Panicked Travolta Pleads With Son, Jett, To Wake Up

I decided to post this article and comment on it, because it is told from the perspective of the EMT. I was kind of surprised to find the EMT commenting on any call because of privacy issues, but maybe privacy isn't as big a deal in the Bahama's as it is in the United States.

This is a key example of how you should treat every person on every call equally and with the professionalism and thoroughness due every patient, because you never know who a patient is or how public a patient can become. Chief EMT Marcus Garvey said he had no idea who he was working on; even with Travolta right beside him.

I don't know John Travolta. The only thing negative that I know for sure about him, is that he is a member of the Church of Scientology. I've seen him in various interviews and watched stories about his generosity. So, it was no surprise when I read that even in the midst of his despair and grief he took a moment to praise the EMT who worked on his son. Garvey related that Travolta tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Good job, good job."

Unfortunate tragedy is something that we in the prehospital medical world have to deal with on an almost daily basis. We do the best we can and often with little or no appreciation. My deepest sympathy goes out to the Travolta family.