Pulse: A Paramedic's Walk Along the Lines of Life and Death

by James Pace

In this debut collection of essays, Pace tells of his years as a career paramedic—wandering through the highs and the lows, the saves and the losses, the patients he remembers, and the ones he tries to forget. In 1997, Pace began his career as an EMT because he wanted to do something exciting. He wanted to help people too. And he thought those two things—excitement and helping people—would exist hand in hand. With a little sprinkle of glory thrown in for good measure. Twenty-three years and thousands of calls later—as an EMT, then paramedic, working in a helicopter and on the ground—he still hasn’t stumbled onto any glory, and he’s tired of the excitement. But some nights, even now, he finds scraps of humanity—beautiful pieces in the broken-up mosaic of the world. *** Praise from Kevin Hazzard, author of A Thousand Naked A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back Hilarious, tragic, and absolutely unforgettable—just like the job itself. Pulse thrums with a kinetic blast, yet chooses all the right moments to slow it down and let us feel the gravity of the situation. And while it’s said the best couples finish each other’s sentences, James and JK write them. I’ve read harrowing and comic stories of life in an ambulance, but never one where the spouse interjects to scoop up lost details or flip the perspective. The effect is magic.

176 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2022

Reviews

[Jennifer Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Healthcare worker I related to this book so much! The joys, the tears, the celebrations, and frustrations of being in the world of helping others.

[Jacquelyn Burks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We show up because people fall. Because we all fall. And so, we catch”
Having celebrated 5 years now as a 911 dispatcher this book definitely added more to my knowledge from the EMS side. Alternatively funny and sad it speaks a lot of truth and ultimately reminds me why I keep doing my own job day by day.
Thank you James Pace for your 23 (24?) years of service given to your community. And many thanks to your wife also for providing support to you. And thanks to both of you for writing this out.

[Crystal Lycka-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well versed and accurate portrayal of the EMS World. Great for people trying to gain insight into EMS. If you're an EMT or Medic it feels like sharing stories at the station and we all know we love that.

[Aaron Turgeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a new EMS provider in my state and this book really gave me a lot of insight into the world of EMS. I really enjoyed getting a non EMS personnel and an EMS personnel take on situation.

[Lori Kasprzak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely liked the second half better than the first half. Recommended for non medical professionals who want to either go into EMS or understand better what our paramedics go through.

[Miranda Dwiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a quick read. As a paramedic, this was so relatable on so many levels. Definitely recommend!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book for those that want to hear stories from the streets. I was able to follow and compare on many of his calls and feelings.