Gutter Medicine: Twenty-Six Years as a Firefighter Paramedic

By: Roger Huder

Narrated by: Tom Jordan

My career as a firefighter/paramedic stretched from 1974 to 2000 when were inventing EMS as we went along. These are stories from those years on the street. That place I named so long ago, the other reality that exists just outside most people’s everyday lives. It is a place that seems to exist parallel to the normal workaday existence: yet it is only a car accident or cardiac away for any of us. It manifested itself in brushfires, house fires, shootings, stabbings, hangings, accidents with injuries, cardiacs, codes, drownings, and a thousand other emergencies.

The street was more than a physical place. It was a place filled with excitement, fear, tragedy, horror, sadness, despair, joy, and laughter. It was a place where routine decisions could have terrible consequences: I am going to the grocery store. Or, I will get the wiring fixed next month. Where people died or were maimed. Often, it was a terrible place. Or maybe it was reality. It was where all safeguards ended and our job began. There were thousands of cases, but these are the ones etched in my memory. The ones that will never go away.

©2018 Roger Huder (P)2018 Roger Huder

True Grit Reality

Well thought out book. I haven’t “reviewed” a book on here, but this one deserves it. The first hand accounts gave me anxiety just listening to it. I start FIRE/EMS school in a few days and this really gives me perspective. Thank you for this gem.

Gripping!

This was the best book I've read this year. compelling and gripping. I couldn't find enough time to get to read during my day!

rookie

I’m currently in school for FF1 and all i wanted was to understand the life of a FF but you explained so much more. hands down best book i’ve ever read

Story Told Through My Own Experiences

The collection of stories of the street are thoughtful and insightful. My 30+ years of the fire service and EMS identifies with many of the accounts of the street, different locations but the same life story. My walls curbed my thoughts shared by the author but much later in my career. I would recommend any newbie, rookie, recruit, etc. read this book. As a new firefighter/EMT nobody spoke of how this career changes you and that you’ll not be anything like you started but then we didn’t know how the career changes a person. Good stuff.

The story of a beginning paramedic fighting his way through and building the EMS system in my home town was amazing.

Roger worked with my father at OFD. I’ve heard some of the stories before but it was nice to hear Roger’s perspective and I think about those events differently now. I still work for OFD and am on the peer support team. I wish mental health awareness was around in your day. Thank you Roger! This was amazing!