Signal 8

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>An ambulance races to the scene of yet another human tragedy-perhaps a road accident heart attack shooting drowning suicide or a very sick child. While these events may be rare for most for paramedics they are routine. However continual exposure to such trauma often comes at a significant cost to the paramedic and their family and friends.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>In </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>Signal 8</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(23 43 77 1)> retired Australian paramedic Erik Schanssema shares his experiences and emotional reactions. Through vivid descriptions of the cases he and his colleagues attended Erik provides insight into the challenges of paramedic work-offering information not shock. He opens up with humor sometimes dark about how this work has affected him and continues to do so. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>His story aims to help paramedics and emergency workers who may feel isolated leaving them with a sense of pride in their profession and ultimately hope.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>This personal narrative also covers his struggle with grief and posttraumatic stress disorder.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>