“Holding the wall…”

Paramedics and EMTs play a crucial role in emergency medical services, providing immediate care to patients in critical conditions. Their ability to remain calm and composed under pressure is vital in chaotic environments.

Imagine you’re having the worst day of your life and you’re scared—only to have someone show up who isn’t confident or is panicking. Sure, we’re human, and we get scared sometimes too, but we have to step back, take a deep breath, and come up with a plan to help someone in need.

It isn’t always rainbows, butterflies, or Superman-type stories. Sometimes, our role is to become an advocate for someone who can’t advocate for themselves. Sometimes, it’s simply being there—holding a stranger’s hand to calm them or offer a bit of reassurance.

It might surprise you to learn that some patients use the ambulance like a personal Uber, just to get closer to a location where a friend or family member can pick them up, Or they call us believing they’ll be seen faster in the ER than if they went to a doctor’s office. I’m here to tell you—that’s a myth. Don’t do it.

We take plenty of folks straight to the ER waiting room. If there are no rooms available, one isn’t going to magically appear just because an ambulance pulls up. We often end up stuck in hallways, “holding the wall,” for over an hour. The entire healthcare system is strained—and this widespread myth is one of the reasons why.

When you’re in an emergency or crisis, we want to help—we want to be there. But, if you’re calling 911 just because you need a ride or think you’ll be seen faster, please stop and think: you might be tying up an ambulance that’s urgently needed elsewhere.

Think of it this way—what if your family needed an ambulance with the ability to assess vital signs, monitor cardiac rhythms, or respond to low blood sugar or dangerously low blood pressure? What if there wasn’t one available?

If your situation can safely be handled at a clinic or doctor’s office, then you shouldn’t call 911. I promise—we’re willing and ready to help when you truly need us. But,we’re not just a ride, and we’re not a shortcut to the front of the line.

-Chastity Elgin