EMS: The Job of Your Life

Rating:
Summary: Ever wonder why EMS doesn't hold as much respect as FD or PD
Review: Ever wonder why EMS providers don't receive the same amount of respect as firefighters and police officers? EMS is still a young profession and the public does not have a complete understanding of what we do. Kerins' book portrays EMS providers in a less than positive light. The endless complaining and whining about having to respond to calls even during meals did not sit well with me. Perhaps I am wrong, but as an EMT or Paramedic, it is my job to respond when someone is in need. I have also been on a lot of calls that were less than emergent, but in each situation I have always maintained a degree of professionalism. This book hurts all efforts that we EMS providers have made to advance our profession. I wish I could get back the money I spent on this book.

Rating:
Summary: UNLIKE ANY OTHER!
Review: Expecting a journal-type of book, where a collection of emergency calls are laid out in chronological order, I was pleasantly suprised to find a sporadic flow of thoughts and memories, intricately associated with a particular moment in a single day in Devin's life. Absolutely amazing! Whether you're part of EMS or not, you have to read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Funny and Full of Heart!
Review: I hadn't heard of these books until I attended a terrorism course taught by the author and he mentioned them. I'm glad he did! This and the sequel surpassed my expectations. Its obvious from the book that this guy loves his job. What another review saw as whining, I saw as the author bringing to light in a funny way many of the gripes coworkers have. The public might expect EMS books to be serious and full of gory 'war stories.' Not in this case. What I loved the most, having had the chance to talk with the author, is the way he speaks through his stories. It was as if he was sitting in my living room with me telling me the stories himself.

PS: He joked at the class about making a movie out of it... Let's go Hollywood!

Rating:
Summary: When's the movie coming out?
Review: I hope he really is working on a movie for this! Nothing I've read so far captures the spirit of EMS like Devin's books. The 9-11 remembrance brought me to tears, and then he turns it all around with outrageously funny and true stories. I'd love to ride with the guy for one day to see all the bizarre stuff he seems to attract. I couldn't put the book down from the moment I unpacked it. I hate to sound like everyone else, but this is a MUST read for anyone in the business, new to the business, thinking about the business, or anyone wanting a good laugh. The radio moments and sex injuries made me laugh so hard my sides hurt. Keep up the excellent work!

Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: I know it sounds trite, but I was blown away by this book. When I got it, I was thinking that it would be like the other EMS books I've read, like "Bringing Out the Dead" or "Into the Breach." I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. Instead of hero centered war stories, Devin mixes raw honesty and self-effacing humor to create a blend of stories that really captures the essence of the EMS worker. The chapter on radio transmissions left me wondering how I sound when I use my radio. The chapter on his random thoughts on life and his glossary had me cracking up and repeating them at work. I highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in EMS! Simply Amazing!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, funny and true
Review: My partner bought this book, brought it to work, I read half of it, and went and bought one of my own. The book provides an amusing view of EMS peculiar life in form of short stories, anecdotes, and memorable radio conversations. Although I have found some unfamiliar things (I guess somewhere in Texas EMS work is different), the author successfully makes EMS humor accessible to everyone. The book is a unique collection in its genre, and everyone will enjoy reading it, especially those in day-to-day emergency/police work.

Rating:
Summary: Definite Must!
Review: My wife got this book for me. I just finished my EMT schooling and was looking for a job when I started reading the book. This book is so great if your in a emt/paramedic program or even if you just like listening about extremely interesting, gross, and funny things that your emergency workers go threw. I am extremely happy to finally see a book out there thats not about cops or fire fighters, which mind you are bolth respectable excellent careers. but It seems like they get all the credit now a days. I am so glad Devin Kerins wrote a book to let people know what the emt's and paramedics of your city's ambulance crews adventures, and lives are like. unfortunately they are usually very under appreciated. I have made 4 people read it so far! A MUST READ! AWSOME BOOK!