Funeral directors and Emergency Medical Services have more in common than you’d think. Besides requiring a lot of perseverance, let’s see what other traits they share:

Common Past

In the early 20th century, automobiles weren’t widely available, and official ambulance services were few and far between. This was especially true in small rural areas.

Hearses were commonly used as ambulances. Hearses, by nature, were large enough to carry a body, making the car ideal for medical emergency transport. Funeral homes even had their own ambulance services and funeral directors were often the drivers.

As EMS became official, fewer funeral homes offered the service because with all a funeral director does, they wouldn’t have time to get the proper licensing to drive an ambulance.

Long Hours, Late Nights

Who needs sleep anyway? Both funeral directors and EMS workers live an unpredictable life. Funeral directors have long days filled with family calls, paperwork, and planning. They have to be ready to answer a call for a body at any hour, even if it means 3 a.m. house calls.

EMS have the same long days, often working 12 hours or more, including nights and weekends. Just like a funeral director, EMS workers answer emergency calls at a moment’s notice.

Family Support

A funeral director supports grieving families through the toughest times. They are there to help guide families through a loss and assist with setting arrangements and putting on beautiful ceremonies to remember loved ones.

EMS have to respond to a variety of tragic accidents and emergencies. Sometimes family can be present, and an EMS worker plays a critical role in supporting a family. Both roles take a high level of compassion, warmth, and empathy to perform. That’s exactly what leads us to our next common trait.

Important to the Community

While funeral homes have relinquished the ambulance service to EMS, they both still have a lot in common. The biggest similarity? Both are critical to the community they serve.

While the tasks at hand are different, there is a common bond between the two professions. It’s the desire and passion to help the community that unite funeral directors and EMS. It’s important to take the time to remember the importance of both callings and to thank all those who chose to follow them.

Can you think of any other similarities a funeral director and EMS worker might share? Let us know in the comments below.

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