Advice(Calm)

 Calm Is Contagious

I’ve worked with people who get super hyper on scenes. Everything is loud, fast, frantic, and chaotic. They think moving faster means they’re doing better, but all it really does is spread confusion. The calmest person on scene is usually the one in charge—or at least should be. As the lead medic, your role isn’t to do everything yourself. You’re more like a conductor. You’re there to direct, delegate, and keep things moving in the right order. That means knowing what everyone’s capabilities are and making sure people are doing what they were asked to do—and doing it correctly. Chaos doesn’t help patients. Calm does.

Confidence plays a big role in that, but real confidence doesn’t come from ego. It comes from preparation. Confidence comes from knowing your protocols, understanding your medications, and being comfortable with your skills. Early on, that confidence is built through reading and training. A lot of it. As you gain experience, that experience starts to take over. Things slow down in your head. You think more clearly. You stop reacting and start leading. That doesn’t mean you ever stop learning. No matter how long you stay in EMS, you should always be reading, training, and sharpening your skills. The difference is that over time, your comfort level grows, and the chaos doesn’t rattle you the way it once did. And you don’t do it alone.

We rely on each other in this job, whether we admit it or not. There’s a tendency for people to distrust newer medics—and I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of that myself at times. But there’s something important to remember about new medics and EMTs: they just came out of school. They’ve learned things you may not have learned, or more likely, things you’ve forgotten. I’ve been “schooled” more than once by a new provider who brought up something I hadn’t thought about in years. Good ideas don’t care how long you’ve been on the job.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. I say that all the time, and I believe it. Rushing creates mistakes. Calm, deliberate movement keeps things organized and efficient. Another phrase I live by is “work smarter, not harder.” When I first got into EMS, I worked with senior partners for years. I learned easier ways to do things constantly, especially when it came to lifting and moving patients. My biggest fear has always been hurting my back. I’ve seen way too many good providers sidelined over preventable injuries, and I want nothing to do with that.

If there’s an easier way to do something, I’m going to find it. That includes asking for help. Don’t be afraid to use bystanders or family members when it’s appropriate. People want to help. They like being involved. Give them a simple task, and they’ll usually step right up. There’s no prize for doing everything yourself, and there’s no shame in protecting your body.

Calm leadership, solid preparation, and smart work habits go a long way in this job. They keep scenes under control, protect you and your crew, and ultimately improve patient care.

Preparation builds confidence, confidence creates calm, and calm keeps scenes smooth.

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