Chapter One

Jace Parker and his partner and ambulance ride partner, Alex Weatherspon, are working together as newest EMT-I professionals in Baltimore Maryland. As an EMT-I, Jace and Alex were on their way to treat their patient of the day named Jenny Migesi, a thirteen-year-old girl who had overdosed on a narcotic drug. Jace treats patients for a range of medical crises and traumas as an EMT-Intermediate, sometimes referred to as a complex EMT.

Jace and Alex were on their way to save Jenny. Jace was driving the ambulance and Alex was his ride along. Even firefighters where they also work with non-EMTs came to the scene. Jace is a first responder. So is Alex.

After Jace and Alex had arrived at the scene of Jenny Migesi's house, the door was locked and one firefighter named Justin Miguel immediately came to the door and knocked down the door that was locked. Jace and Alex immediately rush into Jenny's home and after running into their home, Jace and Alex went into Jenny's bedroom and they saw her lying on the floor unconscious. Jenny was the one who called 911 before she lost consciousness.

Jace bent down on their knees and so did Alex and they grabbed their equipment to treat Jenny. As Jace was trying to help Jenny, he first took out a syringe and pulled back the plunger while the vial was upside down to extract four milligrams of naloxone. Jace then inserted a naloxone syringe using a needle that's one inch long and injected it into Jenny's upper arm. Jenny did not respond to the first dose. She was still unconscious. Jace had given Jenny another dose of naloxone. Still no response.

So Jace began to do CPR. Alex was using a bag-valve mask ventilation to insert air in Jenny's lungs while Jace was doing CPR on Jenny.  After 30 chest compressions, Jace immediately takes the defibrillator and he takes the pads and puts one pad on top of  the upper right side of the chest, directly below the collarbone. On the lower left side of the chest, below and parallel to the armpit, should have the second pad.

"CLEAR!," says Jace.

The defibrillator automatically shocks Jenny the first time. After Jenny is shocked the first time,  Jace follows the on-screen instructions before the defibrillator recharges itself. Jace begins to do 30 chest compressions once again on Jenny and after that Jace says, "CLEAR," for the second time before the defibrillator automatically shocks Jenny for the second time. Jace was worried about Jenny and after being shocked the first time. Jenny didn't wake up. Jace then begins to do 30 chest compressions once again and then he says "CLEAR," once again and the defibrillator shocks Jenny automatically for the third time.

Jace noticed a normal heart rhythm was shown on the defibrillator. Jenny has gained back her consciousness.

"Jace felt Jenny's pulse. "She's got a pulse," Jace said, exhaling in his breath in relief. Jenny slowly opened her eyes. "Hey, Jenny, you're gonna be okay. We're gonna take you to the hospital," Jace said. Jenny slowly blinked both her eyes and Jace sighed. Jace and Alex put Jenny on the stretcher and Jace shined a light into Jenny's eyes and asked Jenny if she knows where she is and is she feeling confused about what happened.

Jace was nervous about saving Jenny. His heart was racing and was afraid that he would mess up. Jace and Alex, (after putting Jenny on the stretcher), took Jenny out of her bedroom and then out of her home, then put her in the ambulance. In the ambulance, Jenny said, "I want to go home." Jace was being very understanding about the fact that Jenny had tried to commit suicide and that she needed to be looked at.

"No, I want to go home," says Jenny. Jace sighed.

"I'm sorry, Jenny, but you have to understand you almost died," says Jace, furiously.

"I want to go home!" says Jenny, shouting, then beginning to cry.

Jace was worried about Jenny that she will probably try to hurt herself again. Jenny was crying and after arriving at the hospital, Jace and Alex took Jenny out of the ambulance and after the doctors and nurses took Jenny into the hospital, Jace walked into the hospital and Jace explained to a doctor named Lang Wong that Jenny had tried to commit suicide due to a an opioid overdose and
other information. A paramedic like Jace usually provides the receiving physician with a brief verbal report when a patient is admitted to the hospital.

This report includes information such as the patient's primary complaint, age, gender, vital signs, medical history, injuries or symptoms seen, treatments given during transport, and any important updates on the patient's condition. Standardized medical terminology is frequently used to ensure clear communication.

He was able to gain her consciousness back after Jace performed CPR on Jenny at her house and gave her CPR after giving Jenny two doses of naloxone.

After Jenny was brought to the hospital, Dr. Wong had no choice but to put Jenny was on a 24-hour suicide watch and was taken to a psychiatric ward.  EMTs like Jace, they their lives according to a clock, yet that clock never stops running. Their line of work necessitates a special and frequently difficult scheduling strategy. EMTs usually work different lengths of shifts. As is typical for volunteer or part-time EMTs, these shifts might last as little as eight hours. Twelve-hour shifts are more typical for full-time professionals since they provide longer coverage and need fewer shift changes. EMTs occasionally choose to work 24-hour shifts, which are more taxing but less common and require them to work both day and night in succession.

After Jace had driven home, he had called his mother Eliza Parker who answered her phone call while sitting on her living room couch at home. Jace lives in an apartment.

"Hey sweetheart," says Mrs. Parker.

"Hey mom," answered Jace, as he walked into his apartment after opening the door. 

How are you doing? How are you enjoying your new life as an EMT?" wondered Mrs. Parker.

Jace shuts the door. "Well uh, let's just say this morning was a bit rough. I treated a young girl who had overdosed on opioids and I just. I almost thought I was gonna lose her," says Jace.

"Oh gosh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. Is she okay?" wondered Mrs. Parker.

"Yeah, thankfully," answered Jace.

Jace walked up to his bedroom and he sat down on his bed. "Mom. I'd really thought I was going to lose her," says Jace.

Mrs. Parker sighed. She felt bad for her son. "Just hang in there, okay. I know being a paramedic isn't an easy job," says Mrs. Parker, in a gentle voice. 

Jace (as he continues to sit on his bed) went silent for a moment. He had a flashback of Jenny, who was Jace's first patient of the day he treated and had a flashback of Jenny lying on the floor. 

"Honey?"says Mrs. Parker. Jace clears his throat.

"Yeah, sorry. Um. I'm gonna go ahead and let you go. I had a long day. I need some sleep," says Jace.

"Yeah of course. Just remember if you need anything or need someone to talk to, I'm here," says Mrs. Parker. 

Jace went silent for a moment once again and eventually spoke. "Yeah, okay. Thanks mom," says Jace.

"Okay honey, you get to sleep. I love you. I'm sorry about what happened to your first patient," says Mrs. Parker.

Jace nods his head and he sighs. "I love you too, mom," says Jace. Eventually Jace hung up the phone. He puts down his iPhone onto his nightstand. Jace stood from his bed and started taking his shirt off before heading to the bathroom outside of his bedroom across the hall from outside of his bedroom and went ahead to take his shower. Jace clearly couldn't take his mind off of Jenny. He really cared about her and he was hoping that Jenny is being treated well at the psychiatric ward. Jace, after heading to bed to sleep, had dreamt about Jenny.

Until he woke up the very next morning, Jace had to treat another patient named Lauren Vegas. Lauren was a victim of domestic violence. Jace had to treat her with care after her boyfriend had punched her in the face and Lauren had fallen on the floor and hit her head really hard. Jace thinks Lauren is suffering a concussion. So Jace and Alex took her to the hospital and then to the emergency room.