A Life on the Line: A MICA Flight Paramedic's Story

by Darren Hodge

When the author was a kid, a big white sleek ambulance squatted like a lion in the driveway next door, always ready to go, and sometimes it did, roaring down the street. Today he is a MICA Flight Paramedic with decades of varied experience in 'a life of extremes' in an Australian ambulance service. He does shifts at base on-call, and teaches another generation of paramedics now. Loves his job. A list of well-known events that includes Victoria's Black Saturday Fires and the 2005 Bali Bombing - he was trying to get married when that call came in - mark two dark extremes. Technical matters - trauma treatment decisions, and the limits of aviation, for example - are explained. And this book includes the little things like the time the supermarket aisle was alive with the sound of music from an ex-patient's kid's lips: 'Thanks for looking after Daddy.' Darren couldn't have put it better himself, and it made his heart sing. This book tells what is like to be Darren Hodge on the end of a line, what it is like to be a paramedic. Open, honest reports, warts and all, this memoir is an unflinching account of how it feels, say, to pluck people from imminent death. And there are some laughs on the way...

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical, Biography

178 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2019

Reviews

[Max Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a paramedic student and having had the pleasure of meeting him and seen his seminar this was an amazing complementary read and I enjoyed it thoroughly!

[Dean Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly real account

Darren’s book reads like a conversation to the reader, it makes you feel like you are sitting there talking with him about his life and job. It takes an amazing series of stories and accounts and stitches them into a life that few would even stop to think about. We see episodes of Paramedics and snapshots in the newspaper but it’s hard to consider how this happen over 20 years! A great read for those that want to see what the world is like for the first time and helpful for those already in the job looking for perspective.

[Susan Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true grit read outlining the realities of MICA Flight Paramedics and specialists in this field, Darren talks to you of the complexities of 'make no harm' and unbelievable efforts to ensure the injured party stays alive until specialist hospital treatment can be undertaken. Darren highlights the Team effort and exhausting endurance to remain alert and continual efforts to keep victims/patients alive, - I applaud the efforts of all Ambulance Victoria team - who literally plunge into danger to save those in need on a day to day basis.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
As a grad paramedic it provided me with further insight into the role, and that my career change is heating in a positive direction.
The jobs and patients that a MFP and his crew are confronted with, are very well portrayed in each chapter. I learnt a lot and even shed a tear here and there.
My favourite chapter/s were on winching and Bali.
Great read, and highly recommended.

[Lynsey Smit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply amazing

This is one of the truest and rawest accounts of life in the prehospital setting I’ve read, and I read a lot. Darren take you on a journey with him and shares the incredible roller coaster of the prehospital setting. An absolute MUST read!! Definitely one if the best books I’ve ever read!

[Zoe Thorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few years back as a paramedic uni student and honestly, it felt like it prepared me much more for what I was facing ahead from a realists perspective than university itself. I read this in a night, it’s gripping, a rollercoaster of emotions in the best and worst way. I couldn’t recommend this more!

[cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is truly amazing. as a student wanting to become a paramedic - this was a really great opportunity to see the honest and raw recounts of what can happen in the field. i applaud Darren for being so honest and open especially about his mental health and mentality around certain jobs

[Ruprecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Life on the Line" was recommended to me by a relative of one of the rescue victims. She was critically, almost fatally injured in a car accident. It was Darren's knowlege and quick thinking that saved her!

[Paige (TheBookVulture) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply brilliant. Raw, terrifying, devastating, and uplifting accounts of real life situations. I already had enormous respect for these guys, but this skyrocketed my respect for flight paramedics.

[Sarah morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply amazing!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in under a 24 hour period. Absolutely hooked on the next line, page, chapter.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting but too short

[Katie Anderson]

A page turner that really makes you appreciate the little things, and all of our emergency service workers!

[Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. Unlike many others in the genre, Darren doesn’t beef out his stories with unnecessary details. Each chapter is interesting, unique and memorable. Highly recommend.

[Michael H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. What a great real life account of the work of one the high performers in the industry. A new found respect for the situations these guys end up in. Hats off 👍

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

how i felt after reading this

[Tilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a paramedic student, this book has motivated me beyond belief and left me in awe of the role MFPs play in the ambulance industry. Gave incredible insight into the tasks and training undertaken as a MFP and was a struggle to put the book down after starting!!