Happy July 4th! I’m grilling and celebrating with my family. I hope you all have plans. It’s a time to celebrate the birth of our nation. Freedom does not come free.
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When I think about what makes our country great, I think of emergency first responders who are on duty 24/7/365. It takes a special kind of person to protect the public-from EMTs to firefighters to police.
While working with another author, I found a great resource that I thought TKZ might find useful as a resource for first responders. The show primarily focuses on two EMT teams in New Orleans, but other groups come into play, too. Look on HULU for season 2 – 4 of NightWatch which follows the most dangerous shift time from 9pm to 3am. For those of you not streaming HULU, Season 1 is on A&E and those episodes are available at this LINK.
WARNING: This is graphic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen what EMTs see firsthand as they arrive on scene, for example.
From a writer’s perspective, what I found most interesting is:
1.) Fast paced action with stories well-told. Not sure who writes or directs/produces this series, but it is extremely well done. It’s a good reminder of how to show action scenes with the author craft principle of ELLE – Enter Late, Leave Early.
2.) Dialogue is tight. The scenarios are not staged so the treatment must be the first priority. Quick medical lingo between EMTs is carried on without explanation. You see the action as it happens, but when there is time to narrate, the EMTs share what’s medically happening and why they are doing it. You get to see how each case affects them.
3.) See inside first responders’ heads – EMTs (and other first responders) share their thoughts as they come onto the scene, as in what they expect to find. Often, they are surprised and have to react quickly. Dispatch details can be sketchy. The compassion of these people is striking. They are patient and calm amidst chaos and their first priority is for the patient. They calmly talk to them, reassure them, and do whatever it takes to keep them calm. Sometimes the emergency isn’t about a medical solution and more of a human resolution. It’s all there.
4.) You get to see what dispatch communicates to first responders and how they locate the scene with the GPS equipment they have on-board the vehicles.
5.) You see how the first responder teams work together. One of my favorite teams is a man and woman EMS unit. You can see the camaraderie and the banter while they are driving to a scene, but they jump into action and work intuitively with each other. You also get to witness how the other services work with them. Good stuff.
6.) New Orleans as a Venue – My newest series is set in New Orleans and this series is very helpful to get oriented. I make notes and check each location on an online map to see the streets and how it’s oriented in the city.
7.) Local Dialects & Speech Patterns for Emergency Teams – It’s been helpful for me to hear the speech patterns for first responders (especially in New Orleans) but the banter and emergency jargon and official dispatch lingo/code is authentic.
8.) Medical Lingo & Equipment – For the EMTs, they discuss what equipment they have on “the truck” and how it can assist different patients. They’re proud of their service and what they carry on-board. You also get to see what happens in an emergency and what they have to clean up after they drop the patient off at the hospital.
This series is addictive. I find it helps me get my head into the writing I am doing, since it takes place in New Orleans, but this series is fast-paced and authentic.
DISCUSSION:
What other movie or TV resources do you use to add authenticity to your writing?
A great resource, Jordan. Thanks.
You’re welcome, Eric. Happy & safe 4th.
Great information, Jordan.
Before my novel was published, I asked an EMT acquaintance of ours to review a chapter that included an automobile accident and emergency team response. In discussing it with me, he told me about the dark humor some EMT members engage in because of the horrific nature of some of the accidents. I didn’t include any of that in my book, but it made me grateful that there are people who will take on such a job.
I’ll try to catch an episode of NightWatch. Thanks.
I love that dark humor. It’s very real & necessary. Thanks, Kay. Happy 4th.
Exactly why, when I was behind the badge as it were, graveyard was my favorite shift. We didn’t get as many calls as the other shifts, but when we got them, they were usually not parking violations! This at least sounds like a show that won’t make me want to throw something at the screen for the gross inaccuracies. I can take a certain amount because, well, fiction, but sometimes….
Happy Independence Day!
This show is real. I can’t believe the injuries & violent situations they encounter. Graphic stuff. But really good for writers.
Happy 4th, Justine.
I agree with Justine that it is hard to watch anything EMS related without wanting to scream due to all the inaccuracies and painting us in a bad light. From what I have seen so far, this seems very realistic. Finally! I am looking forward to watching more, and it is a great resource for dialect, dialogue, etc. Thanks, Jordan!
You inspired me, Rhonda. Thank YOU!