Lt. Timothy R. Thompson covers Infection Control topics.  About the columnist: Timothy R. Thompson is a retired EMS Medical Quality Officer for the Washington DC. Fire & EMS Department. He served with DCFEMS for twenty-four years and has been actively involved in EMS for thirty years. He is a Nationally Registered Paramedic as well as a certified Paramedic in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Timothy is a certified instructor for many different programs including Infection Control. Currently he is an Associate Member of the Chester Gap Fire Department in Rappahannock County Virginia. Timothy is also a Special Interest writer and published author of several EMS programs and currently writes for EMS Network News, the Standard Freelancer, the Warren County Report, the Helium Network and Mending Words.   You may contact him through his web site or submit feedback with the link below.

During my thirty years of EMS I have heard many words, been called many names and have even created a few words myself. Most of us in EMS create a Teflon shield that we put on with our uniform, this shield causes the bad words and names to just roll off. We don’t let those little things upset us, it’s just not worth the headache. Afterall, who wants to go home mad, so we take our shield off and leave it at work.

    There is, however one little thing that can make your day. This little thing consists of two words, and these two words make it all worth it. We don’t hear these words very often but when we do, we respect them. Sure over the years I have gotten handshakes, hugs, soda’s, food and even tips when I worked for a private service in the 1970’s. But none of that can compare to the two words. We stop bleeding, start breathing, comfort our patients and their families in time of need. We see and do a lot, more so than the average person. Many times what we get in return are bad backs and arthritis, but when we sit and think about the last patient or family member we saw and the two words they told us, the pain all goes away. These two words that I am talking about are "Thank you. "

    We hear these words presented in many different forms, but no matter how it is said it all means the same. Things like “Thanks, what would I have done without you, your alright, you’re the man/women” and the list continues. When people say those things we know what they mean and we respect it. I ask all of you the next time you hear these words accept them with a smile in your heart, because it takes a lot for some people to say it. Just respect and accept it, to me that is worth much more than a pay check.