r/emergencymedicine • u/[deleted] • Sep 27 '23

Advice How to cope with peds deaths

I worked my first peds arrest yesterday. He was under a year old. I can hear his family’s screams echoing in my head and see the defeat in my team when we called it. I know it’s part of the job we do, but it sucks and I know they don’t get easier. Does anyone have any advice or coping skills to offer? I could use it.

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u/Dark-Horse-Nebula Paramedic Sep 27 '23

Therapy. Lots of it. I should have used it more earlier but I’m glad I’m using it now.

Also to normalise that it is shit. There is no redeeming quality here. Feeling this way is normal but if it continues to affect you over time that there is treatment for that.

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u/ch0nkymeowmeow Sep 27 '23

The only redeeming quality is how much I have gained an appreciation for life and those in it. Life is fleeting.