It's Not the Trauma, It's the Drama: Stories by a Chicago Fire Department Paramedic

I found it very interesting. Mildly funny, not laugh out loud, and very relatable. No I don't work in the field but have lots of 1st Responders, Fire & Police family members.

Appreciated the author's perspective and willingness to be REAL. Great read!

Hello. I’m a newly retired, ex-part-time college professor with some direct contact with the specific ambulances, general department, and time period Chief Marjorie Leigh Bomben (henceforth Bomben) writes about in her “It’s Not the Trauma, It’s the Drama: Stories by a Chicago Fire Department Paramedic” (North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015), which is surely on its way to a major publishing house.The book delivers the essence of much of the first responder milieu, the stories, each with an identity and life of its own, a message, a memory, a lesson, and (often) a big laugh: e.g., “My First Trauma,” “I’ve Been Shot,” “Communicating with the Spirits,” “You’ve Got My Eye,” or “Oh, S***.”From the “crazies” who roam the late-night streets, the death-dealing or death-defying usually alcohol-induced accidents, incidents, shootings, stabbings, etc., etc.; with the fire personnel and paramedic partners having their own sort of “craziness”; and with the paramedic immediate hands-on duty and career; each richly captured—this book is a no nonsense EMS gauntlet thrown down to anybody who wants it “straight” and is not afraid of macabre entrails, or (again) laughter—laughter.Compared to our by-now watered-down TV forensic and emergency shows, Bomben’s book is a Godsend. Only loosely connected as Bomben’s years on the job progress, the stories are about bedside-length, with the precision of Hemingway, the vividness of Faulkner, and the content of—well—there’s just nothing like what paramedics experience and become!However, on the down-side, her book does not tackle the tougher big picture, including the stellar EMS progressiveness and scandal of the department over those years, especially early on, including the devastating fire department labor action (strike) of 1980; and it does not tackle the ethical questions and hostilities of the paramedic-versus-firefighter/police-versus-fire department, and poorer-neighborhoods-“of color”-versus-the-storm-trooper MINORITY (only a disgusting MINORITY) of first responders still causing so much destruction today; and it does not cover the weirdly closed brotherhood/sisterhood of the department in its gamut from Clannishness to complete and eternal sacrifice; though, granted, it touches on the latter.Yet even given the more novelistic and acclaimed Dennis Smith, “Report from Engine Co. 82” (1972, 1999), and Joe Connelly, “Bringing Out the Dead” (1998), I’d recommend Bomben’s book FIRST and FOREMOST. Besides being on its way to the likes of these others, it will be the best and most rewarding read you’ve undertaken in a long, long time in your busy and yet still hungry life. Trust me; I was there… And trust HER: she’s STILL working the streets… Great Job.

Read in a few hours. Great book of short stories as written, a day in the life. A short look into bizarre tales from the front lines.

Somehow we ordinary folk cannot get enough of stories about emergencies and medical trauma. There can be truly a drama everyday in the life of a paramedic. This book does an excellent job of bringing to life the every day dramas of emergency work from the perspective of a Chicago paramedic. It clearly shows that, like life itself, the job is not all about tragedy or bringing someone from the brink of death. Some of the stories are in fact light-hearted and humorous. In a diverse city like Chicago, a paramedic's work can mimic the theatre of the absurd (look for the story on the naked people). But the ones that stuck with me most were those where a real tragedy had occurred. Ms. Bomben often tells stories within stories that come together at the end, just as in real life. In real life, when something important happens, it can often give you reflections on other parts of your life. Ms. Bomben is adept at making these connections to some of the more memorable medical emergencies. There are also stories that aren't about emergencies at all but are just either strange and funny experiences that make up part of the job. I loved this book.

Excellent book highly recommend and the second book was just as good. Being a former CFD medic and firefighter I’ve had similar experiences and can relate to many of the stories.

While the book held your interest, I wouldn't put it in the same category as some f the other ones by other authors I have read. The author appears to be eloquent and sincere, and her storytelling give off just that - a sincerity about her job and what it entails. However, I would have liked to have seen a little more action in this book, as I am certain she saw plenty.She does give us descriptions of the interrelationships among people in her department, but I do think anyone contemplating becoming a paramedic would want more information on what goes on in the day to day life of one in that position. All in all, good book, although there are better ones out there.

Really enjoyed the book.Brought back lots of memories of my time on the street.Will likely pass along copies to my EMT students-just to give them a taste of what they may be in for!Update:I found this on my shelf and pulled it down. I swear I was only going to skim through and put it back.Curse you Chief!I just read this front to back in one sitting. I think I enjoyed this even more the second time around. I had thought maybe I could write my tales and weave a great story too.But after reading this again I realized that your writing talent is terrific and requires more talent than I possess. I can appreciate your skill and I commend you!