Category Archives: Book Review

EMS Book Review: “Silent Siren: Memoirs of a Life-saving Mortician” by Matthew Sias

December 21, 2012 6:05 pm | Leave a Comment |

My EMS Book Review for December is Silent Siren: Memoirs of a Life-saving Mortician by Matthew Sias. The book is a chronological progression along his unique career in emergency services.

 Sias’ story is uncommon with respect to his career development.  It’s normal for some new EMT’s to follow a non-EMS trajectory and eventually become career law enforcement, firefighters, nurses, PA’s, or doctors.  Less common are the EMT’s who become coroners or morticians.  Out of my hundreds of emergency service friends, I know of only two who pursued that path.

Going into the book, I had the preconceived notion of it being a collection of morbid stories that would depress even seasoned EMS providers. Despite the darkness of the cover and title, this isn’t the case.  Sias weaves together several dozen short memoirs with a light and humorous writing style that engages readers to follow him through his pursuit of providing for a patient or family’s needs.

 I enjoyed reading this book and even had the opportunity to talk with Sias on Medical Author Chat with Greg Friese.  Be sure to check out that interview and pick up the book!

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EMS Book Review: “You Called 9-1-1 For What?” by Dave Konig

December 1, 2012 12:16 am | 5 Comments |

My EMS Book Review for November is another great offering from The Social Medic in You Called 9-1-1 For What? by Dave Konig. 

 True to Social Medic form, he’s published this gem solely in e-book format.  Not only does this give the reader universal accessibility when using the free Kindle Cloud Reader, but it also offers the dynamic content of hyperlinks to some of these hilarious 9-1-1 calls.

 Many of the calls are related to law enforcement, with a few medical issues thrown in for good measure.  Reading about these asinine requests made of law enforcement made me thankful for my career choice of EMS.  Selfishly, I wanted to read mostly about Fire & EMS “emergency” calls, but that may be something he’s saving for Part 2.

 This humorous compilation is the perfect companion for your next posting assignment on the corner of Boring St. and My Back’s Killing Me Ave.  The icing on this sweet offering is that it’s only a buck on Amazon.  OMG, BBQ!

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EMS Book Review: “The Official Guide to Blogging for EMS” by Dave Konig

October 29, 2012 9:45 pm | 1 Comment |

My EMS Book Review for October is The Official Guide to Blogging for EMS by Dave Konig.  Although the title implies it being a “guide,” this book is in a class of its own in an industry steeped in guides and manuals.

Not everyone in EMS has their own blog, and that’s okay.  Even if a provider doesn’t write for the masses, he or she can still benefit from this book.  We all read EMS literature in some form, and this book helps sets standards for what is “good” or “not so good” in our reading diet.

Konig is a New York City based EMS provider working in the field since 1994. He has worked in the private sector, as a 911 provider, and as a volunteer.  Additionally, he has been heavily involved in all aspects of social media since 2005.  He is currently the founder and administrator of the well-known EMS Blogs Network.  When it comes to EMS blogging, he is THE subject matter expert.

I enjoyed this book because it is both authoritative and immediately useful.  Konig not only writes with the authority of a blog network administrator, but he also offers specific examples (with links) for each topic he discusses.  Being immediately useful is also an essential attribute for any EMS “guide.”  EMS folks don’t have time to meditate on complex pathophysiology theories while managing emergencies, so throughout the book Konig goes straight to the point for new (or experienced) EMS bloggers looking to improve.

Every EMS provider has a voice and shares part of the responsibility for moving us ahead as a profession.  If you’ve ever thought that your voice and ideas could help the next person down the line, maybe this is the year you give EMS blogging a try.  Pick up Konig’s book and get to it!

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EMS Book Review: “Paramedic to the Prince” by Patrick (Tom) Notestine

October 4, 2012 11:42 pm | Leave a Comment |

Have you ever seen the ads in EMS and Fire magazines telling readers about employment opportunities overseas?  Years ago when I was a young, single paramedic, I gave some thought to what it would be like to work in another country.  Sure, the culture would be different, but medicine is medicine.  Right?    

In the book Paramedic to the Prince by Patrick (Tom) Notestine, we learn that isn’t always true.  In Saudi Arabia, medical school and physician jobs are reserved for those with wassta (connections and influence).  Diagnosis and prognosis are not conversation topics to be had with patients, either.  Instead, providers should tell patients that they will get better, Inshallah (God willing).  These are just a few of the many differences Notestine encountered during his work in Saudi Arabia.  

Notestine’s literary work stands out among other books by EMS authors.  Not only is it well written, but it offers a detailed account of how even the most basic patient care changes from one culture to another.  I recommend this book to anyone, regardless of their medical knowledge or experience.    

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EMS Book Review: “Population: 485 – Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time” by Michael Perry

August 30, 2012 8:42 pm | Leave a Comment |

My EMS Book Review for August is Population: 485 – Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry.  From the title alone, readers will recognize this as a commentary on rural EMS.  It’s a sharp contrast from many books in the EMS genre that are borne out of inner-city “knife and gun club” response areas.  

Perry is a skilled writer with the ability to pull readers into the action of a call, but his book goes beyond the sirens and wrecks.  He takes seriously the idea of “meeting your neighbors” implied in the subtitle.  His reflections are more than observations of patients and providers.  It is a commentary on community; the people, the places, and most importantly the relationships.

I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of their involvement in EMS or Fire.  Perry also shares his thoughts with readers in a great interview on Medical Author Chat.  When you head out to grab your own copy, make sure to buy two.  You’ll want to share this one with your friends!

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EMS Book Review: “Please Don’t Dance In My Ambulance” by Barry Bachenheimer

July 28, 2012 1:46 am | 2 Comments |

My EMS Book Review for July is Please Don’t Dance In My Ambulance by Barry Bachenheimer.  Readers of my reviews may be calling foul already.  Sure, reviewing an EMS children’s book is a sharp break from my regular reading regimen.  To be honest, I gave up caffeine this month and have subsequently dropped to a third-grade reading comprehension level!  Luckily, this book is a great purchase for readers of all levels.  I thought of two great uses for this book as I flipped through its colorful pages.

First, it’s a fun story for any EMS provider to share with the young children in their family.  The short, whimsical rhyming and cartoon illustrations will bring a Dr. Seuss feel to story time.

Second, this book would be a good tool to have on hand at EMS public relations events.  Young children are frequently apprehensive around ambulances, and this short story (perhaps read from the tailboard to a group of kids) would be perfect for decreasing their anxiety about ambulances.

There does come a point in the story where everyone gets to dance in the ambulance after their hard work is complete.  Bachenheimer discussed his hard work as an EMT and educator on an episode of Medical Author Chat last year.  Check out the interview, then grab the book to read for the young children in your life!

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EMS Book Review: “Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT” by Jane Stern

June 30, 2012 2:15 pm | 4 Comments |

“Don’t judge a book by its movie,” is a 21st century twist on a timeless kernel of wisdom.  I believe this holds true for the book Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern.  It’s a very well-written book that later became a straight-to-DVD movie.  Though the movie only appealed to a small audience, the book is a great read.

Stern takes readers through her own journey of personal lows and professional highs.  She starts the story at a very low point in her life when she was gripped by clinical depression, but decided she would force herself to get out and become an EMT.

I found the first part of her story ironic.  Here was a person with severe depression and access to a physician willing to write her scripts for plenty of medication.  Sound like a recipe for disaster?  I thought so, too.  I’ve transported my share of overdoses with the same story line.  Through uncommon perseverance though, she became the provider working in an ambulance instead of the patient riding in an ambulance.

Her struggle with EMT class was the first hurdle to overcome.

“I am having a problem my shrink tells me is often experienced by first-year medical students.  I have every symptom of every disease Frank mentions in the classroom.  I am no longer clinically depressed but instead am dying of everything simultaneously.”

Stern’s honesty and humor are endearing throughout the book.  However, readers interested in the action of EMS or the clinical/social implications of our work may not be thrilled with this book.  Stern becomes pretty vulnerable with her readers at times, and some may see it as whining.  However, I would still recommend it for all FTO’s and EMS Managers.  Stern paints a picture of someone coming into EMS to vicariously heal herself by healing others.  Regardless of a manager’s view on people who enter EMS this way, the book will offer insight on employees who may be fighting these same battles just below the surface.

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EMS Book Review: “Paramedic: On the Front Lines of Medicine” by Peter Canning

June 3, 2012 4:54 pm | 1 Comment |

Continuing on the 12 n ’12 Reading Challenge for EMS Professionals, my EMS book for May was Paramedic: On the Front Lines of Medicine by Peter Canning.  The book takes readers through the up’s and down’s of the first several years of Canning’s EMS career.  As a former political speech writer turned paramedic, Canning is the quintessential medical author.  However, these talents don’t offer much protection on the streets.  Though he came into EMS with more education and life experience than many young medics, he finds that he isn’t immune from the trials of internships and earning the respect of his peers.

“I am glad that they have confidence in me.  I do not feel it is warranted.  The call has scared me – reminded me that there are calls ahead where I will stumble and won’t have someone there to get me back on the right track.”

In time, Canning hits his stride and joins the ranks of the urban EMS professional, only to find that there were a lot of topics not covered in his training.  He finds himself challenged both positively and negatively from shift to shift.

“Before leaving I go to wash my hands.  In the men’s room, I look at myself in the mirror.  Who am I?  What are my true feelings?  Why can’t I see this woman for what she is – a scared, poorly educated mother who’s probably had a hard life full of defeats and prejudices against her, who loves her daughter and just wants her to be all right?  Where is my compassion?  My understanding?”

Canning manages to capture both the vivid, tangible details of EMS calls and the dynamic, intangible emotions that prehospital providers encounter.  Through all the chaos in his shift work, Canning eventually finds an inner calm and satisfaction.  His thoughtful reflections are too numerous to list here, but my favorite was this…

“Around six every night it gets very busy.  We clear the hospital and are the only ambulance available in the city, and the dispatcher says to us, “You are covering the world.”  I think I may not be a senator, or the right fielder for the Red Sox, or a rich man, but here I am covering the world.  And no matter who gets sick, whether a poor man in the projects or the governor in his mansion, when they call for help, I will come through the door.”

Canning offers readers some more insight into his EMS writing during this interview on the Medical Author Chat.  If you find Canning’s writing as engaging as I did, then you can also check out his most recent blog entries at Street Watch: Notes of a Paramedic.

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EMS Book Review: “Moments in the Death of a Flesh Mechanic … a healer’s rebirth” by Russ Reina.

May 2, 2012 12:12 pm | 1 Comment |

I’m nearly over a week-long bout with the flu, but my brain is still not out of the cold medicine fog.  Though lying in bed afforded me time to catch up on a lot of reading, I learned that I should refrain from blogging while doped-up.  This is actually the second version of my April book review.  The highly-medicated first version read like a toddler trying to describe a M. Night Shyamalan plot twist.  So here we go with the book review, a week later, sans NyQuil.

My recommended read for April is Moments in the Death of a Flesh Mechanic … a healer’s rebirth by Russ Reina. Once you get past the distasteful imagery of an EMS professional being labeled a “flesh mechanic,” you’re in for an incredible read.  Reina offers his readers much more than simple street gore implied in the title.  He is a genuinely talented writer with the ability to display all the thoughts, movements, and emotions of EMS in simple, yet powerful, passages. Here is one of my favorites;

“I was eyes, ears, and hands and just a feeling in the center of my chest of pure internal silence. Suspended in time and moving in a vacuum, I didn’t have a name or a job; I was movement choreographed by something much greater than myself.”

Reina explores the emotions we encounter as EMS professionals more thoroughly than most writers, and encourages his readers to do the same.  He asserts that to become true healers for our patients and our peers, we must be willing to embrace our own humanity.  Otherwise, we become cold, protocol-driven flesh mechanics. This compelling work is a must-read for any provider who has ever wondered why getting over “the bad ones” became easier with time.

You can pick up your own copy of the book at Reina’s website, RussReina.com.  Greg Friese also did a great interview with Reina about the book, which you can find posted over at Medical Author Chat.  Last, but not least, Reina is still writing about EMS over at the EMS Outside Agitator blog.

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EMS Book Review: Paramedic Buff to Burnt by George Steffensen

March 30, 2012 12:09 pm | 5 Comments |

To catch myself up with the 12 in ’12 Reading Challenge for EMS Professionals, this is my second book for March.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process of reading Paramedic Buff to Burnt by George Steffensen (ISBN #1419602616). Yes, it’s a process.  More on that in a second.  Steffenson presents approximately fifty short chapters that outline some of the most memorable calls of his career. At the time he wrote the book, Steffensen was a street medic in New York City.  He is currently working as a paramedic in East Baton Rouge, a move he decided to make when his previous employer ceased operations.

Few book reviewers would suggest that readers “go see the movie” before reading any given title, but this is exactly what I’ll suggest to you.  In saying that, I actually mean two things.  First, listen to Steffensen’s interview with Paramedic Greg Friese of Medical Author Chat.  In that talk, he explains that he wrote and self-published the book after actors Nicolas Cage and Tom Sizemore did ride-along’s with his agency in preparation for their roles in the EMS-themed film, “Bringing Out the Dead.”  Steffensen could see that the film would be a macabre portrayal of the profession he loved, so his wrote the book to show all the positive work he and his peers were doing in EMS.  With about $800 of his own money (and probably countless hours of off-duty time), he self-published the book through BookSurge Publishing, a subsidiary of Amazon.com.

 My second suggestion before reading the Steffensen’s book is to see, ”Bringing Out the Dead.”  As a side note, it isn’t a good first-date movie, nor is it kid-friendly.  I think Director Martin Scorsese put together an excellent film; but just like Steffensen, I’d be a little offended if it was essentially portraying me “on my home turf.”

 After this, you’ll be ready to sit down and enjoy reading Paramedic Buff to Burnt.  Each chapter is a short narrative of a noteworthy call from Steffensen’s career.  EMS providers will recognize the author more or less follows a SOAP format of writing.  Steffensen freely admits that he’s no writer, but I still give him a lot of credit for going straight from medic to author in a single leap.

 If you’re into the research, management, or motivational aspects of EMS, this title probably won’t do it for you.  But, if you’re a field provider who enjoys reading about some truly crazy calls, this book is for you.  It is proof that every field provider has a story to tell, and that story is well within our abilities to write and self-publish.  So read the book, and start thinking of the story you have to tell the world!

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