I think that risk factor can be helpul as well as your worst enemy. Adrenaline rush can help you do a job better or it can freeze you therefore killing/seriously injuring you or your teamates. In the EMS I see that rookies have a tendency to drive faster, rush to the scene more often (even as uncalled backup) and take risks more frequently. Old timers or veterans are more calculated and indifferent. I don't mean it in the bad way, they are just more experienced so they know better. I like to take risks, I like to be first on the scene, I like to work where things are happing around me but also I have to remember that safety of my crew and me is the first thing that should be on my mind. Sometimes dangerous situations can't be avoided but all safety techinques and protocols should be implemented to make the scene as harmless as possible.

In every job that carries the risk people who get injured and killed are either rookies because they don't know everything yet and veterans becasue they think they know everything. We will never stop learning and I tell my crews and friends that are going out to always think safety becasue I'm not calling anyones mother, wife or girlfriend.

Matt