.md?page=1)