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The role of an EMT has as many parts as you have time to play. For
myself, I entered into EMT training in the late 1970s in order to
volunteer for our local Fire department. The initial training sparked
an interest to pursue more and by 1980 I had entered the OHSU paramedic
program. For almost a decade working for Buck Ambulance I explored
various roles as a paramedic: CPR instructor, Preceptor, Field Training
Evaluator, Peer Review, PHTLS instructor, County QA and (quite by
accident) movie medic.
Most EMTs have some interface with the entertainment industry. The
usual role is to standby in an ambulance as a stunt is performed. For
a smaller number of EMTs the role is expanded to standby on the set.
The production medic(s) provide(s) the care for all of the combined
individuals it takes to make up a production. The number of people
involved in making a film can be staggering (ever looked at the credits
on a movie lately?). Since this area has only a limited number of
productions annually it can't completely fulfill a full time job.
Therefore, most of the EMTs that work in this capacity do so on a part
time basis.
I work for American Medical Response as an FTO/lead Paramedic,
volunteer as a Lt. on our Fire Department's rescue and work a limited
number of shifts on productions annually. With fellow paramedics Kerby
Verley, John Flannery and Michael Fine and others, Medicraft Services
was formed to provide a pool of paramedics that could be called upon
to fill the need of the production companies. We have traveled with
productions throughout the state and also have been confined to local
warehouse sets or construction sites for weeks at a time. We have
worked on various films including: Come See The Paradise, Hear No Evil,
Maverick, Zero Effect, Free Willy II, Bandits, The Postman, Assassins,
The Hunted, numerous made for TV movies, many commercials, and two local
productions, Nowhere Man and Under Suspicion.
What is the attraction to this position? The glamour of Hollywood,
the stars, the interesting behind the scenes happenings? No!
OK maybe just a little of the glitz is attractive. The reality is
that the job provides a unique opportunity to work behind the scenes
with some fantastic and talented individuals. It is more frequently
boring in the extreme. The usual is to hand out band-aids or dress
minor wounds. Although, it can place the medic in the position of
watching as something well rehearsed and planned, goes wrong. The
difficulty is to watch a stunt end in what appears to be tragedy. The
natural response is to rush to the aid of the victim. But, wait... the
director hasn't yelled cut! yet. You obviously feel relieved when the
stunt performers get up and say they're fine. Unfortunately, too often
they come to see you afterwards with complaints that do require the use
of EMT skills and prompt dispatch to a local hospital.
Imagine your report to the responding transport agency: Patient fell
50 feet hitting glass roof of greenhouse. Now complaining of neck pain.
Or they fell out of a helicopter about 100 feet into the ocean or were
blinded by flying debris from an explosion. These situations would
normally be considered bad enough to warrant a trauma entry. These
patients are padded and protected but still are injured. The life of a
stunt man is certainly filled with excitement and accompanying pain.
The rewards for the medic are not as great but the risks are less.
The experiences have been of benefit for the medics and have provided
additional safety and reassurance for the cast and crew. The producers
do look to the skills and experience of the on-set medic to keep the
production moving. And in the world of production the phrase "time is
money" couldn't be more appropriate.
Respectfully,
Frank Weber, EMT-P
Oregon certified since 1979
Medicraft Services
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