A Paramedics Diary: Life and Death on the Streets

by Stuart Gray

Stuart Gray is a paramedic dealing with the worst life can throw at him. A Paramedic's Diary is his gripping, blow-by-blow account of a year on the streets - 12 roller-coaster months of enormous highs and tragic lows. One day he'll save a young mother's life as she gives birth, the next he might watch a young girl die on the tarmac in front of him after a hit-and-run. His is a world of hoax calls, drunks and druggies, terrorist bombings and gangland shootings. A gripping, entertaining and often amusing read. About the Gray has been a guest on Saturday Live on Radio 4 and the Simon Mayo Show and the Donal MacIntyre Show on Radio Five Live.He has also appeared on TV in Bizarre ER. The Times named him one of the 40 Bloggers who really count and said that he 'encounters more blood-curdling drama on a single shift than most people would in a year' and that his writing is 'compelling and plainly written.'

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical, Memoir, Medicine

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2010

Reviews

[Rebecca *(book keeper )* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally got round to reading this.
Not as poignant as I thought it would be, but none the less a fascinating look into the Frontline of the NHS.
Stuart Grey is an ambulance driver in London and on any given night can find himself dealing with time wasters, dying pensioners, pregnant ladies, aggressive drunks and scalded children.
Moving and disturbing in equal measure but always interesting.

[Lloyd Kerns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently developed an interest in EMS and this book was randomly chosen as my first venture into learning what it takes. Lucky pick. I enjoyed everything about this and learned quite a bit while doing so. Just What the EMT Ordered.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The insight into life as a paramedic was quite eye opening and it’s most shocking some of what they come across while in the course of doing their job. I think Stuart Gray seems like a likeable guy (guess you would be in his line of work) and you can really hear his affection and care for his patients and forms a sort of bond with them, and seems almost sad when he says I never saw them again.

[Michael Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago but remember I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.

[Matthew Bevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good and really well written!!!

[Roz Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤

[Elizabeth Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review can be found at: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-r...


I saw this book a while ago someplace and added it to my Goodreads to-be-read list. I spoke to me since I am currently in school to get my EMT-B license. So low and behold for my birthday my bestie gifted it, and another one that she thought would be perfect for me. I was so excited to read it and immediately started it that night.

First off, this isn’t like a book that has a beginning, middle, or end. So if that is what you are looking for this isn’t the book for you. This book also contains some strong mental images so be warned. Stuart has been a Paramedic for a while in London. These are some of his stories over some of his time while working for the London Ambulance. The book is broken down into sections. Each section is filled with stories that pertain to the title of the section. There are sections about suicide, geriatrics, people who are overweight, and just about everything in between.

The chapters are scattered with educational tidbits like what CPR is or why and when they run with their blue lights flashing on the top. It is written in such a way that the layperson who is not part of the medical field will completely understand but is also written in a way that those who are in the medical field will totally get. I liked his writing style but did find the flow from chapter to chapter rather abrupt but not terrible. I really don’t know what else to say about this book. I found it fascinating and really enjoyed it. I see that the author has written other books as well, if they are anything like this one I will certainly be checking them out.

[Chloe Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down, really interesting to see the real life jobs of paramedics, emts and the emergency service. Would recommend as it was easy to read and enjoyable

[Donald Trump · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author is convicted of pedophile. Do not buy this book.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...

[BookwormSally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having worked for the ambulance service myself for many years as a call handler and being married to a paramedic for a while, I really enjoyed this book. Life on the frontline for any emergency service worker really is a world of its own. I like how this gives lay people a slight insight into just what can be thrown at them in the course of a shift. Although this only touches on the highs and lows they encounter, it's very well written and hopefully gives people an understanding of just how hard their jobs are.

[Darren William Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Informative and fairly eye-opening. The biggest problem with it is that he hammers through every story really quickly. There are a ton of stories in the book and it really reads like this is what he jotted down in his diary at the end of the day. Just when you really want to know more about this story, it finishes. He could have cut a ton of stories out and elaborated a bit on the best ones.
It's a perfect lunch break book. Short chapters and a quick read. Wish it had more substance to it though.

[David Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that was recommended to me to read as looking to become a Paramedic, this is the best book about the job as the author is like everyone else as does't glorify the job. Worth a read.

[Sophie Carnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witty and interesting.

[David Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was good with regard to detail in medicine and first aid. I am a first aider (red cross) and found this book interesting. Not a dull moment in this book.

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting, and sometimes incredulous, read.

[Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frank and succinct insight into the ups and downs of a paramedic career - a good read.

[Ig-88 · Rating 1 out of 5]

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