How did you get through the different types of injuries that you saw? I keep wondering if I can handle the different types of injuries that I would come across.
I always would think of the injuries as a more mechanical issue than just a person screaming and in pain. In the moment you need to do what you have to do in order to save the person’s life. So you have to put aside feelings for that time in order to get things done. After you finish the moment, you will need to speak with someone and make sure you don't let that experience seep in too deep and create a problem. At the end of the day, you just gotta make it happen.
I understand that there is a high risk for PTSD given the intensity and the exposure to trauma that the job demands. I was wondering if this was a factor for you when deciding to serve?
I have heard of some people getting it in the military, but to be honest, I never thought about it affecting me at all. I was ready to do whatever it took to bring someone home and expose myself to those types of things because I knew the mission was about setting aside my own fears in order to bring someone back to their families.
How much medical training does a PJ do? Not trauma, more like medical emergencies like cardiac, respiratory, GI, etc.
PJ's are Nationally certified paramedics so we get all of that training but only use it about once a year when we do civilian rotations.