W. Va., Responders Answer Why They Work in EMS

Oct. 24--The most popular question in the world is a simple one: "Why?" Those in Emergency Medical Services hear the question all too often, local officials said. "Why do you put yourself in harm's way?" "Why do you do this every day?"

For those who have gone through the training and the heartbreak of losing a patient, it's worth it when you save a life, according to Jan-Care Director of Operations, Paul Seamann.

"It's a very rewarding position because you're so personally involved with someone at the worst time of their life," he said. "What you can do is possibly save a traumatically-injured person and prove that you're willing to do anything to help."

A paramedic has the unique ability to bring someone back to life if they haven't been gone for long.

"That is absolutely incredible," Seamann said. "I've worked 137 cardiac arrests over the course of my career. I've worked everything from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome to gunshots and overdoses."

It's not just about the patient, either. It's about the family of the patient, Seamann said.

"It's a profound experience when you can successfully resuscitate someone," he said. "You may have just saved Grandpa on Christmas morning or Mommy at a birthday party. You never know."

Being an EMT isn't just about the eternal fight with death, Seamann said. It's very much about new life, too.

"When you deliver a baby, you'll probably get to see them grow up," he said. "That's the beauty of working in a small community. We're working the communities that we grew up in and people stay close.

"It's your family and friends that you're out there saving, not just strangers."

The executive director for Best Ambulance said she believes wholeheartedly in the work she's doing. A little old man cemented that ideal for her, she said.

"I was running a very traumatic call," Teresa Dickens said. "It was in Wyoming County and a loaded logging truck hit a compact car.

"It was raining hard and it was cold. That day really set the tone for fall of that year."

Dickens and her partner stepped out of the ambulance and found the driver of the compact car was not in cardiac arrest yet.

"She had obvious traumatic injuries to her head and chest," Dickens said. "As we started working on her, the rain seemed to fall harder.

"Out of nowhere, the rain stopped. I turned around and saw this little elderly man holding an umbrella over me so I could stay dry while I worked.

Dickens said she could also hear the elderly man mumbling something under his breath.

"I could hear him praying," she said. "He was praying for me to work fast and efficiently.

As soon as the rain stopped for good, he left.

"He got back into his car and drove away. I was never able to thank him for what he did. Those prayers were so uplifting in a tragedy. This memory has always inspired me."

--Email: cneff@register-herald.com; Follow on Twitter @RHCodyNeff

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