Ireland
EMS in Ireland
2007-09-02
In the
August issue of JEMS there is a story
about EMS in
Ireland that I
did all the photography for.
As a contributing photographer for JEMS and my wife being from Dublin, I took a great interest in Irish EMS. Until recently, there was no such thing as a Paramedic in the Republic of Ireland (but there was in Northern Ireland). However, like many places in the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 80s the only thing holding them back was the bureaucratic red tape. But it was coming... With lots of reverse immigration because of the Celtic Tiger and the anticipation of a Paramedic program, I was seeing and hearing of many Paramedics here in the U.S. that were Irish nationals returning to Ireland. So I pitched the idea for a story to my editors and they gave it the go-a-head.
I posted some questions on irishambulance.net inquiring about someone who had experience in pre-hospital care in both Ireland and the U.S., as well as being a third rider taking pictures. Vaughan Mason replied and fit the bill perfectly. He was an EMT with Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB), then came to the states to attend the Northeastern University Paramedic program in Burlington MA. While in the U.S. he also worked for Action Ambulance in Wilmington MA Vaughan returned to Ireland and is now an Advanced Paramedic with DFB.
Taking pictures was a different story... unless you are a doctor or medic currently working in Ireland, it's simply not done. being a third rider simply is not done. Not even a U.S. NREMT medic can get in a rig.
As a contributing photographer for JEMS and my wife being from Dublin, I took a great interest in Irish EMS. Until recently, there was no such thing as a Paramedic in the Republic of Ireland (but there was in Northern Ireland). However, like many places in the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 80s the only thing holding them back was the bureaucratic red tape. But it was coming... With lots of reverse immigration because of the Celtic Tiger and the anticipation of a Paramedic program, I was seeing and hearing of many Paramedics here in the U.S. that were Irish nationals returning to Ireland. So I pitched the idea for a story to my editors and they gave it the go-a-head.
I posted some questions on irishambulance.net inquiring about someone who had experience in pre-hospital care in both Ireland and the U.S., as well as being a third rider taking pictures. Vaughan Mason replied and fit the bill perfectly. He was an EMT with Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB), then came to the states to attend the Northeastern University Paramedic program in Burlington MA. While in the U.S. he also worked for Action Ambulance in Wilmington MA Vaughan returned to Ireland and is now an Advanced Paramedic with DFB.
Taking pictures was a different story... unless you are a doctor or medic currently working in Ireland, it's simply not done. being a third rider simply is not done. Not even a U.S. NREMT medic can get in a rig.