Emergency medicine can be pretty dramatic. Trauma, brutal shifts and patients appearing with nothing but a common cold, can all make it so.
But memes make light relief.
So here are 20 awesome emergency medicine memes you can kick back and enjoy.
Attributions where possible.
Emergency Medicine Memes
Feel free to share the following on Instagram or even add them as something cool to put into your med-related presentation slides.
1. Working ER On 4th of July
Those 4th July fireworks can be deadly.
Beer + bottle rockets + patriotism = a lot of work in emergency med.
“12,900 firework-related injuries were treated in emergency departments in 2017. There were at least 8 firework-related deaths in 2017.” [1]
It ain’t funny kids.
2. Throw In A Handful of Coins
Another “medical emergency” that only ER docs will know…
3. Pen Theft
A common complaint of the job.
4. Every Medic I Know…
Reinforcing the stereotype that firefighters don’t want to deal with patient care but still want to be thought of as “key emergency responders”.
A Lucas device, for those not in the know, is a machine you strap to patients that gives them chest compressions.
Very useful when stuck in the back of a moving truck/ambulance…
5. The Donut of Truth
![r/medicalschool - Emergency Medicine [Meme]](https://preview.redd.it/vipvb0tihup21.png?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=15ca990cae73212f938f2317c90ce8b265ad42c3)
This meme highlights the delicious temptation of ER docs everywhere to skip the physical and go for heavy hitting radiographical measures; CT scans specifically.
The dilemma is that while CT scans incur cost for the patient (and slow down departments) they can really help save a doctor’s ass when it comes to a possible misdiagnosis.
The donut of truth (take a look at how CT machines look) rarely lies…
6. Let’s Go For The Big Guns
A meme of a very similar nature.
7. Accurate
The red tape in this area of medicine is ever evolving.
Just try to keep your cool and take it in your stride.
8. Like, Everyone Hates Me…
You’d think, given the nature of the job, emergency med doctors would get the lions share of respect across the healthcare industry.
But the truth is a bit more depressing…
To all the other docs out there? Working in ER ain’t nothing special…
9. But They Still Bring Their Kids To Us In An Emergency
Another of a similar theme.
10. It’s Been A Very Busy Week
Emergency med workers will swear by the accuracy here. Their only complaint? It’s not just the last week.
More like a whole career…
11. Emergency Medicine Interview Day Starter Pack
![r/medicalschool - [Meme] Emergency Medicine Interview Day Starter Pack](https://i.redd.it/9artsus7fix11.jpg)
Emergency med has a bit of a reputation when it comes to making the specialism look more attractive.
The reality? Quite different!
Related: Medical Specialties With The Best Quality Of Life (Who Are The Happiest Doctors?)
12. Night Shifters Represent
The sarcasm of the meme above probably has a lot to do with this.
Unsociable working hours? Emergency med is all over them.
13. Practicing EM in the US
Are you beginning to see the trend now?
14. Th-Thanks…
How most emergency med doctors, assistants and nurses feel on the regular….
Possibly the most underappreciated medical specialty of all time?
15. Waiting For My COVID Vaccine Email Like…
Apparently things are pretty slow…
16. Swift
If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary Tiger King, then you’re missing out.
Emergency responders couldn’t help notice this though. Main protaganist Joe Exotic suddenly springing into action with an emergency medicine bomber jacket after one of his employees (he actually keeps tigers) got their arm ripped off.
Yes, by a tiger.
Bonus: Tiger King Meme
And if you did watch the show you might appreciate this one too.
17. Radiologist at 16:59 on a Friday
Radiologist at 16:59 on a Friday from r/Radiology
OK, so it could be even earlier…
And it isn’t just radiologists either.
18. You Kind Of Just Get Used To It?
Probably not the best branch of medicine for the seriously squeamish though.
19. It Do Be Like That
Poor paramedics. Probably even more underappreciated than EM docs.
20. Speaking From Experience
But then they do get a chance to get their own back!
Final Thoughts: Emergency Medicine Memes
If you enjoyed these memes make sure you check out some of these posts too.
Emergency med workers, I salute you!
Image Credit: @zhenhu2424 at Unsplash
Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.