In the Arms of a Stranger: Stories from the Streets: My Life as a Paramedic [Paperback]

Dale Bingham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2001

"In the Arms of a Stranger" is Dale J Bingham's touching and moving account of his career as a paramedic. From his early years as a medic in Southern California, to his work as a Tulsa, Oklahoma paramedic, he gives an inside look at the rewards, the trials, and the heartaches that emergency workers face everyday. In between, he writes of his own struggles with a difficult career and of tragically losing his own mother to the very part of life he worked so hard to conquer. "In the Arms of a Stranger" will tug at the heartstrings of the reader and leave the reader with a greater appreciation for those emergency workers who struggle everyday to help those in need.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dale J Bingham is a career paramedic and emergency service educator. He holds a BS in Health Services and is nationally registered as a Paramedic. He is an accomplished writer and has given lectures nationally on the topic of emergency services. He is listed in the 2000 edition of "Who's Who of American Teachers".

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (November 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595205925
• ISBN-13: 978-0595205929
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Medical
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Technology > History of Technology
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Relationships > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars From the author, February 11, 2004

By 

Dale Bingham (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Arms of a Stranger: Stories from the Streets: My Life as a Paramedic (Paperback)

This book was simply a collection of stories and memoirs from my career - put into book form to give my children something to know about their father. Never intended for wide readership, it is nonetheless listed through the publisher. While somewhat unrefined, if you choose to read please understand that EMS is a harsh business, what is defined as excitement early in a career oftens fades and is replaced by more of a deep caring for the individuals that we serve. "Blood and guts" never was and never will be my thing. This is not action packed and thrilling. I apologize to those who have found only disappointment with it's purchase. I do not market this book. I do not claim it to be a prize of literary worth. But if you choose to read please read between the lines and understand that we in EMS are in the service of our fellow man. For those in the business, learn to "see" more than injuries and pain. I still believe and always will, that we rarely save many lives, but we impact countless people everyday by our actions and care. If I have learned anything in my career to pass on it is simply this "Learn to love those you serve." Period.

Thank you, Dale J Bingham PA-C, MPAS, BS, NREMTP

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Small Gem, June 22, 2002

By 

F Claridge "frdclar" (Modesto, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Arms of a Stranger: Stories from the Streets: My Life as a Paramedic (Paperback)

I've read just about every book written (that I can find) about paramedics, emergency rooms, and the like. Some are much better than others. This one is very short, but I really enjoyed it. It seems a bit more honest than most. Bingham doesn't try to paint himself as a hero; he simply reports on what he experienced and how he felt about it. I would rate it right up there with Peter Canning's books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hidden gems, October 3, 2003

By 

Bryce Carrington (Harrisburgh, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Arms of a Stranger: Stories from the Streets: My Life as a Paramedic (Paperback)

While this book by Mr Bingham is not destined for the pulitzer prize anytime soon, it is filled with some marvelous pearls, more related to life in general and not simply paramedicine. Having over 20 years in EMS myself I think Mr Bingham has the inside track, though the publisher could definitely use some "editorial" corrections.
Younger medics may not get it, but there is something more profound here. At least that's what I got out of it - I hope that is what Bingham was going for. I found the book cheap to buy and fun to read, though short.
And yes, paramedics can be dumb. I have met hundreds of dumb ones in my career. They usually "shine" -but they shine dim and dull.