The Alternate Exit

Not many people see the damage a 12 guage shotgun can do to a human head. Police, EMS, fire, military and the coroner are the only ones I can think of. I guess there are the crazy people who do this to others but this isn’t about those murderers. These patients rarely even make it to the ER for the doctors and nurses to treat unless they’re still alive and that’s even scarier.

I work is a small community with a large population of senior citizens. I’ve done my share of suicide calls but over half of them have been in this age group. Everything from drowning themselves in buckets of water, overdosing on their pills and most recently a shotgun to the face. I’ve lived in countries where the elders are cared for by their families, they die in their own bed in the family home surrounded by their children. I wonder what the suicide rates are of the older populations in those countries.

My paramedic brothers and sisters will know what it’s like to walk through a senior’s home pushing a stretcher. It’s like being a fox in the hen house. I’m sure most of them know it will be us to take them away from their home and friends possibly never to return. I guess many just choose the alternate exit of suicide.

Stay safe everyone and happy New Year.

DanSun

TheAlternateExit