Trauma Sponges: Dispatches from the Scarred Heart of Emergency Response

by Jeremy Norton

Beyond an adrenaline ride or a chronicle of bravura heroics, this unflinching view of a Minneapolis firefighter reveals the significant toll of emergency response

In this remarkable memoir, Jeremy Norton marshals twenty-two years of professional experience to offer, with compassion and critique, an extraordinary portrayal of emergency responders. Trauma Sponges captures in arresting detail the personal and social toll the job exacts, as well as the unique perspective afforded by sustained direct encounters with the sick, the dying, and the dead.

From his first days as a rookie firefighter and emergency medical technician to his command of a company as a twenty-year veteran, Norton documents the life of an emergency responder in the harrowing, heartbreaking calls, from helping the sick and hurt, to reassuring the scared and nervous, to attempting desperate measures and providing final words. In the midst of the uncertainty, fear, and loss caused by the Covid pandemic, Norton and his crew responded to the scene of George Floyd’s murder. The social unrest and racial injustice Norton had observed for years exploded on the streets of Minneapolis, and he and his fellow firefighters faced the fires, the injured, and the anguish in the days and months that followed.

Norton brings brutally honest insight and grave social conscience to his account, presenting a rare insider’s perspective on the insidious role of sexism and machismo in his profession, as well as an intimate observer’s view of individuals trapped in dire circumstances and a society ill equipped to confront trauma and death. His thought-provoking, behind-the-scenes depiction of the work of first response and last resort starkly reveals the realities of humanity at its finest and its worst.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Medical, Science, Health, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of this was good, but I had trouble staying involved in it at times, as the author is admittedly verbose.

[Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read it.

It’s not an action-packed memoir of high-stakes events. It’s not created for amusement or the dismal can’t-look-away-from-this-train wreck rubbernecking. It’s a gritty and tragic and often deeply heart wrenching depiction of what it looks like to be the people who show up for everyone’s worst moments, only to leave and never know what happens next.

To avoid algorithm buzzwords, I’ll just say this: Jeremy knows what he is and knows how to use it to elevate the voices of others. His acknowledgements, resources, and reading recommendations section is practically a novel in and of itself. He isn’t here to tell you anything new; he is here to tell you that none of it is new, and that it shouldn’t take hearing it from him to make people listen.

He doesn’t shy away from calling out ugly truths and uncomfortable realities. He calls himself and his coworkers and friends out with as much venom as he does others - and suggests that we do the same (put our money where our mouth is, so to speak), and is so pointed and honest that at times I found myself a little nervous for his safety, considering the subject matter.

It’s deeply imperfect and achingly sad, but it’s also sprinkled with both sarcasm and outright snark that caught me off guard in the best way. Even though hope, as he says, is not an action plan, it sure does help; and strangely, in spite of the exhaustion and bone-deep weariness, there is still hope shining through.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to be about everything and nothing. Definitely it´s not what the blurb says it is. Feels like the author wants to say a lot, but has no clue how. This is where the editing team should have stepped in.
Apart from that, I´d like to point out two things:
1. When you talk about race, be consistent. If you write Black with a capital case and white and brown with lower case it´s just disrespectful. I actually see this as racism. Black, White, Brown, Blue, Pink with Yellow Stripes!
2. Men in uniforms have massive egos! Gosh, someone is full of himself! I leave it as it is, otherwise, someone might feel offended.

[Melinda Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is sloppy: it’s cyclical and repetitive and not what it was described as. If I’m reading about a fire department employee with many years experience I don’t want to read about you waxing lyrical about everything but your experience as a first responder. The author has. Two great story options here, responding during covid and responding to the George Floyd call. Would have been a better book if that’s all the book focused on. The chapter titles were irrelevant and often not accurate as the author just yaps on about anything. Needed a better structure and tighter edit to be impactful.

[Veda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be a different review for me, as this is the first non-fiction book that I have reviewed in quite a while.

I believe I have the advantage of reviewing this book from the perspective of a fellow first responder, both on a paid and volunteer basis. My state's system is run very differently from that of the author's, however, many of my experiences and thoughts run parallel.

The author dives deep into many controversial subjects, including the mindset of first responders that have become jaded in their feelings towards patients, as well as the racial and financial divide of the emergency clientele. The author does include multiple stories of emergency calls into the book, which I feel many readers expected from the author. However, I do feel that the author added these stories not for the entertainment aspect, but to try and demonstrate to the reader many of the main points that he is trying to convey throughout the book. This book is not meant to be an action-packed collection of emergency calls, but it is meant to show the reader the many flaws of the emergency system that the author has experienced during his career.

I feel that this book is an easy read for those who work or volunteer as a first responder. This book is a great discussion piece for those of us who share the experience of the author. However, for those who are not first responders who pick up this book, it serves as a great eye opener to the system in its entirety, which I feel was the intention of the author. I could go on to discuss the points in which I agree or disagree with the author, but that would be an entire separate essay or review. I do feel that the author got his points across to the reader. This book will have you thinking about the emergency response and healthcare systems in its whole, and it is a great read for those who want a different perspective of the system.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and to the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book!

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to dnf at 15%. It was too repetitive and wasn’t as engaging as I was hoping it would be. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

[Becky Loader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm.
Way too much proselytizing for me.

[Kimberly Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this memoir, Jeremy Norton provides a true-life account of emergency responders. He details the good and the bad, providing insight into what occurs during emergencies. Most of us have no idea what goes on behind the scenes of firefighting and being an EMT. This book changes all of that. It provides a front seat view to the sorrow, anguish, and sometimes, triumph when unexpected events occur. The skills that emergency personnel must possess shine through in this book. Emergency personnel are impacted personally, socially, physically, and mentally while performing these jobs. Reading this book really gives you a clear understanding of what they go through. I applaud these individuals and as I enjoy reading memoirs and books about medicine, this book was excellent. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Allyson Dyar · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first time in decades that I have not finished a book.

I tried. I gave it my best shot and managed to finish 63% of the book when I received a ping from my local library iPhone app, Libby, letting me know that a book that I had requested was now available. Faced with continuing to slog through this book or reading a book that I really wanted to read, I gave up on “Trauma Sponges.” Believe it or not, it pained me to do so.

This book could have been something of real interest to a general audience. The author, a firefighter/EMT of many years, witnessed two major events: the death and aftermath of George Floyd situation and having to work though the COVID epidemic. When the author concentrated on those subjects, the book was fascinating.

Unfortunately, the author reiterates repeatedly his view of the culture of firefighters, who were for the most part, white men and how they related to “others”: women and minorities of all kinds. The first few times were interesting, but by the tenth time, I skimmed those passages.

The author obviously has something to say, and I really wanted to read what it is like to be an EMT during those days of unrest at that time. I blame the editor(s) of this book because they let the author down by not insisting the author to present a coherent story and one that people would want to read. I kept thinking that “Trauma Sponges” came off more as a vanity project rather than a serious discourse on the subjects.

This is the first book that I’ve reviewed for NetGalleys that I cannot recommend to anyone as there is no reason why anyone would subject themselves reading this mess.

1/5 stars

[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion which I have given here.]

[kayu99 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC from the publisher (University of Minnesota Press) through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about firefighter culture, emergency response, and the collaboration between the police, medics, and firefighters. Although the author writes vividly, the style tends toward long-winded, and I sometimes felt like I was reading the same point stated multiple times in only slightly varied ways. I am not entirely sure how to categorize this book because it seemed to try to be multiple things at once. Many good points are made with valuable commentary, but as a whole, the book did not seem cohesive and sometimes had meandering focus.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you #Netgalley for this advanced copy


Based off the cover and brief description, I thought this was going to be a fast pace read. However, this was a bit of a slow start for, I understand having to build up the background of the author, but it seemed repetitive. I would have enjoyed more stories early on. Or begin with a traumatic story to entice the reader. There were some interesting stories and I recognize the importance of explaining the mental approach of the healthcare provider, but I still struggled with paying attention even myself who works in healthcare.

[Meg Harmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part memoir, part non-fiction exploration of emergency response. This could have been hard-hitting, but it was severely unedited. It lacked cohesiveness, and I felt the author jump from tale to tale too quickly without wrapping up previous anecdotes.

Important work by the author was lost in surrounding and accompanying contents of the book.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and University of Minnesota Publishers for an ARC.

[Elizabeth Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We need grit and hustle, but we need brains and heart too. The challenge, which no one explains, is that we must find a way toward grace, healthy acceptance, compassion, while not losing ourselves in the world's suffering"

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's one thing the author would really, really like you to know: Contrary to common belief, firefighters don't spend most of their time fighting, well, fire; instead, what they do is provide first-response emergency care, i.e. CPR, until the medical team arrives.
He mentions this fact right away in the introduction -- fair enough. Then we get to hear it again in the first chapter. Also in the second. Third as well. In fact, Firefighters Are Actually EMTs becomes something of Trauma Sponges' theme song, and like most songs you are forced to listen to over and over again, it becomes old pretty fast.
The book is also something of a downer -- most people the author and his crew attend to either die despite (and during) CPR or are already dead when they get there; the Fire Department is not exactly the greatest place to work in if you happen to be gay, a POC and/or female (or care about people who fall in any of these categories); not only is the job grueling, but the public gives you shit as well, as do politicians and the "real" medical personnel. So there's that. What struck me most about the book was the repetitiveness of it all, it's the same gripes over and over, and while they're no doubt legitimate and need to be addressed, I felt exhausted as well as exasperated getting my face rubbed in them time and again. A bit of editing would have made a huge difference here.
Also, this is essentially a long rumination on a twenty-year career, not a collection of anecdotes -- if you come in expecting exciting tales of derring-do (or just any kind of actual tales really), you're bound to be disappointed. The author is a very deep thinker, but he's no storyteller, and it's not his intention to pander to sensationalist urges. Which is commendable, but still I could have done with a tad more excitement and a little less constitutional criticism; the book would have been great if the author and the editorial team could have found a balance between the two that would have given us a hint of what it actually feels like to be a firefighter instead of simply telling us about everything that's wrong with the system.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy Norton has been a firefighter in the City of Minneapolis for more than 20 years and has seen it all.

Some things I learned from his book:

--80% of the time, the calls answered by firefighters are not fires, but calls for medical help or just because the caller suspects that something isn't right.

--Although firefighters provide emergency medical services, they are not the same as paramedics. The latter have more extensive medical training and are qualified to start IVs, for example.

--Norton found a strong macho white dude element among many firefighters. When Sharon Sayles Belton, the first Black and first woman mayor of Minneapolis, was campaigning, she met with the firefighters union and "the greater number of those in attendance turned their backs on her as she spoke." (She was elected anyway.) During Covid, many firefighters refused to wear masks or receive vaccinations until well into the pandemic, despite the fact that many of their calls brought them in contact with people seriously ill with undiagnosed conditions.

--When emergency workers in any uniform call on someone to comply with an order or instruction, they may not do so for any number of reasons other than defiance, for example: They are in an altered mental state from drugs or alcohol; they are an emotionally/behaviorally disturbed person in crisis; they don't speak English; they suffer from Alzheimer's; they are experiencing a schizophrenic or psychotic crisis; they are deaf or have a speech disability. This sheds valuable light on "Why didn't he/she just do what the officer said?"

It's no surprise that firefighters encounter tragic situations of all kinds. It takes a special kind of person to do this job shift after shift, summoning compassion and understanding, regardless of the circumstances they find when they respond to a call.

Norton and his crew responded to the scene when George Floyd was killed after 911 was called because of a suspected bogus $20 bill. He draws on that experience to help readers understand how unevenly justice or service to citizens may be experienced, depending on the color of your skin and your economic circumstances. He also lauds the many people he learned from and admires.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Trauma Sponges: Dispatches from the Scarred Heart of Emergency Response" by Jeremy Norton provides a gripping and candid look into the challenging world of emergency response, delving into the emotional toll it takes on those on the front lines. The book stands out for its raw and unfiltered narratives, shedding light on the often overlooked human experiences within the realm of trauma response.

One of the book's notable strengths is Norton's commitment to highlighting the personal stories of those working in emergency response. The author skillfully weaves together accounts that capture the intense emotions, complexities, and resilience of individuals dealing with traumatic situations. The raw honesty and vulnerability of the narratives make the book a powerful and empathetic exploration of the human side of emergency response.

Norton's writing style is compelling and accessible, allowing readers to connect with the experiences of the individuals portrayed in the book. The dispatch format enhances the immediacy of the stories, providing a sense of urgency and authenticity. The book's focus on the emotional aftermath of trauma response sets it apart, encouraging readers to reflect on the mental and emotional toll that often accompanies these critical roles.

However, some readers may find the book lacking in a more comprehensive exploration of the systemic challenges within emergency response systems. While the personal narratives offer valuable insights, a broader examination of the structural issues affecting emergency responders could deepen the book's impact.

In conclusion, "Trauma Sponges" offers a poignant and eye-opening exploration of the emotional landscape within the world of emergency response. Jeremy Norton's commitment to sharing the human side of trauma response makes the book a compelling read for those interested in understanding the complexities faced by individuals on the front lines. While a broader systemic analysis could enhance the book's scope, its focus on personal narratives makes it a valuable contribution to the conversation around the emotional toll of emergency response.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a few reviews because I was curious to see what others thought about this book. As an Emergency Department nurse, the subject matter interested me greatly. It took me a couple of weeks to get through this, because the writing can go off on tangents and I could see 2, perhaps 3 books out of this one. A book about COVID, a book about George Floyd and racism, and a book about generally being a firefighter in a larger city department.

I appreciated the views of a White man about racism towards Black or Brown people. Norton's approach to discuss a broken system from a White man's point of view is definitely on point. The discussion about George Floyd and the events during and after his death were riveting and upsetting to any reader. I appreciated his viewpoint as a person who knows he has White privilege without wishing for it and realizing the very real racism that seems to be growing instead of abating due to stereotypical views.

I also appreciated the honest viewpoint that the job itself can be boring with anticlimactic calls or sitting at the fire station just waiting for a call.

I thought it was a bit long and the writing itself, while truly a talented writer, did not hold the reader's attention well. Some of the stories were repetitive, although that is the nature of the job. Norton touched on PTSD and the nature of the emotional and mental aspects of the job, but it felt downplayed except for the chapter about George Floyd.

The subject matter gets 5 stars, and for someone who works with emergencies, the book held my interest. For someone who is not in a medical or emergency field, I could see how they would lose interest fast unless they were fascinated by the events of George Floyd's death, and even then, I could see the readers skimming to get to those parts of the book.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caveat: I have burned out on major hospital ER and enjoyed working in a small inner city mission hospital ER. Later I enjoyed the sometimes frustrating position of RN in two different county jails.
2019 to the present put Minneapolis under the microscope for racial, police, and quarantine reasons but some very frustrating factors were unchanging. Citizens still called the fire department for a ride or find a lost pet or a hundred other reasons not of an emergency nature. And there were less and less first responders and more and more urgent calls complicated by fears. I live in Wisconsin, but we saw the same things without the intense media scrutiny and bias (all people in police and fire service are worse than scum). This is a venting tool for the author, a validation to all first responders, and gives civilians a hard look at themselves. I think this book has solid reasoning and a hard look at the men who perpetuate the negatives in their profession as well as hope for the future. Well worth the cost.
I requested and received an EARC from University Of Minnesota Press via NetGalley. Thanks for your service.

[Avid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for our bookclub. It is hands down the best raw and honest depiction of a rarely spoken realty: an emergency response system that is broken in the United States. The Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) are just one area. While the focus is on the EMT service and fire service in Minneapolis, the fires and riots occurred in both cities.

This book also answers the questions that those who watched the fires live on CNN or some other network over the nights of May 27-May 30, especially those who watched the Third Precinct fall live on tv as I did posed.

This work contains use of an excellent authorial voice. It has a good title and the book was well-researched. I particularly enjoyed the layering of Baldwin, Glaude and other quotes that unpacked a a system from the POV of the fire department.

As a memoir, this work really provided a keen analysis of a justice and public service system that is broken. The image of the EMT as a "scarred heart" sadly is not only a key image but an accurate description of current patterns in Mpls and other cities.

I recommend your book for the list at the end because it is literal life-saver on many levels.
You address socioeconomic, racial, mental/physical health care and the juxtaposition of policing with
other emergency response services.

In our group of five, all have recommended the book as wake-up call to the communities affected, and a thank you to those who serve honorably in our emergency response services for being the "trauma sponges".

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a civilian really know what it is like to be a firefighter? A career Firefighter is occasionally called to the scene of a conflagration, however emergency medical calls are a ceaseless daily grind. This unusual book lays out the emotional toll accumulated by those performing a unique service to individuals and the community at a desperate time of need. To the men and women who answer emergency medical calls, it is a struggle to remain cognizant of each person's humanity. There is a real danger of becoming callous, indifferent to suffering after having witnessed so much chaos and pain. Jeremy Norton writes in a heartfelt, honest and emotional manner of what firefighters encounter during each 48 hour shift. He is passionately concerned about police using excessive deadly force as in the murder of George Floyd, systemic racism, poverty, the emotional stress that accumulates upon witnessing humans in traumatic circumstances. He doesn't sugar coat anything.

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of the tv show 911. You know how the firefighters go from one emergency to the next but most of the time it isn't a fire? That is actually what happens for real firefighters. But on the show y0u usually find out what happens to the characters after the emergency. Not here, because of course, they usually don't know what happened, unless of course, the patient dies. Actually, there aren't a lot of case studies here. It is more about the author getting on his soap box and telling us his opinions about everything. He has a lot of political opinions, which some people may not agree with. The author was on the front lines for covid and he also was on the scene for the murder of George Floyd, which I found his viewpoints very interesting. He also has lots to say about the culture of the firefighters, at least where he works. I thought it was an interesting book, but at times he did seem to go on a bit too much.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I live in the Minneapolis metropolitan area and was eagerly anticipating reading this book written by a fireman who responded to the George Floyd call. The book is one long, continuing screed about the "good old boys" keeping fire departments from modernizing, white privilege and racism in the community and how raial bias affects the way police answer calls.

The thing is, I agree with everything the author had to say on those topics, so why didn't I like the book more than I did. I think it had to do with how often points were repeated and how much bashing the reader over the head there was. The last 10-15% of the book finally gives us a look at the author as a person and how he deals with the stresses of his job. That was interesting and I wish it had been earlier in the book when I was still more interested.

[Anna Kuehn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie... I wanted to love this book. The author works at my nearest fire department. My son is training to be a Minneapolis Fire Fighter...I didn't love this book. I found the author to be heady...maybe a little preachy. He is doing the hard work, he responded to George Floyd's murder, he has seen the stuff. It wad just "ok" for me. An added bonus that I actually met the author while he was at work on the day I finished the book!!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Jeremy, for this work that you do as an employee of the MFD: your impact on people while acknowledging their humanity, while encouraging others in the MFD to do the same. I appreciate your articulate, intimate and painful knowledge of the ‘system.’ I hope many people in leadership positions read your book; I will certainly be recommending it.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book that recounts various heroic firefighting missions — if you're looking for that, read something else. It's thoughtful, and self-examining, and looks at why we have emergency services at all, and what they mean for our society.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads win. It took me a while to get through this one. I kept putting it down and questioning whether I wanted to pick it back up. It's so important not to miss the mark when discussing first responders. I think it would be a great discussion, but the book just lacked structure.

[Nicole LaPorte]

Review to come closer to pub date

[Susan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense read of one’s man’s journey from an EMT to being in command. A great read for everyone.

[Joni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really couldn’t get into this book. I’m not sure why because I love anything medical. What I read was well written.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in a give away from Goodreads. This is a very informative book and very profound