HEALTH CARE HERO: HOW THIS EMT ‘ANGEL’ SAVED A MAN’S LIFE
Name: Michelle Whipple
Home: Wilmington
Job title: EMS chief/paramedic/firefighter
Where do you work: Chester Twp. Fire Department
Describe what your day is like/what you do: As the EMS chief, it is always on; there is no clock in and out. I do training, personnel safety, well-being of all patients, ordering supplies or equipment, quality assurance by reviewing run sheets, making sure we follow protocol and making sure the patient care was followed through. As a paramedic, I actually practice the skill of advanced care for our patients we come in contact with. We see all ages and all forms of sickness and traumas. With my advanced level of care, I will be starting IVs, giving medications, and taking care of cardiac issues, stroke and many other illnesses.
What inspired you to get into health care? The enjoyment that comes from helping someone else who feels helpless, knowing that you can make a difference even for just a moment was my motivation to follow the EMT life. Helping someone who needed someone to listen!
What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in health care? One gentleman had multiple things going on and was in serious condition. He was experiencing a stroke, a heart attack and seizures, which was very unlikely to have all of these at once. I made a decision to fly him to a facility that could take care of him. He died on us twice prior to the helicopter taking him to the hospital, but we were able to get him back.
He died once in the helicopter and they were able to get him back again. His survival rate was very low, but he did survive and he had a story to tell. He came back to thank the crew that was there that night and he remembers a few words that I spoke to him that night. He called me “his angel.” It really touched my heart to be able to make a difference in someone else’s life who is in desperate need of help. He then came to our fire department Christmas party and told the story to everyone. It was very emotional, very moving and very touching to all of us. This is why we do this job!
What do you want readers to know about your job right now: I’m not going to say that this job is easy — it’s very mentally challenging. It also wears on your knees, shoulders and back, and you get very tired. You miss a lot of events with your family. You are called out of your warm bed at night in the freezing rain. You have to see mothers cry over their children, or you have to see and take care of things that you never thought you would ever have to. Gruesome is the least of these things that you see. You get frustrated with people who challenged you and you’re only trying to help. There may be days behind closed doors that you cry because you’re overwhelmed. It’s not easy. But I promise you it is very rewarding. It is the part of a human’s heart that shows compassion and shows that you are giving yourself for another person to better them out of love. This is our reward!