Final answer:
Gallows' humor is a type of humor used by emergency personnel to cope with the horrors and stress of their job. It is not inappropriate, but rather a coping mechanism to maintain emotional distance. Media sometimes portrays it as a safeguard against becoming overly empathic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gallows' humor is a type of humor that is commonly used by emergency personnel, such as EMTs, to cope with the horrors and stress of their job.
In an emergency situation, gallows' humor can be a way for EMTs to keep horror and sadness from overwhelming them and to maintain some level of emotional distance.
It is not necessarily an inappropriate response, but rather a coping mechanism that helps them deal with the extreme seriousness of their work.
Taking a gallows' humor in an emergency situation is a way in which media sometimes presents EMT reactions to emergencies, as it can be seen as a safeguard against becoming overly empathic.