Just in case you haven't already heard...

... 999Medic, Mark Glencorse, is hanging up his quill and closing down his blog. This time on his own terms. An action that will leave another huge void especially in the UK based EMS blogging world.

An inspiration to many people, both in EMS and outside thereof, Mark has much to be proud of. A worldwide movement to improve the job we both love, is just part of the legacy of his blog and his vision.

I couldn't let him just disappear without publicly expressing how he has inspired me, and this blog, and how much his writings, his enthusiasm and his professionalism will be missed in the EMS blogosphere.

Unluckily for him, however, I still know where to find him...

Good luck, Mark.

And thank you.

Ambulance Matters

The UK's first ever ambulance based podcast, Ambulance Matters, has posted it's first episode.

It was started, and is hosted by none other than Mark of 999medic fame, who realised that after several similar ideas are up-and-running in the US of A, it was high time that we had one based here.

This first episode has a raft of guests from across the globe, and they discuss a blog posted by yours truly about the changes coming to the ambulance service, at least in London.

I'm honoured that something I've written is the first port of call for another leap in the world of social media in the UK ambulance service.

It's just a shame that my shifts prevented me from joining in.

You, however, now have no excuse. So go, listen, and join in the discussion, at least in the comments section!

999medic

What a sad time. Due to various reasons listed on his blog, Mark's had to shut his blog down. He of 999medic and Chronicles of EMS, a voice of courage and conviction, has decided that he has to put his job and his family first. Understandable it may be, but the reasons behind it are worrying.

Read his final blogpost, along with all the comments below. They pay tribute much better than I could to his ability and vision to make the world of EMS what it has the strong potential to be.

And for the meantime, this blog remains anonymous (although possibly one of the world's worst kept secrets), for exactly the reasons that Mark has had to walk away.

It's a sad indictment of the lack of vision of others that holds us back, as a service, as EMS providers, and especially as bloggers. It's all the more upsetting that one of the trailblazers in the field, is the one to get caught up in the fear. A fear of the unknown shouldn't mean instant disapproval. It should be a challenge to those who hold on to that fear to come and face it. Come and see that those who blog do so, at least in the vast majority, because they love their jobs. Because they want to cast it in a better light. Because they want to improve both themselves and their environment.

Hopefully, some day, the vision will overpower the fear, and not, like today, the other way round.

Fishmedic

Blogsphere is an amazing place.

First, I started reading blogs.

Then I started following them.

Then, twice, I started writing them.

After a while I made contact with some other writers.

Whilst some of these writers decided to meet each other on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Finally, this week, I had my own meeting with an overseas blogger/paramedic.

Fishmedic, AKA Sam, a paramedic and blogger from Germany, decided that on his short visit to London, he'd like to see a little of the whats, whys, wherefores and hows of the London Ambulance Service, at least as I see and experience them.

Through the wonders of social media and other forms of communication, a meeting at station was arranged.

So he came, he saw, he took photos (thankfully not with me in them), we talked.

And we drank coffee. When he asked for cream with his coffee, (in English that is better than most English people I know) I muttered something about this being the NHS, and that we can only afford milk.

Anyway, we compared notes and systems and were each shocked about things we see as lacking, and inspired by ideas we liked. It was entertaining, educational, eye-opening, and lots of other things beginning with the letter 'E'.

Chronicles of EMS - see what trouble you've caused!

Hmmmm, maybe that's an idea for the byline competition...

The Name Game

The story so far:

You know all about 999Medic and his journey to San Francisco.

You know all about HappyMedic and his return journey to the UK.

And you know all about the Chronicles of EMS and their efforts to bring this (ad)venture to the masses.

Well, now that you know all about it, how about becoming part of it?

Become part of the evolving world of EMS.

Join one of the productions.

Anywhere in the world.

The Reality Series at Chronicle of EMS needs a new by-line. Something catchy. Something exciting. Something that will tell the world all about it. And you could be the one to choose it. If you do, you'll win a MASSIVE prize. All you need to do, is join the Chronicles site, and follow the instructions from there.

Trust me, it's worth a look, and definitely worth having a go.

I will be.