The Downwind Walk: A Usar Paramedic's Experiences After the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001 Hardcover – October 5, 2011

A view from the medic side of the FDNY offers complex insight to the events surrounding 9/11. Lt. Kanarian frames the event with humor and let’s the reader peek into the culture of EMS service for context. The pain and darkness experienced is not sublimated, but brought forward in various vignettes so the reader can digest as they are able, and as their own mental health allows. A thoughtfully composed, moving account. Thank you, Steve.

Honor our heritage and help our own: BUY THIS BOOK! Retired FDNY Lieutenant Steven Kanarian writes of his personal experiences in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) at Ground Zero during 9-11. I personally know Steve. He is a gifted and passionate Emergency Medicine educator and he is donating a portion of the profits to EMS responders affected by 9/11.Even having heard Steve talk and lecture about 9-11 did not prepare me for this book. I keep having to put it down...it is simply too mindnumbing and powerful to read straight through. Steve's story and those of his brothers and sisters who responded to the call bring home the sheer scale and enormity of 9-11 in an unimaginable way.The very name "Downwind Walk" means to knowingly and willingly go into harms way that others may live...there are no self righteous or self proclaimed heroes here...this is simply the quiet and respectful stories of some of America's mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters who knowingly and selflessly served through some of our darkest hours...... all gave some....some gave all. Share their stories. Honor their memories. Never Forget.

This book is a true testament to the men and women who lost their lives on 9/11 and those since. Reading this book knowing many of the people, including Steve was surreal. My hat's off to you, Steve, for having the courage to put this wonderful book together and sharing it with the world. I am proud to know that many of those we lost and worked with will forever be remembered through this book.

So detailed and inspiring . I felt as if I was actually there with the author. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

The book is written in a fashion that allows for an intense experiential encounter with professional people who were up close and personal during the 911 disaster and its aftermath and how it immensely impacted their lives and future attitudes toward life itself. It brings home the traumatic and tragic events that were perceived through the eyes of a seasoned veteran who although used to dealing with emergency tragedies on a daily basis was vividly traumatized by all his experiences during this trying time and well into the future. Reading this book brought home the realities and the gravity of 911 much more than what was portrayed by the news media. It is a factual in-depth reporting of life and death, remorse, trials and tribulations, and depression as brought out by the inner and most personal individual feelings of those involved. Steve's numerous detailed and sensitive accounts places the reader on the scene in real happenings and most assuredly takes each person on a ride to a position in life where that person ponders what life is about; what is of prime importance; and provokes a mature assessment of one's personal values.In summary the book, "The Downwind Walk" (a wonderful title) is so much more than just a first-hand account of life immediately after 911 and the consequences emanating from this disaster. Steve has masterfully directed us well beyond the printed word. It is a compelling high level thought-provoking piece of literature that poses to the reader questions of life, personal values, and what is and what should be most important in our lives. It left me with a huge question mark with regard to my own life and that is a good thing.

Close your eyes and just imagine what it was like on "that day". A perfect morning, a perfect few days prior, and suddenly...the worst day in American history. Afterwards, crawling through the debris, the dust, the sharp steel, unstable piles, silent voids, going through the scene as if time itself had frozen. Finding victims, equipment, destroyed vehicles, papers, personal belongings, among other things. The emotions those people must have felt, to know that their efforts may just be in vain. Just imagine what it was like. Read This Book.We've all seen the TV specials that run every year on the 9/11 anniversary. But along comes Mr. Kanarian, who has written such an emotional-charged book about just what it was like at Ground Zero. He tells the stories of life in FDNY EMS, the nation's largest Emergency Medical Service provider. The camaraderie of employees, EMT's, Paramedics, officers, chiefs, etc. The normal day-to-day operations of a hectic system built to serve 8 million+ citizens. The chaos that occurred immediately following the attacks, how the communications failed, off-duty employees coming in, FDNY administration frantically trying to organize a response.One part of the book that really struck me was when Steven first went into a void that was uncovered during their search. How he found numerous bodies and knew there was nothing he could do. How deeply the reality must've set in. And he tells the story in such a way that you can almost mentally connect and put yourself at the scene. This is a very well-done piece of work. I commend Mr. Kanarian for taking time to tell us his story. You won't find many books like this out on the market. Well done, Lieutenant!