"The Brotherhood"

[firetender]

The Shell!

I agree, Brotherhood, as in PD is not always a good thing but I don't think that's what the OP was getting at.

I interpret his post as seeking a form of "connection" a sense of camaraderie, perhaps even safety, if you will with the people that share the same types of traumas and rewards in a very unique profession.

Like; "Jesus, guys, ain't we in this mess together?"

Is that too mushy for you? Fine, modify it to taste.

On one level, medics tend to be a bit competitive. It's a macho thing, in part because it takes a certain amount of adrenaline to do the work. Often, we get primed more like machines than humans.

And then there's the part about not having much to say because if you were to say it, you might appear weak, afraid, "soft" or you name it. The culture is such that the "mode" of being with each other is more about ribbing and jest and, yes, keeping a distance. I mean, really, some day you may have to scrape your partner off the street!

You're also living in a world together where most everybody dies who starts heading that way in your truck. Pleasant shared experiences all!

My experience is medics learn (or adopt) the idea that in order to function at work you must keep your experience as a human being tightly locked up somewhere inside and personal. In that mode there's really not a whole lot of room for what is real between two people, and that's what builds the bonds that you don't see much of.

Does that sound on the right track? You're not seeking functional; you're seeking personal, and today, that's the weakest part of the culture because everybody suffers the same, but alone.

 

[lightsandsirens5]

Y'know, I was just observing the other day how close I've come to most of the people I work with, even though I've only been in the field for about six months.

There's a couple partners I work with that I feel closer to than some of my family.

Maybe it's because we're such a small group that we HAVE to get along because it's inevitable that we'll all work with one another at some point.

Same here. I've been in it for almost three years and yea there are some of my partners that I'm almost closer too than my family.

I think some of it is because we are such a small service. 16-18 people active. We have all worked with every other person at one point or another. Everyone has those partners they work more with, or rarely with. I probably do 90-95% of my shifts with the same three people. So I'm going to guess I spend about 80-120 hours a month with each one, yea, I'm probably going to be pretty close. But also, how many people have you, with your family, worked your tail off to save knowing they would probably be dead by the time they were finally extricated? I'd venture to say almost none. That kind if stuff draws my partners and I together it seems.

Just my observation.

 

[akflightmedic]

This topic has been done before and myself, Rid and a few others agreed. MY "brothers and sisters" are at home. My family is NOT at my work, my place of employment.

It is a job. Yes I will make some friends, I will make some enemies, some of both more intense than others, but there is a distinction. Yes, we all do the same job, we have same/similar motives, desire to help, desire to earn money, etc...but we are NOT family.

When I clock out, we are done. My thoughts are not with them any more than one office coworker thinks of another in their off time. Our jobs are not so special where we are above the normal work relations that form on every other job in this world. I have had other non medical jobs, and the same things happen there as they do within EMS. You have cliques, you have close friends, you have enemies, you have people who watch your back and you have those who wish to stab you. We are NOT unique, EMS is NOT unique.

You go to work, you do your job, you stay positive if you can, you keep the peace and then you go home. You switch it off, you keep friends outside of EMS and focus on family if you have them. That is how you achieve balance working in EMS.

 

[46Young]

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that many in EMS have no intention of staying very long. Quite a few people view EMS as "just a job" to use as a stepping stone to higher medical careers(i.e. nursing) or to get certs to hire on with a FD. People who strive to become firefighters and cops plan on making a 20-30 year career out of it. With the ridiculously high turnover EMS has, it's tough to form that brotherhood. Cops and firefighters have fought to earn respect through professionalism. EMS is a patchwork of private and public agencies who, more often than not, pay very poorly in most areas. Until EMS is treated as equals to police and firefighters, the "brotherhood" will remain elusive.

Nailed it!

 

[46Young]

And it really depends on where you work. I work for a 3rd service. We're well paid, have good benefits, have terrific equipment, etc. We're a larger agency than most. But we do have a sense of brotherhood. I have found in my experience that 3rd service or fire based EMS(gasp!) tend to have much more comradery that private ambulance companies.

At least in the Southeast, from what I've seen and heard from others, is that a lot of the backstabbing is due to the relative lack of career advancement opportunities. Some look to eliminate coworkers who they see as a threat, a more qualified indiviual for that next promotion or assignment. Some may also rat out others on a regular basis to gain favor with the supervisors. I'm sure that these type of things happen everywhere, but it seems to be disproportionally so for these Third Services in the Southeast.

 

[Aerin-Sol]

I work for an IFT company with 300+ employees. Those people are my coworkers, not part of a brotherhood. I'm not going to actively screw them over, but I don't want close personal bonds with them either. Perhaps it's different if you work for a smaller squad.

 

[46Young]

When I think of "The Brotherhood" (Sisterhood is always implied) I don't think of protecting the incompetents and slackers. To me, The Brotherhood means several things:

Having each other's back out in the field. Jumping in if I'm fighting off a group of perps rather than locking themselves in the bus (happened to me). Helping others improve that are struggling with the job, and also to better themselves for promotion. Helping others with their job tasks. Being ready to help each other with home projects, moving, etc. Be willing to drive a distance to pick someone up when they have car trouble. Shoveling my driveway right after a large snowstorm so that my pregnant wife can get out with my other daughter in case of emergency, while I'm away at work (helped us out a bunch). Going to occasional functions, such as a backyard barbecue or sporting events to strengthen the bond.

"The Brotherhood" is risking harm to help another brother even though you're mortal enemies between calls. You can hate each other's guts, but you'll come through when they need you, regardless.

It's cool if you want to seperate work and home life. I'm part of The Brotherhood here, but my life hardly revolves around my co-workers. I'm there in an instant if someone needs a favor, and I can also get help pretty quickly, no questions asked, if I need it.

 

[adamjh3]

When I think of "The Brotherhood" (Sisterhood is always implied) I don't think of protecting the incompetents and slackers. To me, The Brotherhood means several things:

Having each other's back out in the field. Jumping in if I'm fighting off a group of perps rather than locking themselves in the bus (happened to me). Helping others improve that are struggling with the job, and also to better themselves for promotion. Helping others with their job tasks. Being ready to help each other with home projects, moving, etc. Be willing to drive a distance to pick someone up when they have car trouble. Shoveling my driveway right after a large snowstorm so that my pregnant wife can get out with my other daughter in case of emergency, while I'm away at work (helped us out a bunch). Going to occasional functions, such as a backyard barbecue or sporting events to strengthen the bond.

"The Brotherhood" is risking harm to help another brother even though you're mortal enemies between calls. You can hate each other's guts, but you'll come through when they need you, regardless.

It's cool if you want to seperate work and home life. I'm part of The Brotherhood here, but my life hardly revolves around my co-workers. I'm there in an instant if someone needs a favor, and I can also get help pretty quickly, no questions asked, if I need it.

That about sums it up for me, as well.

I don't wake up wondering who's working that day and call them to see if they've run anything interesting.

But I do know I could call them to help me move some furniture and they'd be there in a heartbeat (on the stipulation that I buy them lunch )

I'm sure there are people in every profession that have close or even best friends at their jobs, and I don't know if we're any different. All I know is that for the two years that I worked at a grocery store I clocked in, did my work while minding my own for eight hours, and clocked out. If I did that on an ambulance? Well, shoot, there's not much work (I work IFT, with a low call volume) to do so that would make for a pretty boring day.

 

[Aerin-Sol]

It's cool if you want to seperate work and home life. I'm part of The Brotherhood here, but my life hardly revolves around my co-workers. I'm there in an instant if someone needs a favor, and I can also get help pretty quickly, no questions asked, if I need it.

To me that's what friends are for, not coworkers, but to each hir own.

 

[fortsmithman]

You can do both. I think the elimination of private ambulance in EMS(911 EMS, not IFT) would be a good start. They are a big reason why we have such a high turnover in our industry. When we get serious about EMS, and put in place 3rd service across the nation, we would finally be able to get to the same level as police and fire. That will never happen, but it's a nice dream to have. Thank God I already work for one now.

Here in Canada we don't have the same high turnover as s in the USA. As well EMS personnel are on par with fire and police as the Government of Canada awards medals for long service and they are for Police the Police Exemplary Service Medal. For Fire Fire Exemplary Service Medal. For EMS the Emergency Medical Service Exemplary Service Medal the three are awarded for at least 20 years service. As well a majority of EMS in Canada is in fact third service.

 

[DrParasite]

When I think of "The Brotherhood" (Sisterhood is always implied) I don't think of protecting the incompetents and slackers. To me, The Brotherhood means several things:

Having each other's back out in the field. Jumping in if I'm fighting off a group of perps rather than locking themselves in the bus (happened to me). Helping others improve that are struggling with the job, and also to better themselves for promotion. Helping others with their job tasks. Being ready to help each other with home projects, moving, etc. Be willing to drive a distance to pick someone up when they have car trouble. Shoveling my driveway right after a large snowstorm so that my pregnant wife can get out with my other daughter in case of emergency, while I'm away at work (helped us out a bunch). Going to occasional functions, such as a backyard barbecue or sporting events to strengthen the bond.

"The Brotherhood" is risking harm to help another brother even though you're mortal enemies between calls. You can hate each other's guts, but you'll come through when they need you, regardless.

It's cool if you want to seperate work and home life. I'm part of The Brotherhood here, but my life hardly revolves around my co-workers. I'm there in an instant if someone needs a favor, and I can also get help pretty quickly, no questions asked, if I need it.

that's what I wish EMS was like.

I am familiar with two busy EMS agencies. One of which has a brotherhood; everyone knows management sucks, supervisors suck, the city sucks, and the job at times can suck. What this resulted in is the field providers are very close, people have each other's back, because they know no one else will. I know many former employees who have made lifelong friends at said agency, best men at weddings, and other good memories.

One of the former employees told me a story, one that I think shows a true example of brotherhood. One night my friend was invited out to a bar/club with a bunch of his coworkers, while he was still new (less than a year on). He was dancing, having a good time, and another guy he didn't know started bumping into him. my buddy moved, and this guy followed him, kept hitting him. still my friend didn't want a fight, was having a good time and moved again, but this guy was looking for a fight. So my friend squared off with this guy, and suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder; his coworkers were behind him, and told him "Don't worry, we got you back." Apparently the guys beer muscles faded, and he left my friend (and his coworkers) alone for the rest of the night.

Where I currently work, we have some good people, and after shift, occasionally we will all (the bulk of the night shift) grab a few off duty beverages, and just unwind from the night. There are people I work with where I have met their family, and they have met some of mine. I have been to their BBQs, invited out for Bdays. They are friends, as well as coworkers. oh yeah, and when one of them goes out hurt on the job, we check up on them to see how they are doing.

One thing that I have noticed that is different in these two agencies vs others less busy, is if a unit calls for help, all the EMS units in the area will respond to assist. PD will be requested, but EMS units look after their own, and will defend their own.

I can recall one time at my previous employer when I was on the ambulance, and I had a potentially problematic situation arise and called for help. one of the medics cleared the ER and made sure we were ok, but the off road supervisor didn't. usually that doesn't happen. It was def a good feeling knowing my coworkers were looking out for my safety too. But I know most agencies don't do that.

many of your more dangerous EMS systems have more of a brotherhood, because of the dangers involved in the job. but that is the rarity not the norm

 

[Bosco578]

EMS,Fire, PD, Just different cultures, some similarites,but speaking for non intergrated services Fir/EMS, it seems more like a junior high at times, gossip,back stabbing, ah well, it is what it is.:glare: