For some time my daughter has wanted to be a paramedic. I think it’s a pretty honorable job, and I’m proud of her for all the work she has put into joining the Fire Department Reserves, going through EMT school, and volunteering with the local ambulance service.
She was doing so well that I thought to help her out by getting her in to watch an autopsy. Now, I would not be able to get her into a homicide autopsy, but I was able to get her into an “equivocal death” autopsy. An equivocal death is where we are pretty darn sure that Billy-Bob dropped dead from the methamphetamine needle still sticking out of his arm, but the Coroner just wants to make sure.
So, we get to the morgue, and she dons the Tyvek suit and poses for a photo with Mr. Bones. Then the Pathologist comes and we wheel the body out. I could see that she had a moment of panic as she considered the dead man beneath the white sheet. The sheet is pulled aside and everything seems to go OK; she even gets to poke at a few of the more obscure inside parts.
Later, I asked why she seemed nervous at the beginning; was it the realization that she would soon be looking at guts and blood? She said no, it was just that, at that moment, she realized that the body, a man, would be NAKED.
Let that be a lesson to all you young men out there... my daughter only will look upon the DEAD ones- before or after is your choice.
13 comments:
Funny ....naked huh...Did she think they would be clothed.../Ha!
Donna In TEXAS
It sounds like she got over the initial shock... the first time I saw a man completely unclothed was in my first college life studies art class. By the way, we had to visit the anatomy department of the university to view a corpse, albeit quite dessicated by the time we saw it, no longer resembling anything alive... life studies covers it all. I think your daughter will make a fine paramedic! She kept calm and got on with the business of the job at hand in a professional manner.
Didn't your Daughter cope well with her first sight of a cadaver...She will need nerves of steel taking on a job as a paramedic. but am sure she will be a good one...Ally
That is funny. I remember my first dead body.........................
:)
Carolyn
http://journals.aol.com/shelt28/MyLife/
Hahahaha!!!!!
Nicole~
:D lol
New to your journal and loving it! Very interesting. ~Brandie
I am in Masage school ...and many of the students get upset when they find out they have to take off their clothes to be massaged! they don't like hte naked idea!
Becky
Dead or naked? Hmmm. Both can be equally shocking! Love your journal!
http://journals.aol.com/ladeeoftheworld/PossumsPrepareforBattle
Oh that was a great thing to do/say in front of good ol dad! ;-)
LOL It's a great experience for her tho-and everyone is scared the first time
*wink* at the nakedness or the gore; I'm sure she has seen lot's in the ambulance already, but that was cool of you to arrange it.~Diane~
Better to find out beforehand that you can't stand the dead. We've had a few recruits drop off the map after they went to their first bubbler.
That's why all good Cops carry a jar of Vick's in their pursuit case.
showing great restraint here to not make a joke about rigor mortis!
Marti
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