Hi, I'm a Paramedic - by Jeffrey S Hammerstein (Paperback)

About the Book

"Hi, I'm a paramedic" is a phrase that launches conversations with countless people who call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. But what kind of person becomes a paramedic, and what's it like to be one? Follow the career arc of an easily frightened kid who grew up determined to be a paramedic--the sheepish child who always needed reassurance that everything would be okay, who then grew into the person trying to be that reassurance.

"Hi, I'm A Paramedic" puts you in the ambulance for a ride through the phases of a paramedic's career; from the infatuation with the new, to the seasoned veteran facing the inevitable burnout, to the evolution into leadership and an accounting of what it means to have had the privilege to serve as a paramedic. Immerse in a narrative written not as a collection of high-shock war stories, but rather a revelation of the real-life impact on the heart, mind, and soul of the paramedic, the patient, and the families of both.

Book Synopsis

"Hi, I'm a paramedic" is a phrase that launches conversations with countless people who call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. But what kind of person becomes a paramedic, and what's it like to be one? Most of the time it's not the dramatic calls that play out like a TV story, but rather the calls in between that reveal the nuances of humanity and wind up etched into the memories of the responders.

Follow the career arc of an easily frightened kid who grew up determined to be a paramedic--the sheepish child who always needed reassurance that everything would be okay, who then grew into the person trying to be that reassurance. Experience the aspiring young responder's first collisions with the reality of death and despair while learning how to take care of people who call 9-1-1, and ride through the fears, failures, and wins that come along the way. Listen in as that responder creates an original rock and roll band with lyrics hinting at the stressors of emergency response to help cope. Experience and appreciate learning to interact with people across an enormous range of backgrounds, means, and stations in life--while struggling with the unmet expectations of how some in EMS chose to talk about people different from them.

"Hi, I'm A Paramedic" puts you in the ambulance for a ride through the phases of a paramedic's career; from the infatuation with the new, to the seasoned veteran facing the inevitable burnout, to the evolution into leadership and an accounting of what it means to have had the privilege to serve as a paramedic. Immerse in a narrative written not as a collection of high-shock war stories, but rather a revelation of the real-life impact on the heart, mind, and soul of the paramedic, the patient, and the families of both.

Who is this book for? It's for other responders to commiserate with. It's for the families and friends of responders to gain insight into what we're exposed to on a regular and long-term basis. It's for anyone fascinated or intrigued about what really happens out there. It's for anyone with a timid soul trying to figure out how to find their voice.

About the Author

Jeffrey Hammerstein is a retired paramedic who spent 35 years working within the Wake County EMS System in Raleigh, North Carolina after growing up in Evansville, Indiana. In addition to serving as a paramedic on an ambulance, Jeffrey also worked as a field training officer, district chief, and EMS public information officer. Jeffrey retired from Wake County EMS in 2021 as Assistant Chief of Community Outreach and has worked on chronicling his journey through his career since.