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Lights and Sirens
A true account of going through UCLA’s famed Daniel Freeman Paramedic Program—and practicing emergency medicine on the streets of Los Angeles.
Nine months of tying tourniquets and pushing new medications, of IVs, chest compressions, and defibrillator shocks—that was Kevin Grange’s initiation into emergency medicine when, at age thirty-six, he enrolled in the “Harvard of paramedic schools”: UCLA’s Daniel Freeman Paramedic Program, long considered one of the best and most intense paramedic training programs in the world.
Few jobs can match the stress, trauma, and drama that a paramedic calls a typical day at the office, and few educational settings can match the pressure and competitiveness of paramedic school. Blending months of classroom instruction with ER rotations and a grueling field internship with the Los Angeles Fire Department, UCLA’s paramedic program is like a mix of boot camp and med school. It would turn out to be the hardest thing Grange had ever done—but also the most transformational and inspiring.
An in-depth look at the trials and tragedies that paramedic students experience daily, Lights and Sirens is ultimately about the best part of humanity—people working together to help save a human life.
Nine months of tying tourniquets and pushing new medications, of IVs, chest compressions, and defibrillator shocks—that was Kevin Grange’s initiation into emergency medicine when, at age thirty-six, he enrolled in the “Harvard of paramedic schools”: UCLA’s Daniel Freeman Paramedic Program, long considered one of the best and most intense paramedic training programs in the world.
Few jobs can match the stress, trauma, and drama that a paramedic calls a typical day at the office, and few educational settings can match the pressure and competitiveness of paramedic school. Blending months of classroom instruction with ER rotations and a grueling field internship with the Los Angeles Fire Department, UCLA’s paramedic program is like a mix of boot camp and med school. It would turn out to be the hardest thing Grange had ever done—but also the most transformational and inspiring.
An in-depth look at the trials and tragedies that paramedic students experience daily, Lights and Sirens is ultimately about the best part of humanity—people working together to help save a human life.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2015
121 people are currently reading
1712 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Grange
5 books100 followersKevin Grange is a firefighter paramedic in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He is the award-winning author of Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton; Lights and Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic; and Beneath Blossom Rain: Discovering Bhutan on the Toughest Trek in the World. He has written for National Parks, Backpacker, Utne Reader, Yoga Journal, and the Orange County Register. He has worked as a park ranger and paramedic at Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Teton National Parks.
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April 15, 2022What's your Malampatti score? You are going to need a light (phone) and a mirror for this. For best results, a tongue depressor and a friend. Then go here here. I'm a 2. It makes a difference for intubation, anaesthesia and possibly sleep apnea. If you don't know it, it's not going to make a blind bit of difference to your life, but it's always nice to know a bit more about one's own body. Besides, it could be that topic of conversation designed to stump the person who has an answer for everything/
Paramedic books are all adrenaline and gore rushing to the seriously ill patient and emergency medicine then handing over in the hospital, full case history included so we can sympathise with the patient. This one takes a different angle, and yet again, has a title that is a hook but doesn't reflect the book. It's not about lights and sirens or cases, it's about training to be a paramedic, which is interesting in itself. So far, so good!
Paramedic books are all adrenaline and gore rushing to the seriously ill patient and emergency medicine then handing over in the hospital, full case history included so we can sympathise with the patient. This one takes a different angle, and yet again, has a title that is a hook but doesn't reflect the book. It's not about lights and sirens or cases, it's about training to be a paramedic, which is interesting in itself. So far, so good!
April 28, 2022
It isn’t really the authors fault that I didn’t love this book, I was expecting to read harrowing and exciting stories from the experiences of a paramedic, as the title would suggest… instead this book is solely based on the training involved from enrolment to qualifying and beyond.
It just became a bit text-booky for me and I got bored with it.
It’s less “Lights and Sirens” and more “Learning and studying” - 2 stars ⭐️
It just became a bit text-booky for me and I got bored with it.
It’s less “Lights and Sirens” and more “Learning and studying” - 2 stars ⭐️
December 18, 2019
Thought this was a fascinating look at the actual education/internship portion of becoming a paramedic – and how few students are able to successfully complete training and make it in this profession. It was overwhelming to me how hard this job/calling seems to be.
The field calls are gripping and sometimes heartbreaking. Think it may be too detailed for some, but would obviously be excellent for anyone considering this profession.
The field calls are gripping and sometimes heartbreaking. Think it may be too detailed for some, but would obviously be excellent for anyone considering this profession.
January 14, 2023
This is actually my second time reading this book, and I am truly glad I read it again. The first time I read it was over 2 years ago when I was a new EMT with little experience, but a strong passion for the possibility of becoming a paramedic. It was more of an inspiration at that time, a little window into the future you could say, as I tried to find what paramedic school would be all about. Fast forward to now, and I am one week into the same paramedic program this book is about. This time around, it was not inspiration, but rather a precursor into what I was getting myself into. And while there was stress and nerves while reading it, I came out with not only a greater appreciation for what I am about to embark on, but a sense of calm before the storm. For those that want to know what being a paramedic is like, or want to know what it takes to become one, this is a great book for that.
March 20, 2023
Here's one for my hypothetical list of Jobs I Never Knew I Didn't Want: some things about being a paramedic sound fascinating, and I'm by and large unbothered by blood and so on—but do we think I would pass paramedic school? No. We think I would flunk out at the first possible opportunity. (My god, so much memorisation.)
The title is a little disingenuous—certainly there are lights and sirens in the book, but since the plot covers Grange's entire experience of training as a paramedic, from EMT work to paramedic entrance exam to schooling to internship, the bulk of the story takes place not in an ambulance but in the classroom. It's great if you're interested in that sort of thing (and I am), but if you're really only looking for experiences with patients and the like, I'd recommend looking elsewhere (...perhaps at Wild Rescues, Grange's follow-up book).
There is one glaring omission in the book: discussion of gender. Grange was one of 41 paramedics in training...but only one of those students was a woman (whom Grange refers to as a 'female'—as a noun, not an adjective—at least once (p. 41), oh joy), and she's not one of the classmates Grange got to know well. And yet maybe half of the instructors are women, and at one point an instructor tells the students that, if possible, a female paramedic should handle patient care of (female) sexual assault victims (163)—and I'm left quite puzzled about the demographics of the profession. It would have been an easy fix—a little research, even an acknowledgement of the imbalance and some discussion of why it was so marked in this programme. (Naturally there is no mention of nonbinary gender, though that's not surprising given how far the national conversation has come even since the publication of this book.) But to treat it as perfectly unremarkable to have a class of 40 men and 1 woman? It's not a great look.
(Is this very tangential? Yes. But sometimes afemale girl woman person has to get on her soapbox, so there I go.)
All that being said: It's an engrossing read if you're interested in emergency medicine and the work that goes into providing it. I particularly appreciated Grange's slow rise to competence in his internship—that the standards were set such that even if a patient received adequate care, that might well not translate to a passing mark for the trainee paramedic...and that was fine and normal, at least initially. A reminder to learn from one's mistakes and fail upwards, I suppose.
The title is a little disingenuous—certainly there are lights and sirens in the book, but since the plot covers Grange's entire experience of training as a paramedic, from EMT work to paramedic entrance exam to schooling to internship, the bulk of the story takes place not in an ambulance but in the classroom. It's great if you're interested in that sort of thing (and I am), but if you're really only looking for experiences with patients and the like, I'd recommend looking elsewhere (...perhaps at Wild Rescues, Grange's follow-up book).
There is one glaring omission in the book: discussion of gender. Grange was one of 41 paramedics in training...but only one of those students was a woman (whom Grange refers to as a 'female'—as a noun, not an adjective—at least once (p. 41), oh joy), and she's not one of the classmates Grange got to know well. And yet maybe half of the instructors are women, and at one point an instructor tells the students that, if possible, a female paramedic should handle patient care of (female) sexual assault victims (163)—and I'm left quite puzzled about the demographics of the profession. It would have been an easy fix—a little research, even an acknowledgement of the imbalance and some discussion of why it was so marked in this programme. (Naturally there is no mention of nonbinary gender, though that's not surprising given how far the national conversation has come even since the publication of this book.) But to treat it as perfectly unremarkable to have a class of 40 men and 1 woman? It's not a great look.
(Is this very tangential? Yes. But sometimes a
All that being said: It's an engrossing read if you're interested in emergency medicine and the work that goes into providing it. I particularly appreciated Grange's slow rise to competence in his internship—that the standards were set such that even if a patient received adequate care, that might well not translate to a passing mark for the trainee paramedic...and that was fine and normal, at least initially. A reminder to learn from one's mistakes and fail upwards, I suppose.
January 31, 2016
This book really captured my attention because it tells the story of a profession many people including myself take for granted. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading. I was completely engrossed in the authors journey to become a paramedic because I am also on a constant journey to reach a new goal or find a new job. I could relate to his trials and tribulations. I admire that he didn't give up and was patient with himself. I enjoyed learning about the life of a paramedic. I couldn't believe that some many people put themselves through the struggles of this profession to provide service to people they don't even know. I have a greater respect for paramedics and see them as self-less human beings.
December 21, 2016
The parallels between paramedic school and nursing school made me laugh. For instance, "I made a fresh pot of coffee, tore open a thick stack of white flash cards, and immediately began writing. Four hours later, when I'd made only a modest dent in the material, it dawned on me that I was spending all my time creating flash cards and none of my time studying them." I know that feeling.
In general, this book made me thankful for the hard work that paramedics put in everyday. We nurses and doctors work in a controlled environment. Paramedics are out in the elements, in sometimes dangerous, hostile environments.
In general, this book made me thankful for the hard work that paramedics put in everyday. We nurses and doctors work in a controlled environment. Paramedics are out in the elements, in sometimes dangerous, hostile environments.
October 18, 2024
Uh oh!
Shoutout Kevin Grange for changing my life.
Shoutout Kevin Grange for changing my life.
November 6, 2018
Actual rating 3.75 stars
I thought this was a great book on becoming a paramedic. I liked the fact that the author focused on his paramedic classes and internship, instead of discussing the cases he has been on. I felt that it was a unique way of writing a book like this. Most of the other medical biographies I have read were about life after school and their "weird" cases. I liked that he tried to show how difficult the training is and the issues many go through trying to follow their dreams. I recommend it for those who enjoy medical biographies.
I thought this was a great book on becoming a paramedic. I liked the fact that the author focused on his paramedic classes and internship, instead of discussing the cases he has been on. I felt that it was a unique way of writing a book like this. Most of the other medical biographies I have read were about life after school and their "weird" cases. I liked that he tried to show how difficult the training is and the issues many go through trying to follow their dreams. I recommend it for those who enjoy medical biographies.
September 6, 2017
My mom happened to check this out of the library literally days after I idly wondered to myself what kind of formal education it takes to become a paramedic, and I am impressed by the serendipity of her timing. This answered all my questions and confirmed the difficulty level is unreal, particularly once you get to the field internship. It absolutely blows my mind that anyone is able to graduate from this kind of program, let alone so many people that the job competition is fierce and the pay for such a challenging and important job is not through the roof.
Overall, while I was not blown away by the writing style or stories, I appreciated the straightforward and utilitarian focus on the program and the nature of the job without getting sidetracked by the author's personal narrative.
Overall, while I was not blown away by the writing style or stories, I appreciated the straightforward and utilitarian focus on the program and the nature of the job without getting sidetracked by the author's personal narrative.
April 1, 2019
This book is one i feel more people would do good to read. Not just medical practitioners, but people in general. For a professional attitude during a job where you frequently see people at their most scared or weakest requires compassion and that is something that i feel is often bleeding away in today's society.
I have had doctors that ask me for movie recommendations when i visit asking for help. Be it about migraines, severe insomnia, anxiety that left me struggling to breathe, tinnitus so bad i struggled to hear people talking to me or even with severe dizziness. And the doctors can barely be bothered to do the minimum of their job.
This book let me fantasize about good medical staff. It helped restore faith in humanity to a degree. Sounds a bit dramatic for a book about someone training to be a paramedic, but Paramedics are those first on site during an emergency. They go into dangerous situations carrying a medical bag. Heroes that do what so few dare to do. To risk themselves to help others. And that to me was inspiring and heart warming to read about.
If you are aiming to work in a medical profession of any sort, i feel this book could be useful to get a glance at the spirit of the job.
I have had doctors that ask me for movie recommendations when i visit asking for help. Be it about migraines, severe insomnia, anxiety that left me struggling to breathe, tinnitus so bad i struggled to hear people talking to me or even with severe dizziness. And the doctors can barely be bothered to do the minimum of their job.
This book let me fantasize about good medical staff. It helped restore faith in humanity to a degree. Sounds a bit dramatic for a book about someone training to be a paramedic, but Paramedics are those first on site during an emergency. They go into dangerous situations carrying a medical bag. Heroes that do what so few dare to do. To risk themselves to help others. And that to me was inspiring and heart warming to read about.
If you are aiming to work in a medical profession of any sort, i feel this book could be useful to get a glance at the spirit of the job.
December 18, 2018
My husband is a small-town EMT, so it's not like I can read this book and go "omg that's my life!" But I feel a certain understanding of how rough it might be, just from reading the author's words and descriptions. I certainly couldn't do it--and I wouldn't want to, either!
December 18, 2019
Fascinating look into the training that goes into becoming a paramedic. I had a hard time putting this down it was so interesting.
January 8, 2021
I have been so excited to read this since I got it. I’m glad I was finally able to get to it. Since starting to work in law enforcement a couple of years ago, I have become obsessed with ridealongs in all the different areas of first responders. I thought that’s what this book would be like and it definitely was not. It was a lot more about, well, the education of a paramedic (shocker given the title, right?) and less about the individual calls he went on. I should have expected it given the title, but I wasn’t expecting this book to be so academic. I would have thought it would be more exciting and I was expecting to spend more time out in the field on the ambulance. I still enjoyed this book, because I love memoirs and I got really invested in Kevin’s journey. And years of watching medical dramas on tv have left me with somewhat of an interest in medicine so I enjoyed learning about that as well. I just don’t think this is a book that I could recommend to everyone. I feel like I learned a lot from this book and am definitely more interested in emergency field medicine than I was before. Weirdly, I credit my years of medical dramas for the fact that I was able to learn so much. I’m not saying watching Grey’s Anatomy has qualified me to perform surgery or anything, but it played a large part in first exposing me to all of that medical vocabulary, so that I had a vague idea of what a lot of those big words had to do with before I started this book and got better definitions. If I went into this book a little bit more blind, I think I would have been overwhelmed by all of the medical terminology and I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the book as much. It was also extremely interesting seeing how the medicine in this book differed or was similar to the medicine in fictional situations. One show in particular I was able to draw parallels with was 9-1-1. I started this book earlier this year and then picked it back up in December so that I could finish it before the year was over. During the time that I had put this book down, I watched almost three seasons of 9-1-1 and it’s crazy to me how similar that show was to this book. It makes sense, because the writers of that show did ridealongs with LAFD for a year while working on the show to try to make it as accurate as possible. I would have enjoyed the book anyway, but that extra connection definitely increased my enjoyment. I was so excited to jump right into this that I never really stopped to think about what kind of things we might encounter during his schooling. I’m fairly squeamish and very emotional and afraid of death and bad things happening in general. I started to get afraid a little ways into this that I wasn’t going to be able to make it through the whole thing. There were definitely parts of this that were a little gross that I just tried to get through as quickly as possible and parts that were very sad, but overall that aspect didn’t end up being as bad as I had started to fear. Even though it wasn’t what I expected, my favorite part of this book was still the field internship section. I would not be able to handle my preceptors being so hard on me. I know they’re only doing it because they want him to be the best he can be and because there are lives at stake, but I buckle under that kind of thing. I’m glad that paramedic school is so exacting, because if I ever need that sort of intervention, I would hope that the paramedics who show up know what they’re doing. But it was tough to read about him going through all of that stress. After going on this journey with him, I’m glad he successfully made it through to become a paramedic. I feel like I was able to celebrate that victory with him. I’m really glad he included the section at the end about where he’s been working since graduating paramedic school, because I would have been dying of curiosity. I feel like I wanna keep tabs on him now to see what he does with his career. I also really wanna go on a fire department ridealong now, so I’m going to make sure that happens. I wish that he had included a little bit more information about the other graduates of Class 36. I wanted to know who else made it through and who didn’t. At the very least, I just wanted a total number of people who graduated and people who failed out. This was such an emotional ride. I did end up enjoying this even though it wasn’t what I was expecting, but I don’t think it’s for everybody.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2020
Lights and Sirens
Kevin Grange
.
I was very excited to start reading this book, I also didn’t realise how paramedic books are out there! I started with this one, as this is about the journey of someone studying to become a paramedic at the same time as I did (2011), but in a different country with completely different methods of training and learning.
.
I had no idea how the paramedic system works in America. This may sound harsh, but I am not surprised that there are so many medical law suits there! They study for 4 months, do their practical hours, write exams, and boom, you’re a paramedic. Here in South Africa, you need a 4 year degree to have the same title and use the same skills. I must add that we never have to phone for permission to give drugs or medicine and we are completely independent practitioners.
.
Studying in South Africa means having class Monday to Friday (one day is set aside for medical rescue training, stuff like high angle, confined space rescue, LMVR, etc.) and then working two shifts on the weekend, either day or night shift. And we also have exam in between. And have to wake up early on Monday mornings for PT before class – military style (singing while jogging as a team in rows of three, etc.). It must be said the whole big ego thing of paramedics are not limited to America, it is rampant this side too!
.
I know this isn’t really a review of this book, more me comparing the 2 countries EMS systems, but it is very interesting for me how different our training was. In this book, the poor paramedic students are constantly studying (thank goodness they had a few mature, experienced firefighters with them that knows how important it was to work as a team) and they barely slept – defnitly something we had in common! One thing that stood out for me was the fact that there was just one female in the whole class! When I started out in first year, we were 10 females in a class of 30 (if I remember correctly), and that was already very strange for me. I know it’s a man’s world out there and everything, but JUST ONE FEMALE! Come on, America, I thought you guys are suppose to be so progressive.
.
Another thing that I had in common with the student in the book, was how important it was to try and stay sane. The main character tried to make time for a surf or a jog every now and then to just feel human and relax. Mental health is such an important thing and way too much overlooked in EMS. You see horrible things, yes, but you should never make it personal. You need to have empathy, not sympathy, to survive in this industry.
.
One very sad thing for me was how the author explained how bad the violence was in the area that he worked – on my first shift ever on an ambulance I saw 3 dead bodies, all murdered. It is a reality in first and third world countries. Agh I have so much to say about this book and EMS, especially in this COVID 19 time. Appreciate your first responders – they really are tuff and the one you want helping you in an emergency. Pray for their safety and mental health. It is bad out there.
.
I recommend this book for all Americans who wants to know more about EMS, people should know how hard they work (and that for very little money). EMS do it for the love of the job. There is no other job like it and I would do this job with a smile on my face (except when I’m really tired, then I can get grumpy)
.
#bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagramsouthafrica #booknerd #EMS #paramedic #lightsandsirens #kevingrange
Kevin Grange
.
I was very excited to start reading this book, I also didn’t realise how paramedic books are out there! I started with this one, as this is about the journey of someone studying to become a paramedic at the same time as I did (2011), but in a different country with completely different methods of training and learning.
.
I had no idea how the paramedic system works in America. This may sound harsh, but I am not surprised that there are so many medical law suits there! They study for 4 months, do their practical hours, write exams, and boom, you’re a paramedic. Here in South Africa, you need a 4 year degree to have the same title and use the same skills. I must add that we never have to phone for permission to give drugs or medicine and we are completely independent practitioners.
.
Studying in South Africa means having class Monday to Friday (one day is set aside for medical rescue training, stuff like high angle, confined space rescue, LMVR, etc.) and then working two shifts on the weekend, either day or night shift. And we also have exam in between. And have to wake up early on Monday mornings for PT before class – military style (singing while jogging as a team in rows of three, etc.). It must be said the whole big ego thing of paramedics are not limited to America, it is rampant this side too!
.
I know this isn’t really a review of this book, more me comparing the 2 countries EMS systems, but it is very interesting for me how different our training was. In this book, the poor paramedic students are constantly studying (thank goodness they had a few mature, experienced firefighters with them that knows how important it was to work as a team) and they barely slept – defnitly something we had in common! One thing that stood out for me was the fact that there was just one female in the whole class! When I started out in first year, we were 10 females in a class of 30 (if I remember correctly), and that was already very strange for me. I know it’s a man’s world out there and everything, but JUST ONE FEMALE! Come on, America, I thought you guys are suppose to be so progressive.
.
Another thing that I had in common with the student in the book, was how important it was to try and stay sane. The main character tried to make time for a surf or a jog every now and then to just feel human and relax. Mental health is such an important thing and way too much overlooked in EMS. You see horrible things, yes, but you should never make it personal. You need to have empathy, not sympathy, to survive in this industry.
.
One very sad thing for me was how the author explained how bad the violence was in the area that he worked – on my first shift ever on an ambulance I saw 3 dead bodies, all murdered. It is a reality in first and third world countries. Agh I have so much to say about this book and EMS, especially in this COVID 19 time. Appreciate your first responders – they really are tuff and the one you want helping you in an emergency. Pray for their safety and mental health. It is bad out there.
.
I recommend this book for all Americans who wants to know more about EMS, people should know how hard they work (and that for very little money). EMS do it for the love of the job. There is no other job like it and I would do this job with a smile on my face (except when I’m really tired, then I can get grumpy)
.
#bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagramsouthafrica #booknerd #EMS #paramedic #lightsandsirens #kevingrange
November 9, 2017
At age thirty-six, Daniel Freeman an aspiring LAFD firefighter enrolls in UCLA’s paramedic program. With aspiring confidence one of being the best emergency medical technicians in the country. Lights & Sirens The Education of a Paramedic, by Daniel Freeman gives you the first hand look of Paramedic school. From pushing medications to chest compressions and defibrillator shocks, he is introduced to the world of emergency medicine. Outside of the classroom, he’s either glued to a ER doctor’s hip, witnessing what happens after the patient if off the stretcher. Or he’s in the field riding shotgun in one of LA’s Paramedic ambulances, interacting and helping real patients in real situations.
After closing the final pages I realized this was one of the best books I have ever read. It was just like I was riding shotgun in a screaming ambulance racing to the scene. It was full of inspiration and makes me, and hopefully the other readers, want to push farther and harder towards their goals. 10/10. Full stars from the beginning to end. Young people who are interested in the medical world, just like I have should read it. I would also recommend it to retired firefighters and paramedics who want to flash back to their past.
The experience and how Kevin Grange could transform it in words was incredible. It was raw and as in depth as any story could get. Nearing the end, I realized Lights & Sirens brings out one the most incredible aspects of humanity; people working side by side to save a person in need of a second chance.
After closing the final pages I realized this was one of the best books I have ever read. It was just like I was riding shotgun in a screaming ambulance racing to the scene. It was full of inspiration and makes me, and hopefully the other readers, want to push farther and harder towards their goals. 10/10. Full stars from the beginning to end. Young people who are interested in the medical world, just like I have should read it. I would also recommend it to retired firefighters and paramedics who want to flash back to their past.
The experience and how Kevin Grange could transform it in words was incredible. It was raw and as in depth as any story could get. Nearing the end, I realized Lights & Sirens brings out one the most incredible aspects of humanity; people working side by side to save a person in need of a second chance.
October 25, 2024
Grange’s Lights and Sirens is okay, but not as good as his other book, Wild Rescues. In Wild Rescues, we get a fascinating look at the US national park system through Grange’s role as a first-responder.
In Lights and Sirens, we get a plodding narration of his journey through paramedic school, the exams, the ping pong with his classmates, the internship. The classroom portion is as entertaining as listening to most people describe their schooling: really boring. However, one thing I did learn from this section was how tough it is to become a paramedic. After reading the section about his schooling, I have a lot more respect for paramedics and the training they go through.
The internship section is more entertaining, as he is out in the field and there are a lot of blood and guts and death. Whereas in the classroom section of the book, he attempts to ratchet up the tension by talking about how much the exams feel like life or death, in the internship section of the book, there is actual life and death. We see the stakes of all the work he did in school.
I will note that Goodread readers actually ranked this book higher than Wild Rescues, 4.31 to 4.2, respectively. I suspect this is because a lot of people thinking about becoming paramedics read this book and found it really helpful. If you are thinking this career, this is a great book for you. But for a wider audience, I think Wild Rescues is better.
In Lights and Sirens, we get a plodding narration of his journey through paramedic school, the exams, the ping pong with his classmates, the internship. The classroom portion is as entertaining as listening to most people describe their schooling: really boring. However, one thing I did learn from this section was how tough it is to become a paramedic. After reading the section about his schooling, I have a lot more respect for paramedics and the training they go through.
The internship section is more entertaining, as he is out in the field and there are a lot of blood and guts and death. Whereas in the classroom section of the book, he attempts to ratchet up the tension by talking about how much the exams feel like life or death, in the internship section of the book, there is actual life and death. We see the stakes of all the work he did in school.
I will note that Goodread readers actually ranked this book higher than Wild Rescues, 4.31 to 4.2, respectively. I suspect this is because a lot of people thinking about becoming paramedics read this book and found it really helpful. If you are thinking this career, this is a great book for you. But for a wider audience, I think Wild Rescues is better.
February 20, 2025
There are a lot of books on EMS and being a paramedic, but almost all of them gloss over the intense experience of paramedic school!
This book aims to rectify that, and it does a great job of doing so!
The jump from EMT to Paramedic is a big one, and as the author states, it only goes from hard to harder, each step of the way. Through each segment of the book, he does such a great job of sharing the different personalities, the stresses, and the entire process so that the reader truly is along for the ride for each quiz, test, and skill session long before clinicals and field internships.
While sometimes going way too into the details, it's also kind of an important element of the book just how much you can gloss over/skip but that they have to know by heart!
The cherry picked calls in the last sections of the book that he chooses to share all show his evolution and learning process, while not glossing over his failures and mistakes. A lot was probably left out, as he briefly mentions trauma calls like car accidents but never actually speaks about them, but the ones discussed do show a good variety of interesting interactions and procedures.
While not the best book on EMS or paramedics in general, it really is the only book I've ever come across solely devoted to what it was like to go through a top rated program and the struggles one endures.
This book aims to rectify that, and it does a great job of doing so!
The jump from EMT to Paramedic is a big one, and as the author states, it only goes from hard to harder, each step of the way. Through each segment of the book, he does such a great job of sharing the different personalities, the stresses, and the entire process so that the reader truly is along for the ride for each quiz, test, and skill session long before clinicals and field internships.
While sometimes going way too into the details, it's also kind of an important element of the book just how much you can gloss over/skip but that they have to know by heart!
The cherry picked calls in the last sections of the book that he chooses to share all show his evolution and learning process, while not glossing over his failures and mistakes. A lot was probably left out, as he briefly mentions trauma calls like car accidents but never actually speaks about them, but the ones discussed do show a good variety of interesting interactions and procedures.
While not the best book on EMS or paramedics in general, it really is the only book I've ever come across solely devoted to what it was like to go through a top rated program and the struggles one endures.
July 16, 2019
Grange chronicles the trials and tribulations of getting through all phases of paramedic school, and while I went into the book expecting it to be the usual theme of reflecting on a career and the most memorable patients treated, I was pleased to read something different and get a strong picture of what it takes to become a paramedic. Grange certainly includes a fair share of patient stories, but the book is a chronological look at everything from walking through the door on the first day of school full of confidence but quickly being knocked down a peg, to facing 'fail and you're out' skills tests, to the culmination of all the learning as a paramedic intern in charge of the calls with an actual Los Angeles ambulance team. Grange and his fellow classmates were all EMTs looking to advance their training to the paramedic level, so they all had ambulance experience and a good foundation of medical knowledge, but paramedic school takes it all to a whole other level. Among other things, 'Lights and Sirens' gave me a new respect for our first responders, and gives me confidence that the men and women who made it through the training to be paramedics are indeed people I can trust my life with in an emergency.
December 11, 2016
Listened to in audio format.
At the age of 36 Kevin Grange decided to change careers and become a paramedic. He enrolled at UCLA on the paramedic programme, which is considered the best in the world.
As expected it was arduous course with constant exams. Kevin discussed the other trainees on the course which got smaller each week when they didn't make the grade.
This book.was a bit slow to get going. The book.really.started for me when he left college to start his internship in a hospital and then as an intern paramedic at the LA fire department.
I enjoyed the patients he met and the procedures he performed on real life people. How he was initially he concentrated on the procedures instead of the patient. Kevin had to deal with shootings, heart attacks and the saddest of all a still birth. It was a joy to listen to how Kevin grew for an intern to fully fledged paramedic.
I've always had an interest in books with a medical theme and this did not disappoint. This book is a must for anyone wanting to become a paramedic.
At the age of 36 Kevin Grange decided to change careers and become a paramedic. He enrolled at UCLA on the paramedic programme, which is considered the best in the world.
As expected it was arduous course with constant exams. Kevin discussed the other trainees on the course which got smaller each week when they didn't make the grade.
This book.was a bit slow to get going. The book.really.started for me when he left college to start his internship in a hospital and then as an intern paramedic at the LA fire department.
I enjoyed the patients he met and the procedures he performed on real life people. How he was initially he concentrated on the procedures instead of the patient. Kevin had to deal with shootings, heart attacks and the saddest of all a still birth. It was a joy to listen to how Kevin grew for an intern to fully fledged paramedic.
I've always had an interest in books with a medical theme and this did not disappoint. This book is a must for anyone wanting to become a paramedic.
February 2, 2022
I really enjoyed Kevin Grange's book, a description of the process that he went through to become a paramedic. He records his experiences in the classroom, hospital clinicals, and ambulance ride time, when you are running emergency calls while preceptors are evaluating you. I'm a paramedic and went through this process myself a few years ago. Grange's book is very accurate in describing this very intense, stressful, and often frustrating ordeal. I could relate to his difficulty of putting together all you are learning to treat patients in sometimes very critical situations where time is against you. Yeah, I could also relate to him getting chewed out by his preceptors for screwing up! Really good for those considering a career in EMS, (ignore the stupid TV shows) or those who just want to know more about those people who show up when you're in trouble and call 911.
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November 7, 2021I really enjoyed reading through Grange’s experiences on the path to becoming a paramedic. It put things more in perspective for me on the job in itself. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, particularly for Grange due to the area of the country he did internship and training in.
This was a very informative read on a subject that is dear to my heart, but I can’t say I would recommend it or be able to accurately rate it due to a numerous amount of expletives (over 20). However, I needed to read a book that would give me a good knowledge of the subject and this seemed to be the most likely candidate.
Sadly, there are very few books in todays society that broach on this subject (from a Christian perspective or not). But, maybe, one day, I will change that.
This was a very informative read on a subject that is dear to my heart, but I can’t say I would recommend it or be able to accurately rate it due to a numerous amount of expletives (over 20). However, I needed to read a book that would give me a good knowledge of the subject and this seemed to be the most likely candidate.
Sadly, there are very few books in todays society that broach on this subject (from a Christian perspective or not). But, maybe, one day, I will change that.
August 19, 2017
For me, I know I've read a good book when I become engaged in a subject I had no previous desire to learn about. Once I read an entire nonfiction book on the history and usage of longitudinal measurement, and I learned that I wanted to know everything there was to know about longitudinal measurement. Likewise, reading this book, I learned that I wanted to know everything there was to know about paramedic school, even though I have exactly zero desire to entire the medical field in any capacity. Good book.
January 30, 2018
This book found me at an incredibly important juncture. For this reason and the extreme detail he uses to describe the education of a first responder undergoes, I had to give it five stars. Between my own experiences of first response and nursing, I found myself relating to so much of this book. From leaving your confidence at the door when starting a shift with a tough preceptor to the elation of actually helping someone and feeling that fulfillment of having done something meaningful, I read this book slowly, trying to savour it. I will be reading this again.
November 27, 2018
A creative writing grad decides to become a paramedic. Talk about two perfect combinations for me, always on the hunt for an adrenaline rush of nonfiction penned by someone who can actually write. Kevin Grange is capable and affably conversational in his prose, but he almost doesn’t have to be—thanks to his terribly fascinating subject material. I had no idea paramedics knew so much and could handle such intense medical emergencies. When I met a paramedic in real life, I felt almost the same awe as if I’d met someone who had climbed Everest. Hats off to these guys.
March 23, 2019
While I enjoyed the stories of the calls, I couldn't bear the rest. Only because this is like reading my own autobiography. My paramedic schooling was nearly identical, only 13 months long. This book is a great read, IF you're not already a paramedic. I would have loved to read this before I went to school. My 1 star is not a fair representation of the book, but I only rate books a 1 if I don't finish it. If you're not a medic, read this book. If you are a medic, it's like reliving school, a hectic time most of us would love to forget.
January 25, 2022
Amazing book with a great narrator if you get the audiobook! The narrator really brought it to life. The book itself had my tearing up, laughing along and leaving truly inspired. I love the stories of patient connections, trauma calls and the other students. This book will walk you through why Kevin chose the profession, what the schooling experience was like for him and his practicum experience. I will definitely be listening to this one again whenever I need the uplifting messages within it. “The best way out, is through.”
February 17, 2017
I've enjoyed quite a few books by paramedics, as well as surgeons and other doctors, but this book follows a paramedic student through his training, both classroom and in the field. Makes me look at all the work I did in college, student teaching, and graduate school and think, "Whoa. I'm kinda a wimp." I'm amazed at how much these guys learn and practice--and what an asset they are to the medical community!
February 28, 2021
This memoir really reminded me of the experience of Paramedic School. While the programs we attended were scheduled differently, the intensity and emotional roller coaster seem to be almost identical. I enjoyed this read but caught myself wondering if this book created or simply reiterated many of the cliches involved in the experience/field. My inclination is toward the latter, but either way it took away from the author's originality and authenticity.
April 12, 2021
Really interesting subject matter and the arc is quite good - a year of training and the episodes that take place in class and in clinical and ambulance internship.
Found it a but hu-rah macho chest beating US patriot at times and some of the prose was a bit ho hum - "the tension in the room could light a power station" but all pretty forgivable.
Enjoyable and would recommend to prospective EMTs and Paras especially US based.
Found it a but hu-rah macho chest beating US patriot at times and some of the prose was a bit ho hum - "the tension in the room could light a power station" but all pretty forgivable.
Enjoyable and would recommend to prospective EMTs and Paras especially US based.
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