Blood, Sweat, and a Cup of Tea. Real Stories from an Ambulance

Have you ever wanted to peek inside an ambulance rushing down the city streets with its lights flashing and siren wailing? Surely you have. Have you ever wondered what’s happening with the patient inside and what the doctors are doing, possibly trying to save their life? Perhaps the ambulance was called by a woman who needs to get to the maternity hospital but doesn’t have money for a taxi, and at the same time, she is complaining that smoking is not allowed in the vehicle? And what about the paramedic riding with her, who just wants to get home after a long shift, have a cup of tea, and write a new post for their blog? Meet Tom Reynolds, a paramedic with the East London ambulance service. Since 2003, he has been blogging about his work, receiving several awards for it—both touching and cynical, funny, provoking outrage and compassion. And truly gripping. His stories—tragic and comic, joyful and terrifying—offer a glimpse into how life flows in the capital of the United Kingdom, not just in its affluent areas, and how those who support this life earn their bread.