A must have!
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Unfortunately for me, I also finished this book in just about two days - but have now started to read Reynolds' blog, Random Acts of Reality, everyday!
This book gets you down the street level and tells you what it is like to be an EMT serving the community. I live in Los Angeles, but can easily relate to each and every story told in this book. The stories are short one or two pagers that are easy to get through and leave wanting to get to the next one.
Tom Reynolds not only conveys the passion for his job, but the utter frustration felt by the EMS commmunity worldwide when people abuse the system. From the repeat drug user on his nth overdose this month to the pregnant woman calling for an ambulance because she doesn't want to pay for a taxi to take her the 300 yards to the hospital - it's all here.
If you've ever wondered what was going on with the sirens and flashing lights down the street, read this book!
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excellent excellent
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great book. Brilliant description of working in the ambulance service. You warm to tom immediately. I read this book after reading a reccomendation for it in the book in stitche; the highs and lows of life as an A&E doctor. Both books are great - get them both
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Fabulous!
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Tom Reynolds has a great sense of humour (although some might find it dark) which runs throughout the book, which is an excellent insight into the life of an LAS paramedic. 'Blood, Sweat and Tea' is a well written book, that's quick and easy to read, in fact I read it in two sittings as it's such a captivating read. If you're interested in the life of a paramedic then buy this book and enjoy!
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Facinating
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This is what being in an ambulance is like. Everything from being called cause someone feels funny, because they've taken grass, to the heartbreaking infant deaths, this has it all. Some of it is scary stuff and his advice on Blogging and Keeping your Job is priceless, I was very moved and cried at least once (the entry Victims is heartbreaking). It covers a year in the life of Tom, the year is 2003, Tom wavers between being caught up with the family dramas and a sense of unreality about it all. There are times when I really felt sorry for him and times that I wanted to slap him and remind him that he could be that person some day. I don't blame him for his attitude, he has to keep sane somehow.
The minute I could I subscribed to the RSS feed for his blog.
I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about becoming a health worker. Even if it means just so you can understand how it is for those people on the other side of the line.
Why only 4*? The blog is 5*.
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True life tragic irony
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Great book, as a reader you can really absorb the frustrations faced daily by the ambulance service and gain a perspective of front line tragedy and glory. Feeling genuine anger when you read an ambulance has been called for a sore finger!
This is a good look at modern bureacracy and its failings, the passion to help within the service being smothered by red tape and targets - why is saving someone 2 minutes after your target ETA a failure? yet reaching someone well within your time who subsequently dies is a success?
We should educate children with this stuff. Very good read.
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