Emergency Medical Services. Seems pretty self explanatory right? I mean what is there to actually reveal? The reality though is that there is so much more to EMS than the lights and sirens, the basic 120 hour EMT course, the 12 month paramedic course or even a two year degree based paramedic course.

Yet many providers seem to get lost in the basic fringes of EMS. Responding to calls, going through the motions and going home each day. But there is more and it is vital that EMS professionals realize this.

The most important aspect of EMS is the "medical" part. Medicine however is much more than following a protocol or doing CPR. I know that the visual of the lights and providers performing CPR is a dramatic scene for many. Let's face it though. CPR is no great medical feat. People can get trained online for CPR these days and while it is a big part of EMS, the bigger part lies beneath what the average person sees us do.

The bigger part in my opinion comes in two sections. The first being the dedication to continue your EMS education.

Now the ongoing argument about having a college education with all the credits and bells and whistles vs. a certification type program is a valid discussion. However, the desire to continue your education is much bigger than how you get the initial jolt of training.

You are not really a paramedic when you graduate from a certificate or college program. The real learning begins when you start responding to calls on your own, and that is when you realize you don't know all that much. This is when most EMS providers discover how much information is out there that they don't know. This is when real EMS professionals start to discover ways to enhance their education.

Maybe it's by taking continuing education credits. Perhaps it's simply reading articles. It can even mean taking more college courses. The way to uncover what is behind the basics you learned in paramedic school is by taking the steps to increase your knowledge and understanding of not just the medical part of your job, but also the operational aspects as well. Topics such as incident management, HAZMAT, vehicle operations - the list can go on.

The point I am trying to make is to not fall into a sense of security after graduating from a paramedic or EMT program. In order to find out what EMS is really all about you must actively pursue further education. Not everyone may have the time to pursue a two year college degree type program. That doesn't mean that after your 12 or 14 month course you should stop learning. If you are a two year degree graduate, don't think you know it all either. Discovering what lies beneath the surface of EMS, under the lights and sirens and behind the dramatic CPR pictures takes a dedication to the profession.

Those providers that pursue more education and acknowledge that there is always more to learn are the ones who will uncover what EMS really is.

The second part of uncovering EMS goes a little beyond education.

What the average person sees everyday is an ambulance traveling down the road, maybe a MVC scene or CPR being performed like mentioned previously. Just like a providers education though, what they don't see or know is the dedication and desire the providers performing these tasks have.

How many of us miss meals, sleep and time with family and friends due to the dedication we have to the profession? How many times have you gone above what was expected to try and save a life or to simply respond to a call? Behind what the public sees is the real EMS.

They don't see the EMS professional who goes above what is expected every day. Yet we never ask for recognition, we don't expect a bonus and we won't allow ourselves to do less. The  professionals behind the lights and sirens are the real EMS.

It may be harder to uncover the people who make EMS what it is. We come from all walks of life. We work in every city, town and road. The common thread hough is that what we do each day cannot be described in a short article like this and unless you do the job, you cannot understand what it is we do.

Most people though don't want to know. They want to know when we are going to get there and they want to see us help them or their family member. You know that you will get there as quickly as possible and you are going to do your best to help them or their loved one.

Then for that one person or that family - EMS will be uncovered. They will know how educated and how dedicated we are. They will get a glimpse into EMS and while it may not reveal it all. It will shine a light on EMS. It will be up to you how bright that light can be. It will be up to you how much will be uncovered.