Pride, Professionalism, Duty

Three words. These three words bring the driving force that draws people into the career of emergency services. Long before we ever understand those words, the moral fiber is built into us. The emergency services of any kind, police, fire, ems, search and rescue and others, is truly a calling. Most people that begin this career will tell you that they got into it because they wanted to help people. People are our business. People that get hurt, that get sick, that have mental health issues, or in general can't cope with their current situation. These people need someone, these people need us. We are there to answer the call, and if there wasn't people like us, what could people do? 

Over my years as a paramedic I have met many other medics, EMT's, Fire fighters, and Police officers and there is something that I have noticed that binds these three groups. Regardless of how much ribbing or joking we might torture each other with. There is a high level of professionalism in every service. It may look different in each case, as each of our jobs is different in each situation. This professionalism goes beyond a clean uniform, polished boots and proper radio etiquette. This professionalism is how we treat the people we meet in our day to day lives, and in our day to day calls. Professionalism goes beyond the job and extends into our personal lives. When we interact with someone at a grocery store one evening, the next day we could be in their home treating them for any number of ailments. If we are not professional off duty, those people we meet may remember us, and their confidence in us could be shaken. This would be a tragedy of epic proportion. It is important to remember that out of uniform we are still a member of emergency services, and the way we act in public matters. I learned this lesson where I grew up and started my career in EMS. Every day I saw people that I knew, and more importantly knew me. As I grew in this industry I learned that my actions outside of work mattered just as much as they did at work. 

Taking pride in who we are is vital to help us to remain professional. Even when we are over worked, short staffed, and have any number of extra stresses imposed on us from outside or internal sources, what we do matters. That is what pride is. Remembering, when it feels like no one else notices, that we make a difference in people's lives. The people that we meet, they know, and they appreciate what we do. Many people are ignorant to the world of emergency services, and that's ok, they don't have to know or understand, or even care. The truth is that one day they may need us, and when that day comes we will treat them with the same dignity and professionalism that we treat every person with. Public education about emergency services could go a long way to help people understand, but in reality, for many people ignorance is bliss. Until that day comes that they are dialing 911 they won't understand what we do and that is actually ok. 

When a person makes the choice to serve in emergency services it is because of those three words. Pride, Professionalism and Duty. We are drawn by a duty to act on the behalf of people who are unable to act on their own, due to injury, illness, or a bad situation. We treat every person with dignity, respect, kindness, and honesty, even when those people may not treat us the same. We take pride in the fact that we are educated, motivated and dedicated, and we will be there, every time. There is nothing on earth that will stop us from responding to someone in need as that is what our calling is. Emergency Services World Wide Live The Words, Pride, Professionalism, Duty. 

Found this video on You Tube. It's self serving but It was made by someone that appreciates YOU as an Emergency services provider for what you do.