Hard Roll

A Paramedic’s Perspective of Life and Death in New Orleans

By: Jon McCarthy

Narrated by: Arthur Flavell

Known as one of America's most dangerous cities, New Orleans plays host to incidents ranging from the tragic and disturbing to the completely bizarre - and during his career as an emergency medic, Jon McCarthy saw it all. He chronicles some of the most formative calls of his career in this autobiography that sounds like crime fiction. McCarthy demonstrates with detail and clarity that the difficult choice is often the right choice. While not for the faint of heart, each entry in this collection provides poignant insight into the bonds between medics and the people and city they serve.

Born in Tallahassee, Florida, and a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, Jon McCarthy is proud to be an emergency room paramedic. Since 1996, he has worked in emergency medical services in helicopters, clinics, hospitals, and on the streets of New Orleans. He is one of the co-creators of the New Orleans EMS Field Training Officer (FTO) program and served as the Lead FTO for five years. McCarthy was featured on The Learning Channel program Paramedics and has a side career as an actor.

©2017 Jon McCarthy (P)2019 Tantor

Easy to understand for the uninitiated; Relatable for the experienced

As a fellow experienced EMS provider and educator, I appreciated the way the author breaks down complex medical terminology and concepts in a way all interested audiences can grasp. He does an excellent job of providing insight into the real-life experiences of the raw and gritty reality of first responders serving the citizenry and visitors in an American city that carries more than it's fair share of violence and economic and health care disparities, making it a unique microcosm in which to work in his capacity and set his story. Along these lines, fair warning to those without any medical training or strong dispositions...I loved this book for the way it provided insight into the protective coping mechanisms and mindset required to survive this kind of career, but it isn't for the faint of heart. Also, I believe this book should be required reading in any EMS training curriculum.

Amazing book

The book really tells the hardships faced by the EMS services as well as the great take of a friendship forming in utter hardship and laughter. It also takes a look a the physical, mental and emotional toll consistent exposure to tragedy, hardship, death, stress and at time the worst of humanity takes on the heroes who serve us day and night.

The unfiltered raw reality of the job. Striking and magnificent with room for humor.

The abrupt changes in sound quality when words were edited or needed to be reread was very obvious and distracting. The book itself though, amazing.

Amazing!!

Absolutely incredible book and an insight into the day-to-day life and battle of EMS workers

A more perfect description of EMS doesn’t exist.

As a 23 year veteran paramedic, who also works for a high volume service, I can say that this book is spot on for what it is like to be in EMS.
I normally don’t read books about EMS, I figure that I live it enough, but I am so glad I picked this one on a whim.