It shouldn't hurt to be a child.

Yet children often do get hurt or sick, often when you least expect it.  Children, as a whole, are creatures of habit and adventure; children don't have a sense of fear.  They can climb the highest tree or get stuck in seemingly impossible places and not even give it a second thought.  When they do learn fear, they learn it from other children or more likely, from their parents.  This is when we step in.

All too many times, I've heard parents say to their little ones:  "If you don't stop that, I'll have the doctor give you a shot!" or "O, that isn't goingn to hurt" when you know darn tootin' that it will.  Lying dogs!  Lying to their kids!  When are some parents ever going to learn?  (Some probably never, the way things stand.  Sad.)

Whenever we go out on a call and it involves a child, our nerves are on heightened alert, especially if a child is not breathing or is unconscious/unresponsive.  When they are awake, they are often scared; they don't know what is going on or what is going to happen to them.  Again, this is where we come into the picture.

Whenever we go on a child call, we make sure our ambulance is loaded with toys or other modes of distraction to help keep the child's mind off the needle that's about to go into their arm or maneuvering their injured limb to where it causes pain, or if we press down on painful little tummies or other parts of the body.  We have the child hold onto their furry friend or toy, and we sing to them, try to comfort them as best as we can, and try to make a painful, unhappy experience somewhat more pleasant.  It doesn't always work, but by God, we sure do try our best to win over our youngest patients!

I love dealing with children, and as a paramedic, I try my best not to get attached to them.  Easier said then done.  I have treated countless children, and some of them have become very familiar friends -- not just them, but their entire family (families). 

I have seen some children who weren't expected to make it grow up into wonderful young men and women, and I have come to know many more new patients who cross my path.  I see children of all ages, races, economic backgrounds, or children who are disabled, as well as those who are remarkably healthy.  Yet I treat them all and give each one all the time I can, just to let them know in some small way that I care for them and what is happening to them.

For example, when a child is involved in a run, I get the information and prepare myself mentally for the scene at hand.  Sometimes the call is for a child who isn't breathing or is unconscious/unresponsive; those are the worst kind of calls, because you don't know what you're up against until you arrive on scene.  When a child is howling in pain or crying (or is aware), that is somewhat better; at least we have a toy or something else to keep the child busy while we tend to them or start IVs or put other medical equipment on them. 

After these calls, I'm emotionally wiped, especially after a particularly nasty call, where a child dies or is critical.  Then I feel that I'm the one who needs the teddy bear or reassuring hug, not the child!  LOL

Even with all the drawbacks involved in my career, I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China, especially when we pull a child back from the very brink of death or see a unconscious child open their eyes; to me, that is probably one of the best feelings in the world, because we saved yet another life, and we have done our job as paramedics right.

*Written by Patricia (Pat) Eileen Moss, EMT, Nashville, Tennessee.  :)