Life in EMS... It's late; you are sleeping well, the phone rings in the middle of the night. You quickly rush to get on your way, your help is needed. A family's house is on fire. I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for trapped children at 3 AM, flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight as the kitchen below you burns. I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in the morning as I check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done to try and save his life. I wish you knew the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that I've become too familiar with. I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire, is this a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? What hazards await me? Is anyone trapped? Or to call and ask what is wrong with the patient? Is it minor, or life threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for me with a 2x4 or a gun? I wish you could be in the emergency room, as a doctor  pronounces dead, the beautiful five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past 25 minutes, knowing she will never go on her first date or say the words, "I love you Mommy", ever again. I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine, ambulance, or my personal vehicle, my foot pressing down hard on the gas pedal, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When you need me however, your first comment upon my arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!" I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage years from the remains of her automobile. What if this was my daughter, sister, my wife or a friend? What were her parents’ reactions going to be when they open the door to find a police officer with hat in hand? I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not come back from the last call. I wish you could know how it feels dispatching officers, firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics out and when we call for them, our heart drops because no one answers back. Or to hear a bone chilling 911 call of a child or wife needing assistance. I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally and sometimes physically abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express their attitudes of "It will never happen to me". I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain of missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities. In addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen, I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping save a life or preserving someone's property, or being able to be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos. I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy tugging at your arm and asking, "Is my Mommy okay?” not even being able to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to say, or to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy having CPR done on him as they take him away in the ambulance. You know all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have become too familiar with. Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am, we are, or what our job really means to us...I wish you could though.  APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL EMS WORKERS, 911 DISPATCHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, and LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN YOUR AREA. ONE DAY THEY'LL PROBABLY BE SAVING YOUR PROPERTY OR YOUR OWN LIFE. WHEN YOU SEE THEM COMING WITH LIGHTS FLASHING, MOVE TO THE RIGHT QUICKLY, and THEN PRAY FOR THEM!   Take Care!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She's heeeerrrrreeeeee!  Bella is all mine and is doing great.  We went to Mom's last night after picking up Bella.  Her breeder was 3 hours away, but worth every minute and mile.  Bella is a black and silver female Miniature Schnauzer.  She will be 8 weeks old tomorrow.  She's already "Mommy oriented" and loves her reindeer "baby".  I got her a few squeaky toys, a blanket, new toys, leash, halter, fresh bowls, food mat and YES, I bought her some clothes.  I ought to be ashamed, but she's gotten her first haircut and it was exceptionally cold last night.  I got her a couple of sweaters, a t-shirt, and a dress.  She stayed in my lap every minute that we were in the car.  She's been doing well with the housebreaking which has been a relief.  She's currently curled up on Hubby's side, both of them are fast asleep.  I'll try to post some pictures soon.  Believe me, we've been taking tons of pictures.  It's been a long weekend and I'm exhausted.  I have to work tomorrow so I'm off to bed.  Take care!!!!!