
Black Flies
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Narrated by:
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Edoardo Ballerini
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By:
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Shannon Burke
About this listen
Black Flies is the story of paramedic Ollie Cross and his first year on the job in mid-'90s New York. It is a ground's-eye view of life on the streets: the shoot-outs, the bad cops, the unhinged medics, the hopeless patients, the dark humor in bizarre circumstances, and one medic's struggle to balance his desire to help against his own growing callousness. This story features lives that hang in the balance, including a single job with a misdiagnosed newborn that sends Cross and his partner into a life-changing struggle between good and evil.
©2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
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Story well told
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I think I was there…
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I've read a lot of negative reviews (about the movie). So many EMTs and paramedics were saying this story portrays the medics in a bad light and makes us look bad.
I personally have experienced most of the events that happen in the book. I've had guns and knifes pulled on me... I've had family members and patients fight me... I've had conflicts with cops... I've had complaints filed against me... I've even had someone (a police officer) walk up and shoot a dog that I was trying to take care of. And I've experienced coworkers committing suicide more times than I care to count.
Yes, this book is dark. There are many books and movies that show all the good. Which is great. But there is a dark side to the job. The suicides... the financial struggles... the lack of sleep... the PTSD... the ruined families. You do thus job long enough and these things, unfortunately, happen.
I asked my family to read the book to get a better idea of why I am the way I am. Why I have a dark sense of humor. Why my family life has t been perfect. But also why I love the job. My coworkers, who have been doing this job a long time, also agreed their families should read this book.
Enjoy.
The dark side of EMS
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Wow—Heart of Darkness
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A strong touch of what it’s like to be a medic in NYC
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Shockingly Realistic Look in Paramedicine
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Profound
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Gritty
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It is very engaging. The events are... sad and shocking and... just... why would anyone do this for a career? I am not sure how much money would be enough money to pay someone to do this for a living, but I am positive they do not get that amount...
Why do they do it?
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dark and raw
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