Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT

"Don't judge a book by its movie," is a 21st century twist on a timeless kernel of wisdom. I believe this holds true for the book Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern. It's a very well-written book that later became a straight-to-DVD movie. Though the movie only appealed to a small audience, the book is a great read.Stern takes readers through her own journey of personal lows and professional highs. She starts the story at a very low point in her life when she was gripped by clinical depression, but decided she would force herself to get out and become an EMT.I found the first part of her story ironic. Here was a person with severe depression and access to a physician willing to write her scripts for plenty of medication. Sound like a recipe for disaster? I thought so, too. I've transported my share of overdoses with the same story line. Through uncommon perseverance though, she became the provider working in an ambulance instead of the patient riding in an ambulance.Her struggle with EMT class was the first hurdle to overcome."I am having a problem my shrink tells me is often experienced by first-year medical students. I have every symptom of every disease Frank mentions in the classroom. I am no longer clinically depressed but instead am dying of everything simultaneously."Stern's honesty and humor are endearing throughout the book. However, readers interested in the action of EMS or the clinical/social implications of our work may not be thrilled with this book. Stern becomes pretty vulnerable with her readers at times, and some may see it as whining. However, I would still recommend it for all FTO's and EMS Managers. Stern paints a picture of someone coming into EMS to vicariously heal herself by healing others. Regardless of a manager's view on people who enter EMS this way, the book will offer insight on employees who may be fighting these same battles just below the surface.

This is a book about a woman who becomes an EMT in a Volunteer Fire Dept. in Connecticut at the age of 53. Te woman is author Jane Stern who was already accomplished in other areas of life but not a likely candidate to be an EMT. Beside her advanced age, she is also by her own descriptions, overweight and while an accomplished student , lacking confidence and full of fears. I particularly liked her description of fear; "Fear is like a hologram. It seems filled with substance and when you go beyond it you realize it was just an illusion."(pg.129) I found this book interesting and humorous , especially her descriptions of her teachers, fellow students and initial patients of her EMS career. The author goes into details about her personal life including her marriage and the strain her new career imposes on it. The book is full of interesting EMS stories the author encountered and it provides a glimpse into the world of First Responders and their eventual acceptance of a perceived outsider who wanted to belong to something bigger than her self. Recommended.

Currently reading, it’s so relatable for me. I’ve read quite a few books from the perspective of male paramedics, stories filled with how PTSD and the system stripped them of their humanity. Here is a woman who has an atypical start in EMS as a woman in her early 50s, with enough issues to make you think she wouldn’t be a good fit. Love her tenacity, and how she overcame fears and phobias to embark on a journey to help others in Crisis. As someone in a very similar situation, I feel like “this is a mirror!”. Beautifully written, engaging, great flow, with context and personal feel. I’m struggling in EMT class and feeling like the misfit. Perfect timing for this book to arrive!

Just finished reading this. I had read and loved  Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 900 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More, now in its 9th edition  and  Square Meals , and was a bit startled to recognize Jane Stern's name appearing as the author of a book on a very different subject. It was a little sad to read about how messed-up her early life had been, and how the apparently hereditary craziness of her side of the family nearly overtook her and nearly destroyed her marriage. But then, plunging herself into learning to deal with medical-emergency stuff which had always grossed her out, not only allowed her to help other people -- it got her mind redirected from depression, and becoming a more pleasant person to be around doubtless helped improve her marriage. As a 50-something out-of-shape gal myself, I could totally empathise with Jane's concerns about being physically able to do some of the more strenuous tasks expected of an EMT. A fascinating read, which went more quickly than I had expected.

I purchased this book as a "bargain book" for a couple bucks. My experience with bargain books has been that about 90 percent of them are poorly written and barely worth what you pay for them. This book was definitely the exception! The author writes with humor about her lifelong battle with anxiety. I felt her pain, but also laughed out loud. As a middle age woman, she becomes determined to do something that is way outside of her comfort zone - become an EMT. She is very transparent about her neuroses, her appointments with her psychiatrist, her inner demons. Everything is hard for her, as she'd really prefer not to leave her house, but she goes after her goal with great determination and succeeds! I found her inspiring and feel the book has great appeal for a wide cross-section of people: middle age women, EMTs (or anyone considering it), anxiety sufferers, or anyone seeking a little inspiration to get out of their comfort zone.I hope the author writes a sequel. I would definitely purchase it, even if I had to pay full price!

very interesting book, enjoyed the story.

Likeable real life story about overcoming fear and phobias. Empowering in an old boy way. It touches on many humorous issues women and men need to muddle their way though.

I bought this book because I thought it would delve deeper into how becoming an EMT saved her but it was more of a story of the process of becoming one.

nteresting