Paramedic: On the Front Lines of Medicine

I am currently a M.I.C.T (Mobile Intensive Care Technician-Paramedic). This book not only gave an excellent presentation of the position from a professional position with excellent description of treatment and protocol, but also caters to the layman who may not have any medical treatment. They book will not only show a true paramedic, but also give a Paramedic the credit where credit be due. Some think that being a Paramedic is all glory,...you will find out the true life of a Paramedic in this book....which is Glory for a mere second and waiting forever for a call, and transporting patients that did not have a ride to a doctors appointment.

If you want an idea what it is really like to be a medic on the streets, this is it--good, bad and ugly. I read it when I was starting EMT school, and nothing prepared me better for what I would see in the field. Definately a must read for anyone in the medical field, or anyone who wants to go into emergency medicine.

Wow. This was a wonderful read. I've read a few other EMT/Paramedic books, and none of them have come close to the quality of this one. Other books have been watered-down, amateurish versions of Peter Canning's book. He tells it like it is, from bloody accidents to his unedited feelings about some of the people he encounters. Wonderful description (I actually got nauseous at times)and good writing. There were a few slow places where he sidetracks to politics, but I see why those segments are there. The rest of the book is a clear view into EMT jobs. Those people are WAY underpaid. Only one thing bothered me: Mr. Canning says that he wants people to see him as a hero. Well, hello! YOU ARE! All of you are. Thank you for what you do every day for horrible pay and the threat of bodily harm from disease, drunks, criminals, and a million other dangers I don't have the room to describe. Be proud. You deserve it.

Peter Canning does an excellent job realistically portraying the life of a paramedic. With so many shows on television presenting EMS inaccurately, Canning isn't afraid to describe what really goes on, even if it isn't lights and sirens 24/7. I enjoyed this book so much that I wrote a review of it on MedicPLANET.com. Buy this book! You won't regret it.