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A paramedic has responded to the recent wave of shootings in the US by posting an image showing the grim reality of gun violence, saying "it stuns me that it's so easy for humans ... to say someone deserves death".
The post followed shootings in Dallas which left five police dead and seven injured, and separate incidents in Louisiana and Minnesota in which two black men were shot dead by police.
The paramedic, who referred to “the events of the past few days", posted on blog site Imgur an image of a blood-covered ambulance floor.
“I’m ashamed of some of you people," they wrote.
“It stuns me that it's so easy for humans to be so willing to say someone deserves death.
“We are tired of going to work. We are tired of being called to an apartment at four in the morning to someone who has been shot six times over piddly s***.
(LostScotsman/Imgur (LostScotsman/Imgur) “What's even more tiring is when we sit there and do everything we can to try and give this person another go at life, but we watch life actually leave this person and he ceases to exist.
“We are tired of having to tell families that we did everything we possibly could have (and the entire time knowing that, telling them this, it doesn't change a thing) but their loved one has passed away.
“We are tired of hearing children crying because they're afraid of losing their parent.
“We are tired of going to funerals for people we know and have become friends with, who lost their life doing their job.
“We are tired of seeing everyday people lose their loved ones because of some kind of violence that is solely because one street doesn't like another.
“We are tired of seeing violence in the street because everyday we know someone else is going to lose their life over meaningless 'turf'.
“We are tired of seeing how drugs can destroy a family, a neighbourhood, and even an entire city.
“But no matter how tired we get, we still wake up. We get dressed and we walk out the front door.
“We get on our trucks and we sit next to a person who is probably equally as tired as the rest of us.
“We don't do it for the money because believe me, we don't make a lot. We wake up every day because, if it was our parents or children out there dying, we would want someone there to help us.
“We know that we are seeing you on the worst day of your life.
“We know that you are in the most pain you've ever been in.
“We know what it's like to lose people, because we do it more often than you do.
“We have held the hand of people as they take their last breath.
“We have been the last kind face countless people have ever seen. We have held crying mothers, fathers, and children."
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in DallasShow all 20 1 /20Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas A Dallas Area Rapid Transit police officer receives comfort at the Baylor University Hospital emergency room entrance in Dallas
Dallas Morning News/AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Emergency services help an unknown patient on a stretcher as law enforcement officials stand nearby at the emergency receiving area of Baylor University Medical Center
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas Police shield bystanders after shots were fired, during a protest over two recent fatal police shootings of black men
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Bystanders run for cover after shots fired at a Black Live Matter rally in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Police check a car after snipers opened fire on police officers in Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas A man raises his hands as he walks near a law enforcement officer, following the shootings of several police officers in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas A Dallas police officer steps out of a vehicle as he arrives in front of Baylor University Medical Center
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas police officers face protesters on the corner of Ross Ave. and Griffin street after police officers were shot during a peaceful protest in Dallas
EPA
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas A Dallas police officer covers his face as he stands with others outside the emergency room at Baylor University Medical Center
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Law enforcement officials escort a couple in through the emergency room entrance at Baylor University Medical Center
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas Police respond after shots were fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas Police respond after shots were fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Police cars sit on Main Street in Dallas following the sniper shooting during a protest
AFP/Getty Images
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas A Police officer stands guard at a barricade following the sniper shooting in Dallas
AFP/Getty Images
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Police stand near a barricade following the sniper shooting in Dallas
AFP/Getty Images
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas police check a car after detaining a driver after a shooting in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas police order people away from the area after several police were shot in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas police move to detains a driver after several police officers were shot in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas police detain a driver after several police officers were shot in downtown Dallas
AP
Police officers killed by sniper at protests in Dallas Dallas Police respond after shots were fired at a Black Lives Matter rally in downtown Dallas
Dallas Morning News/AP
They continued: “We have sat late at night wondering what we did wrong, and how we could have been better. But we climb on a truck every day.
“We give up holidays with our families to be with yours. Because you need us.
“We might bitch and moan about having to be up in the wee hours of the morning. But the truth is, we wouldn't do anything else.”
I've been contemplating for a couple of days about making a post to inform people of EMS and what we really do. But I cant. After these events the passed few days I've been unable to bring myself to make it. The reason is, I've seen people so up in arms about the very unfortunate deaths that have happened here over the last 3 or 4 days. And I get it, more than you could possibly know. And it hurts so much to see people willing to divide themselves over what has been going on. It makes my heart heavy. It stuns me that its so easy for humans to be so willing to say someone deserves death.We are tired of going to work. We are tired of being called to an apartment at 4 in the morning to someone who has been shot 6 times over piddly shit. What's even more tiring is when we sit there and do everything we can to try and give this person another go at life, but we watch life actually leave this person and he ceases to exist. We are tired of having to tell families that we did everything we possibly could have (and the entire time knowing that, telling them this, it doesn't change a thing) but their loved one has passed away. We are tired of hearing children crying because they're afraid of losing their parent. We are tired of going to funerals for people we know and have become friends with, who lost their life doing their job. We are tired of seeing everyday people lose their loved ones because of some kind of violence that is solely because one street doesn't like another. We are tired of seeing violence in the street because everyday we know someone else is going to lose their life over meaningless "turf". We are tired of seeing how drugs can destroy a family, a neighborhood, and even an entire city.But no matter how tired we get, we still wake up. We get dressed and we walk out the front door. We get on our trucks and we sit next to a person who is probably equally as tired as the rest of us. We don't do it for the money because believe me, we don't make a lot. We wake up every day because, if it was our parents or children out there dying, we would want someone there to help us. We know that we are seeing you on the worst day of your life. We know that you are in the most pain you've ever been in. We know what its like to lose people, because we do it more often than you do. We have held the hand of people as they take their last breath. We have been the last kind face countless people have ever seen. We have held crying mothers, fathers, and children. We have sat late at night wondering what we did wrong, and how we could have been better. But we climb on a truck every day. We give up holidays with our families to be with yours. Because you need us. We might bitch and moan about having to be up in the wee hours of the morning. But the truth is, we wouldn't do anything else. -- EMS Me personally. I'm tired of watching the world be so willing to damn people to death based on their job, race, religion, or what the hell ever. If you are willing to think that thought, you don't value human life. Take it from anyone of us. In the last moments of someones life you see them for who they really are. More often than not, they are scared. And honestly, I'm scared when I watch it happen. My heart slams my chest in agony and all I can think is "DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE HERE FOR DON'T FAIL!" And very few times have I not failed, sometimes I'm the hero everyone thinks we are. But most of the time the damage someone has decided to do to this human laying in front of me is too great to repair. And no doctor on the planet could save this person. And it kills me to think that this outcome is what someone wanted. It hurts so bad. It hurts so bad because you realize in that moment that human life isn't something to be taken lightly. It carries a weight you could hardly imagine.I'm ashamed of some of you people. But I am also proud of some of you people. The ones who truly care. Please, for me and everyone like me, don't stop caring.I WILL make a post about EMS and what we really do. And I will be trying to get with other EMS personnel to post our craziest work stories. But I just needed to get this off my chest first.
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