TRAUMA is stable, but still critical, and so am I

We’ve been watching for a while now and it seems the Producers of NBC’s TRAUMA may have been listening.

There are facebook groups calling for the show to be canceled? Really, guys? I can understand wanting to see another episode of Wife Swap, but this show is fun to watch, admit it. Only about 20% of it is accurate, but then again…IT’S TV!

Aside from all the usual “But you went to Medical School” stuff and “I want to goto Medical School” (PS NBC – We all want to be Paramedics, not Doctors. This job is not a stepping stone, it’s a real Profession) industry line, there is one glimmering gem in the show that keeps me coming back.

And no, it’s not “That hottie…um…” It’s Kevin Rankin’s character on Medic 78, Tyler Briggs. The one on the right in the above picture, who looks like he has somewhere else to be.

We like Briggs because he has an inappropriate sense of humor, laughs when he shouldn’t, is always quick with a one liner and doesn’t freak out on emergency calls. Last night I caught up on an episode, the one when they were looking for the bit of tongue in a crowd. The back and forth with his partner was right out of a dozen jobs I worked.

“Why do I have to look for the tongue?”

“Because I’m the Paramedic, when you get that extra training, then you can stay here, but for now go look for it.”

Tell me you’ve never used that line on an EMT partner. And then tell me one of your medics never used that on you back in the day.

Another interesting point to ponder is that we know nothing about Tyler other than his job. We like that about him. He has no baggage, no side story, nothing to distract us from him as a caregiver. Perfect character so far NBC, now just do that over and over again and you’ll be all set.

One other suggestion, while I’m at it. Show us less of how the accident happened. Most of the intrigue of this job, and I think your viewers like about detective shows, is that we’re dispatched and arrive on scene not knowing what happened. Let your viewers share in the discovery with the crews as they arrive on scene and have to figure out what happened. All the pauses to see the lead up to an accident cuts into the flow of the show.

That being said, I am enjoying it for a number of reasons. First and foremost, we finally have Paramedics back in the public eye. Most may not like the manner in which it is being done, but I’ll take what I can get. Second, it really is entertaining when you just let it be a TV show and stop whining that “We don’t do that” and “That looks so fake.” So is most of television these days. Thirdly, I like seeing my friends and co-workers in the background and with bit parts as firefighters in the background. And personal props to an Lt from 13 for wearing a truck helmet in a recent episode. That’s the one with the red and white panels painted.

Keep watching, friends, keep watching. The show is improving from it’s odd beginning of sex in the rig (Gasp, no!) and ambulances taken to the park for beers (Eek!) and moving towards keeping the show about the service and the calls and less about the home lives of the characters.

Tyler Briggs is a success story in my book, don’t change him a bit.

“Keep pissing me off and I’ll make you clean this rig for a month” he is told be his medic.

In a great deadpan he responds like any EMT would:

“I already clean this rig.”

This actor paid attention on his ride-alongs.

Also on The Happy Medic…

Are you already intubating TRAUMA? – September 28, 2009
You Make the Call…NBC’s TRAUMA – October 30, 2009

Spread the Word:

Posted by Justin Schorr on October 29, 2009 • Filed under: Administrative, News • Tagged: NBC's TRAUMA

Little Girl

awwww …. I love to say, “Because I am the Dispatcher, and that is why you the Call Taker must do what I say.”
http://www.switch2planb.com/ Brian

Yeah, I agree. You never know what you're going to get when you roll up on scene. “CPR in progress” = victim is alert and oriented on arrival. Or, vehicle fire on freeway = 100 acre grass fire
Capt. Tom

Agreed HM, the show is TV, not a training film, but there are teachable moments buried within. I wish I could pull some clips out for my classes. For instance in the office shooting scene, the scene setup was textbook. The first medic on scene assumes EMS command, checks in with Incident Command, reports on resources and questions about following steps. They then throw the colored tarps in a sheltered area, and begin simple triage. A great 10 second or so clip.
I started out screaming at the tube during the first episode (my wife sent me downstairs to watch it alone, she hates the gore and my yelling). But now I let that stuff slide and enjoy the drama. They do have some good glimpses into what we think and feel on the job even if they are short and fleeting.
I rate it a “good' and think it should be kept on. Better than “rescue me” by a long shot.
Even though I hate to admit it, I like the hotties too. It's nice to see women who look good and also have some strong skills and personality. I can do without the over the top sex in the ambulance and beer drinking after the shift, but before the rig is back home.
If we had all the perfect realism, nobody would watch it (too much puke, obscenities, and boredom).
What they got right is that we do our jobs because we WANT to and we do care. We treat some better then they might deserve by others reckoning, and we give it our best everyday. Sometimes this means giving up a piece of yourself, and sometimes this means leaving the comfort zone to become something we never thought we were.
Just my 2 cents,
Capt. Tom
http://twitter.com/jedifire11 Joshua

Too bad is sounds like it's not staying for the whole season, bummer…
http://blog.bethenextstep.com bethenextstep

I liked the show as well.. unfortunately it's been canceled. Kinda sucks.
Ben

I could not stop laughing (still chuckle to myself every now and then) when I watched the tongue scene. Seems like every shift my paramedic reminds me of his advanced training. “I read the ECG, you lift the crusty boob to apply the electrodes,” he tells me often. And the real meaning to ALS (the halloween episode).
Ben

I could not stop laughing (still chuckle to myself every now and then) when I watched the tongue scene. Seems like every shift my paramedic reminds me of his advanced training. “I read the ECG, you lift the crusty boob to apply the electrodes,” he tells me often. And the real meaning to ALS (the halloween episode).
Capt. Tom

Agreed HM, the show is TV, not a training film, but there are teachable moments buried within. I wish I could pull some clips out for my classes. For instance in the office shooting scene, the scene setup was textbook. The first medic on scene assumes EMS command, checks in with Incident Command, reports on resources and questions about following steps. They then throw the colored tarps in a sheltered area, and begin simple triage. A great 10 second or so clip.
I started out screaming at the tube during the first episode (my wife sent me downstairs to watch it alone, she hates the gore and my yelling). But now I let that stuff slide and enjoy the drama. They do have some good glimpses into what we think and feel on the job even if they are short and fleeting.
I rate it a “good' and think it should be kept on. Better than “rescue me” by a long shot.
Even though I hate to admit it, I like the hotties too. It's nice to see women who look good and also have some strong skills and personality. I can do without the over the top sex in the ambulance and beer drinking after the shift, but before the rig is back home.
If we had all the perfect realism, nobody would watch it (too much puke, obscenities, and boredom).
What they got right is that we do our jobs because we WANT to and we do care. We treat some better then they might deserve by others reckoning, and we give it our best everyday. Sometimes this means giving up a piece of yourself, and sometimes this means leaving the comfort zone to become something we never thought we were.
Just my 2 cents,
Capt. Tom
http://twitter.com/jedifire11 Joshua

Too bad is sounds like it's not staying for the whole season, bummer…
http://mystrongmedicine.com Sean Dent

I liked the show as well.. unfortunately it's been canceled. Kinda sucks.
Ben

I could not stop laughing (still chuckle to myself every now and then) when I watched the tongue scene. Seems like every shift my paramedic reminds me of his advanced training. “I read the ECG, you lift the crusty boob to apply the electrodes,” he tells me often. And the real meaning to ALS (the halloween episode).