Howzit everyone!
I'm an ECP (emergency care practitioner) from South Africa
So December of 2023 I got another one of those calls
As you can imagine pre-hospital EMS in South Africa is...well...rowdy
But here to ask some advice
To try and keep things short: I got dispatched to an MVA at 01:30 AM DUI driver in his BMW at 200km/h decided he needs to take the off-ramp from the fast lane and essentially T-bones a car in the slow lane driving past the off-ramp
Family of 3 Young family as well
Mom, dad and their only 13yo boy
Mom and dad essentially not a scratch although both unconscious
However their son completely wrangled up in the wreck
Kid was so fucked up in the wreck he couldn't feel pain and was truly in a state of panic and fear
Looking at him still caught in the wreckage his injuries wouldn't have been compatible with life
I decided to call off the rescue (extrication) I climbed into the wreck to just, quite literally, sit and talk shit with him and do my best to show him some love and calm him down (humour goes a long way with some pts)
He didn't deserve to die and definitely didn't deserve to die scared
Sat with him for 10 minutes holding his hand until I saw the life leave his eyes
I've seen a LOT of fucked up cases and the worst this world has to offer and never brush off losing any pt and am not afraid to show my emotions (by that I mean going home and crying in privacy)
But this call has stuck with me pretty bad
I really would like to hear from those who've also had one of "those" calls that really just are always going to haunt you and how you've gotten better over time?
I thank all here who wear uniform for your service