In this series, students are exposed to a wide variety of careers. This title focuses on Paramedics, a profession that provides an important role in saving people’s lives. The reader learns that paramedics are often the first ones on the scene and must make quick decisions to save a life. The book starts with a real story and then explains the training and work necessary to become a paramedic. An emergency medical technician (EMT) is very limited in what they can do for a patient, even after 150 hours of class work and 10-20 hours of on the job training. A paramedic starts at the EMT level and then adds more classes and training and by doing so they almost double their salary. This is a STEM focused book that would be helpful in a school or library. Being a paramedic is a demanding job, both physically and mentally, but it is a very rewarding one. Paramedics must constantly learn new and improved techniques and get re-licensed. There are a lot of skills to know besides medical ones such as driving an ambulance and keeping the gear ready and supplied. Knowing how to use a defibrillator to help a heart start or beat correctly is essential. Knowing how to put in an air tube or intubate a patient can also save a life. There are text dependent questions and a research prompt at the end of each chapter. At the end of the book readers finish the rest of the true life story, where the paramedic saves the patient’s life using skill, knowledge, and creativity. It makes the book feel like a novel but is packed with a great deal of science. There is a short glossary, index, additional books, and websites for further reading. This would make an excellent addition to a library or careers unit in class. Reviewer: RevaBeth Russell; Ages 12 up.
