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Video: Firefighter-paramedic holds TED talk about career

Ben Thompson discusses what he has learned about helping people, as well as the launch of a community paramedicine program

By FireRescue1 Staff

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A firefighter recently held a TED talk about helping the residents in the community he serves.

In the talk, Birmingham fire lieutenant and paramedic Ben Thompson shared his experiences with patients throughout his career, as well as increasing public health through proactivity.

Thompson discussed launching a community paramedicine program in an effort to reduce 911 calls and a specific patient who had an impact on him.

“How many people had I labeled as abusers of the system without even having any idea how their life was really like?” Thompson said while recalling his experience with the patient. “So I forgot trying to shove down her throat what I thought she needed and asked her, ‘what can I do to help you?’”

Watch the full video below:

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