In 13 years as a paramedic, this past year has been especially trying for Sam Erickson. Beyond the predictable incidents – strokes, falls, painful accidents – he responded to an infant suffering cardiac arrest from co-sleeping with a parent; repeated overdoses; and residents “brutalized by federal agents” during Operation Metro Surge.
The personal toll added up, said Erickson, who’s also the vice president of the union representing paramedics and EMTs, and he decided to take an extended leave. While he was away, he took part in regular therapy sessions where he contemplated not returning to the work at all.
“I just needed to step away to maintain my ability to not only be a medical provider for my community, [but] because I live in the community,” Erickson told MinnPost. “I could tell that the stuff was affecting me outside of work as well.”…