Earlier today, I was reading a post on Facebook from Titus Tero, one of the paramedics featured on A&E’s reality show Nightwatch. I’ve watched the show several times. The paramedic in me occasionally winces at some of the clinical and operational aspects of the show. Of course, like a color commentator on a football game being telecast, I’m always happy to critique the events play-by-play. That’s just human nature and doubly so for an attorney and paramedic.
However, there’s one thing I can’t fault about Nightwatch and the crews they follow around with a camera. Namely, they treat every patient with dignity, respect, and dare I even say, a bit of love. I’ve always believed and often say that the overwhelming majority of our patients don’t know how good our care is (or isn’t). However, every patient is perfectly capable of figuring out if their medic(s) gave a darn about them. I’d say the same is true of the overwhelming majority of viewers of Nightwatch. They don’t know whether New Orleans EMS is a great system or not. They don’t know the current science on spinal motion restriction nor the current use of CPAP devices. What they have most likely figured out from watching Nightwatch is that if you call 911, you’ll most likely get caring medical professionals. That’s the legacy that Johnny and Roy left with my generation from Emergency and EMS and the fire service have reaped the benefits ever since.
So, to the ladies and gentlemen of Nightwatch, I thank you for faithfully representing the EMS profession with the care and passion that we all strive to deliver daily. The truth be told, I’m not 100% sure I could always live up to those standards every day, every time, especially with a TV camera following me. You’ve done our profession a great service.
I totally agree about Nightwatch, and sometimes if you watch real close you’ll actually catch a little of the emotional toll some of these calls take on the medics, that they are just unable to hide from the camera’s…also from your description of yourself with out mentioning any names did you ever teach EMT school at PJC in Paris, Texas in the mid to late 80’s….
Nope, I’m not Gene. But thanks for the compliment. Being compared to Gene is a huge compliment!
I will give them credit for letting the cameras follow them around knowing darn well that our profession loves to eat its own. Compassion and caring is half the battle for pre-hospital care in most cases.