This question is mainly for any firefighters or EMS?? (don't know if anybody one here is one) but what is it like/how does it make you feel to save somebody's life?

 

Very Good! In general it make me (Paramedic), My wife (Paramedic/firefighter) and law enforcement feel very good when we do a good job no matter what type of call!

 

I believe that everyone probably reacts and feels someahat differently. Because you have asked the question you are obviously interested. I would suggest to you that you may want to join a volunteer group such as Search and Rescue, Ski Patrol, Volunteer Fire Fighters or Ambulance. My wife and I started in Search and Rescue. She went on to serve as an EMT for 15 years as a volunteer on the ambulance. I spent 27 years in Law Enforcement plus still remaining a volunteer in Search and Rescue. There is a good feeling when you know that you have saved someones life. The most rewarding is when a young person is involved, finding a child who has been lost and seeing the relief on the parents face is a fantastic experience. When you save someone, you have positively affected many others, family and friends. I would hope that your question means that you are interestd in helping others. You will not get rich financially, the reward is the knowledge that you have helped another human being in need. How much is that worth?

1999.5 F250, 4X4, Lariat, X-Cab, Long Box, Auto, Banks Bighead, Banks Trans-Command and gauges.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a soldier. In memory of Spec. James Wolf 1982-2003.

 

I am not an emergency services or law inforcement person.....but.....two experiences I had helped to mold my opinion of them.

1st, I assisted in a car accident where some folks died. I was the only person there and held on young man while he passed. When the EMTs arrived I cried like a baby. It takes a special person to do that kind of work day in and day out. My hat is off to you. I still dream of the horors I saw that morning.

In 2000 I had a major heart attack. I really wasn't afraid until I remembered I might be leaving my new wife and baby boy behind. The cop that showed up was a jerk, as many are, and the EMT crew was awesome. They knew what they were doing, did it well and rapidly and put my mind at ease. One of them took the time to park my bigtruck for me because the cop kept insisting I move it.

These people are as good as gold.

 

I currently am a volunteer for my local Sheriff Search & Rescue. We actually just rescued a 68 yr old hunter that had gone out with his family. They separated around 7 am and were supposed to meet up at 9 am. He didn't show. But, a cold snow/rain storm did. I ended up finding the guy alive at 2 am the next morning. He got lucky and found an old abandoned camper for shelter from the rain. That was an unbelievable feeling.
Also, back in the summer we responded to a downed 13 yr old dirtbiker who sustained major head trauma even with a helmet. He launched out of a bowl into a steep, deep ravine. Anyways, we were the first on scene and were able to rapidly assess his condition and call for an airlift. Helo responded in minutes and hoisted the kid out. We had him all packaged up when they arrived. Just knowing that I could be a key point in the survival of another human being is enough gratification for me.
These events are what have led me to taking an EMT class that I just took the final for. I take my skills tests on Monday. I hope to move on to getting a job with an ambulance company and eventually become a Paramedic.

 

I've always been proud of helping put out the fires (one on each end) in an early Bronco that came off an overpass on Cinco De Mayo with the two guys still in it, not moving an inch to get out. If the fire would have hit them with their BAC level, it could have taken out a whole block.

 

im not an emt but i saved my dads life. he started choking and
gave the helimic(sp?) manuver and up came the food.
but its probly the best feeling in the wrold when you save a life.

 

Well as a 25 year veteran firefighter I have seen a lot of things and I have to agree with FBINA109 in that saving someone's life affects a person in a wide range of ways. I have seen people actually quit the job because it was so emotional a thing that they didn't want that kind of "responsibility" anymore. And I have seen people go the other way as well and get so "ate up" with it that the rest of their career was a disappointment that it didn't happen again.

I have had the honor of saving a life on several occasions and even bringin new life into the world. It is indeed a sobering thing to know that without your intervention this person would not be alive today, their familes would have suffered a lot of grief, and who knows what good (or bad) this person will do in the future.

I try not to think on such things too much. I was lucky to be there, lucky to have the knowledge and skill necessary, and what happens from here on out is out of my hands.

 

I used to be a volunteer firefighter and EMT I. While I was in the process of taking the course we had a medical call for a heart attack, the firechief and I were first on the scene and managed to get the guy going again with CPR, it was a truly awesome feeling.
-TD

 

Served as a Firefighter/First Responder on my local Volunteer Fire Co. and never had the responsibility of actually saving a life but I know a lot of the local EMS Paramedics and EMT's who have and my hat is off to each and every one of them. It takes a special breed to do the job they do every day and that includes all EMS, Firefighters, and Law Enforcement. Kudos to all of you! Carl

 

Was a beach lifeguard for many a year...

Fortunately never had to svae anyones life, had a couple of close ones though...

 

i have been a emt-p, a member of the ski patrol and still a member of the coast guard auxiliary. the others have said it well the feeling one getts like a first cpr save is something you never forget. then you also never forget the bad ones either like the auto wreaks where you want to do something and can't due to major safty issues .one i was at we had a gas tanker loose its brakes and go down a gully breaking open dumping 11000 gals of gas .dep said you can not go down there.but then you have another call and bring in a new life and deliver a womans baby. the feeling one getts in ems is something you never forget. but open ones eyes to a major fact when driving past a ems building the signs always say MEMBERS NEEDED
ems members are a very specail breed of person, always warm and caring, a breed of person no one ever forgets when they have one or more help them.
god bless every one of them for the strong will it takes to do that work and most of the time not get paid for doing it.