We often see ambulances responding in our communities.

Do you ever wonder what EMTs and paramedics go through?

Madison McCarty is an expert on the subject. He is chief operations officer for Lexington’s Veritas Health Group and has been a Lieutenant with Florence County EMS for 12 years.

McCarty went to Campbell College to be a pharmacy tech. He took some EMT courses while working for CVS. He decided he liked the emergency medical field better than pharmacy.

After joining Florence EMS, he continued taking courses to be a paramedic. He told me that he saw it as a better way to serve and give back to his community.

EMTs and Paramedics work as a team on patients controlling bleeding and applying bandages, splints and braces. Paramedics handle advance life and airway support and giving any medications.

Both EMTs and paramedics must:

• Be totally aware of their surroundings.

• Maintain the safety of themselves and their teammates.

• Have the right equipment for every call including PPE for covid-19.

• Spend most of the day on the road and deal with inattentive drivers and those who will not obey emergency vehicle laws.

• Respond to ambulance vehicle crashes.

But there are rewards to the job. For one, it is never boring. And despite not getting much thanks or recognition, things like getting a victim stable, calming a mentally challenged person, and always helping a child are constant reminders that their efforts matter to many people on their worst days.

One memorable experience for McCarty involved a little girl who had sustained a severe head trauma. He recognized the signs and took the proper actions that probably saved her from brain damage. The girl’s mom said she believed that God had sent the best possible paramedics to save the girl.

He and his teammates believe that all patients are valuable and treat everyone the same way.

Next time you see an EMT or Paramedic, thank them for all they do.