Gary Ludwig, Long-Time Firehouse Contributor, Publishes Book

March 3, 2015
Long-time Firehouse Contributor Gary Ludwig has published a book titled 'Blood, Sweat, Tears and Prayers: Firefighting and EMS from Some of the Toughest Streets in America.' It traces the career of a firefighter/medic in St. Louis and Memphis.

The book "Blood, Sweat, Tears, and Prayers: Firefighting and EMS from Some of the Toughest Streets in America," is a dramatic memoir following the career of a firefighter and paramedic through the tough neighborhoods of St. Louis and Memphis.

As a veteran of more than 37 years in the field, the author, Gary Ludwig, says, “Whenever an elderly person falls, or a child chokes, or a man gets shot, or a woman gets beaten, or anyone has a stroke or heart attack or asthma attack, whenever an illness or injury suddenly threatens someone’s life, or your house is on fire, firefighters and paramedics are the first to respond.”

The story opens with the 18-year-old author on his first call—to a high-rise housing project where a woman was about to give birth. “We had to walk up the stairs because all the elevators were broken," Ludwig said. "The dark concrete stairways with no lights smelled of stale urine in the summer heat as we made our way to the fifth floor.” He describes the gritty details and raw emotions of his daily work as well as his role in historic events—crossing paths with visiting U.S. presidents and a pope.

The book documents many changes in the field—from 1977 when workers were largely untrained and “it was unheard of to use gloves and other protection” to today’s required training, protective gear, and the advanced technology in mobile units.

“I can remember coming back from calls covered in blood from head to toe,” Ludwig said. Not knowing the risk posed by contact with bodily fluids, some of his coworkers considered being covered in blood “a sign of honor.”

The author captures “the emotions, the feelings, the smells, and sights of what you see as a firefighter and a paramedic.” His goal is to give the public “a deeper appreciation for what firefighters and paramedics do.” He admits that he enjoys the rush of “fighting fire, treating a shooting victim, rescuing someone who is trapped in a car after an auto accident, rappelling off the side of a building, standing on top of a burning building.”

He also emphasizes the personal dedication and sacrifices all firefighters and paramedics make daily. The working conditions take a toll; the author’s career “has left me with physical and mental scars,” including a 2001 diagnosis of Hepatitis C.

Readers will learn what it feels like to be in a burning house or see the tragic results of gangs, domestic violence, suicide, and drug wars. The descriptions of trauma are graphic, but the book also includes humorous stories of camaraderie, coworker pranks, and fire station food.

Readers who are familiar with St. Louis will enjoy local references, from the Arch, Forest Park, and Kiel Center to Cardinals World Series games and the V-P Festival.

This is an intensely personal memoir, but the author emphasizes that his book tells the story of all the remarkable men and women “who chose this profession.”

More information on the book, which is 240 pages and available in soft cover for $17.95 and in hardcover for $33.99, is available at www.garyludwigbooks.com.

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