Wordpress Blog

http://rescuingprovidence.com/wordpress/

I was going to try to keep both blogs going but can barely do one. Wordpress wins for now, I'm going to see if I can find some plug-ins to make it easier to keep updates and google. For some weird reason whenever I google Rescuing Providence the Wordpress blog never shows up.

Thanks for visiting!

Mutual Aid

Mutual Aid
We are taught at an early age to call 911 in case of an emergency. People’s perception of what an emergency is may differ, but one fact does not; we expect our calls to be answered expediently. Fire departments handle most 911 calls in our area. Those departments pride themselves on a speedy response to calls from the community. When the bell tips at a fire station everything stops, personnel drop whatever they are doing and hit the apparatus floor. Meals go cold, showers stopped half taken, cleaning and maintenance jobs are not finished. Those things can wait. Nothing matters but the call. Within thirty seconds the trucks hit the street. People know that help is on the way. They assume the closest units are answering their calls, and they are correct in that assumption. What they may not be aware of is how far the closest unit actually is.
Mayor Ciccilini recently proposed legislation aimed at clearing potential hurdles in the way toward regionalization of city departments. In a carefully worded statement he cites the need to maintain services and cut costs in difficult economic conditions. “Planning for regionalization would not begin in earnest until legislation is passed,” states the mayor. North Providence’s Mayor Lombardi notes that the closest responders are not always the ones that are sent, due to jurisdictional complications. Our elected leaders have begun the process of considering consolidation of our emergency response departments. Consider how many years the consideration will take before any progress is made.
A good place to begin consolidating emergency service organizations in and around the Capitol City is to expand existing mutual aid agreements. An automatic dispatch of the closest unit makes sense. The logistics of doing so will be a difficult, but far from impossible task. All considering could be done quickly, and a plan could be put in place within months, not years.

On any given day the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston, East Providence, North Providence, Johnston and Central Falls provide mutual aid to each other, mostly in the emergency medical services departments. As the system currently works, a municipality must drain all of it’s resources before another town can be called for help. People who live on or near town lines are particularly at risk. If a life threatening emergency occurs, they could, and often do wait for an advanced life support vehicle to arrive from the other end of the town or city while a rescue from the next town sits in the bay, in service, a few blocks away waiting for a call from inside the borders of their own city.

Because of the population’s increased use of 911 for routine medical problems urban municipalities cannot keep up with the demand for emergency services. It is an ebb and flow system, one on the brink of collapse on a daily basis. Meeting the needs of every caller would bankrupt most municipal budgets.

Presently, each city or town is responsible for providing coverage inside it’s own border. Some stations were built “close to the line,” prior to the construction of major highways. It was a different world when these places were built, the planners of those long gone days had different problems to consider, different political alliances to placate and a completely different landscape.

Without scrapping the current system and implementing better policy regarding the dispatch of emergency resources cities and town departments must rely on each other. An ultimate goal of consolidating these departments is desirable, but in reality is decades away. Consolidation based on need already happens on the street level, and with few exceptions runs smoothly.

An automatic mutual aid system and agreement will greatly increase the effectiveness of our public safety departments. Mayors and town managers will be forced to work together to make a system badly in need of repair more efficient. The opportunity for grandstanding will be taken away, political gain would be nil, and simple, good governance shown to be an effective tool in bettering the lives of the citizens by providing quicker emergency response to whatever needs may arise. It is the response times that need improvement, and automatic mutual aid will help save lives.

Cross-blogging

With little else to do due to my aching back, I've decided to try cross-dressing. Scratch that, I meant cross-blogging. From here on in I'm posting everything here, then pasting onto wordpress. I hope it works out, we shall see.

Live or Die

Man in serious condition after being impaled in windshield

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A man who was struck by a car on Route 95 and became lodged in that car’s windshield early Sunday is in serious condition Monday morning at Rhode Island Hospital.

Jose Flores, 24, of 225 Hunt St., Central Falls, had gotten out of his car after an accident when he was hit by a passing car, according to the Rhode Island State Police. Police said he remained impaled in the windshield as the driver fled the scene. A witness followed and called the police.

A hospital spokeswoman said Monday morning that Flores was in serious condition.

The driver whom the police say struck Flores and two others who had gotten out of their vehicles after colliding on the highway is expected in District Court, Providence, Monday morning.

Christopher Swiridowsky, 30, of 28 Lynch St., Providence, is charged with three counts of leaving the scene of an accident after personal injury and with obstruction of a police officer.

Glad I missed this one. Sometimes being on the sideline gives a person some perspective. I’ve been involved in some pretty horrific things over the years and just moved on. It’s strange how being away from it all for a while makes you think differently. I actually wondered how the people on Rescue 3 last night do what they do!

I don’t know if it is a Providence thing, but over half of the MVA’s we respond to are hit and runs. It doesn’t matter the severity, some people are so self consumed they just don’t care if another human being lives or dies.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 26th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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3 Responses to “Live or Die”

1.
hilinda says:
October 26th, 2009 at 12:52 pm edit

They’re far more concerned about whether they’ll get in trouble.

I wonder what would have happened had there not been that witness who followed the car. Wasn’t there a story similar to this a few years ago somewhere, where someone simply drove home and parked in their garage, with the injured person still stuck in the windshield?
2.
3SS says:
October 26th, 2009 at 3:28 pm edit

It’s no different on the West Coast. The majority of our accidents are hit and runs, but mostly because the drivers are either not licensed/insured, driving on a suspended license, drunk or illegally in the country. It’s crazy out there – and not in a good way!
3.
Walt Trachim says:
October 27th, 2009 at 11:20 am edit

Happens up here all pretty often, Michael. Not to mention the goobers and knuckleheads I see in downtown Boston on a regular basis as well.

Not to mention all of the other defectiveness that is out there also…

Not Invited

Sheesh, a guy hurts his back and everybody switches to the “New Site” and never bothers to invite the old hurt guy!

Nice.

I updated the links. Hope yer all happy.

And don’t go inviting me now, I aint budgin!

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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15 Responses to “Not Invited”

1.
Little Girl says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm edit

poor guy, we all still love you, even if a few people forgot to tell you that they were moving. Just think about it this way … at least they didn’t ask you to help move.
2.
Medic999 says:
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 am edit

Now now, don’t be like that!
If it was down to us you would have been there, but unfortunately we weren’t the bosses. It would be great to have you join us though! Just click the add your blog button (or words to that effect) and I know you will get snapped up!!
We still love you! Come and give me a cuddle!!!!!
3.
totwtytr says:
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:27 am edit

I think the key word here is “bosses”. As in I’m the boss of my own blog. Which is a good thing to be.
4.
Bernice says:
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 am edit

totwtytr has it right.

You da man. You da boss. No overlords needed here… I’m not bitter, I’m just sayin’.
5.
michael says:
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:09 pm edit

The ems blogs thing looks pretty cool, i would consider it but it took me months to switch to wordpress and I still prefer blogger. I’m considering going back but my dwindling readership might jump ship for good!

I’m always careful about these things, the advertising imho takes away from the message. The links on my sidebar, Medpedia and EMS 1 haven’t done much as far as increasing traffic, but this was never about traffic to begin with,
6.
The Grumpy Dispatcher says:
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 pm edit

I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.

I actually am not thrilled with the big move of those blogs. The new sites are too gadgety, and the adverts get in the way. The messagees are being diluted. Progress and all that, yeah… I am not impressed.
7.
Medic999 says:
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm edit

Just to clarify though chaps, we all are still the bosses of our own blogs. It is completely up to us what we put up and what we want to say. They organizers who put this network together have never wanted to control the content. On the contrary, without all of our own content there would be no network.
8.
peedee says:
October 24th, 2009 at 8:51 am edit

Dont go Michael. I like you here. Just sayin.
9.
The Grumpy Dispatcher says:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm edit

Mark, I hear you on controlling the content and I understand. That said…. there’s just a bit too much going on now on most of them….

Maybe I’m just too old and grumpy to go along with change. Take the new (again) Facebook, I swear every time they touch it they take five huge strides backwards in usefulness. There was a substantial polling after the last big change, with millions voting, which revealed a colossal 94% disapproval vote. 94%!!!! Have they never heard of user study groups?!

Not saying the new format for your blog and the others are Facebook-bad… sorry…. I’m rantling again. (That’s rant+ramble…)

Shutting up.
10.
the Happy Medic says:
October 25th, 2009 at 2:10 am edit

Not everyone is “happy” just me. hehe. Grumpy, the ads are bigger than my old ones, but way more relevant.
The EMS 2.0 thing has a life of it’s own.
This is the closest I could get to how you got out of blogger on your own. Baby steps, they say, and this was mine.

And you’re all crippled and such, that was an issue.

Hope you’re feeling better,
HM
11.
The Grumpy Dispatcher says:
October 25th, 2009 at 4:57 am edit

Happy… as long as you’re here…. and speaking of being crippled….

One of the things that kills me about Facebook is its rampant use of ActiveX, which blocks my ability to do anything other than look at some of the pages. Can’t comment, view lists, or do much of anything there, thanks to the PC security settings at my power company gig. FD PCs are going the same way. Home PC works, but I try to not go online much at home when I could spend time with my family. I imagine school/library computers are going the same way. Why be so fancy with the programming that people get blocked…. can’t they just keep it simple? I see this problem getting worse, not better.

I ‘rantle’ through all this because the same software/security limitation is now preventing me from leaving comments on yours or any of the blogs at the new site. Like Facebook, you click a button… and it just spins. Or sometimes not even that much. Nothing happens.

It’s frustrating. If you notice a dropoff in comments… well I am positive I am not the only one in this boat.

I’ll still read, though. ;)
12.
Teri says:
October 25th, 2009 at 5:20 am edit

Michael, I truly preferred you in blogger… I still can’t get updates or “follow” you like I used to and it’s such a big world in here that I miss some good posts of yours! SO if you “come back” to blogger, I for one won’t mind! Either way, get better and get back to Rescue one!
Gia
13.
Monique says:
October 25th, 2009 at 10:23 am edit

I honestly don’t understand what happened here technologically and what Michael is talking about (which is fine).

I would just like to echo Grumpy D on a more general point: too many websites try to do too much. This is understandable on a certain level because most of these websites are created and updated by techie types who, naturally, like all of the latest/fastest/coolest software and want to put as much of it as possible on the website they manage. (Disclaimer: we love techie types. Personally, my life would not have been worth living on several occasions had a techie type not intervened in a serious computer problem.)

And the ubiquitous ads don’t help, of course.

But a lot of us visit websites mainly to get information or communicate and don’t share the enthusiasm for the latest/fastest/coolest. So these features too often end up being an annoyance because they slow down (or occasionally freeze) our computer.

This probably also makes us look hopelessly out of date and inflexible. And maybe we are!

Nevertheless, I’m sticking to my view: good point, Grumpy D.
14.
Jean says:
October 26th, 2009 at 3:16 pm edit

Simple. My preference.
15.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
October 26th, 2009 at 5:45 pm edit

I am still posting in both bogger and wordpress Michael, easy to copy and paste and covers all odds but then I am the odd lady from the UK. Hope you are well now?

When I'm King

Official Decree from the King

1. I hereby decree that any person or persons within a sixty (60) mile radius of Boston wearing a New York Yankees cap or any other New York Yankees paraphernalia including but not limited to bumper stickers, banners, flags or statues be subject to a Yankee Facts test to ensure their loyalty to the team they so proudly display on their person, vehicle and home.

2. Persons failing Yankee Test mentioned in paragraph 1. will be incarcerated until such time they agree to never again display New York Yankee items in the heart of Red Sox Nation.

3. Yankee test mentioned in paragraph 1. will have a sliding scale of difficulty, increasing in difficulty starting further from Boston towards points inward.

4.Upon release from prison, buses will be provided to all Yankee wearing, test failing, shit stirring New York wannabe’s from HERE to THERE where you will be deposited in the heart of Yankee country with the rest of the Yankee fans. Construction of a giant wall will begin, at Steinbrenner’s expense, to keep said “fans” penned in.

5. All surrendered Yankee paraphernalia will be collected and burned in Town Square, where music food and moonlight dancing will be provided to all pitchfork wielding townspeople.

So it is written, so it shall be done!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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6 Responses to “When I’m the King”

1.
C. Watford says:
October 20th, 2009 at 11:51 am edit

I’m aggravated when my TV shows that I DVR’d are interrupted to by some New York Yankees v LA Angels game. Hi, I live at least 900 miles from both cities, why would you show this trash on my TV? Instead you made me miss 40 minutes of my TV show because I didn’t realize that crap game got any airtime here in the South. There is an I95 North for a reason…
2.
Gnome says:
October 20th, 2009 at 5:23 pm edit

*snort* Can we do the same thing for Cowboys fans and (no offense) band-wagon Pats fans?
3.
granny grabbin says:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:29 pm edit

I love it.
4.
Herbie says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 am edit

I pass your test with flying colors.

I propose a similar test to weed out all of your front-runners who only became fans in 2003.

Not for nothing, you should root for us to destroy the Angels since they made you guys look like the London Sillinannies.
5.
admin says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:16 pm edit

London Sillininnies! HaHA.

Great to hear from you, Herbie, I hope all is well in the Pocono’s.
6.
Monique says:
October 25th, 2009 at 10:41 am edit

“at Steinbrenner’s expense”

H’mmm, what else can we get Steinbrenner to pay for?

(Great post, Michael.)

Goodbye

I was reading the paper while waiting to get my hair cut yesterday, listening with one ear to the usual banter between the barbers and customers, sports talk, women, sports, women and sports and women for the most part, when I turned the page to the obituaries. My eyes were drawn to the center of the page where a picture of a beautiful familiar looking face looked back at me.

She would call now and then when she needed us. Her doctors were at Miriam, there was no way she could get herself there, not in her condition. As weak as she was she always made us smile, flirting with the younger guys, making light of her situation as we helped her into the rescue. Sometimes she could walk, when she couldn’t we were happy to carry her. There was a lightness to her being, one that transcends this existance and will carry her into the next, where I know she will find peace.

Goodbye, LaRessa Jean, it was a pleasure to know you.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
SEASTRUNK, LaRESSA JEAN
View/Sign Guest Book
SEASTRUNK, LaRESSA JEAN, 30, of Locust St., succumbed to breast cancer on Saturday at Hospice Care of RI.

Born in Providence, daughter of LaJune (Belcher) Banjo-Gadson and Clinton and Maria (Green) Seastrunk. LaRessa worked for the American Cancer Society, Boston, MA.

Besides her parents, she is survived by son, Jon Alston Jr., brothers, Clinton Seastrunk, Jr. and LaMarr Trisvan, and sisters, LaShon Beamon and LaChell Trisvan.

Funeral 11am Saturday at Holy Cross Church of God In Christ United, 1014 Broad St., Providence. Viewing 7-9pm Friday in Bright Funeral Home, 290 Public St., Providence. In lieu of flowers send donations to Jon Alston Jr. Bank of America Act: 226002504647.
Published in The Providence Journal on 10/16/2009
Notice • Guest Book • Send sympathy flowers • Visit the gift shop • Make a memorial contribution
Share photos, videos and more with Legacy Memorial Websites. Find out more.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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6 Responses to “Goodbye”

1.
Joseph Schmoe says:
October 17th, 2009 at 1:23 pm edit

All that suffering and yet she still managed to make you smile. Isn’t it amazing how sometimes your customers can touch you?

Thanks for sharing this.
2.
Derek Elwell says:
October 17th, 2009 at 6:07 pm edit

30 years old. I’m speechless. :(
3.
Gia says:
October 19th, 2009 at 12:40 am edit

Looks like she left a lot of love behind. Thoughts and prayers for the family and those that she touched.
4.
Jean says:
October 19th, 2009 at 1:21 pm edit

That beautiful smile should have had much more time to bless many more lives.
My sincere condolences.
5.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
October 19th, 2009 at 1:49 pm edit

Too sad, such a pretty lady, life is not very fair sometimes. We must find the cure soon. WE MUST!
6.
3SS says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm edit

Thank you for sharing this – I will add her name to my list of people I’m walking to honor in the Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer 3-Day…

Free Ride

Physical Therapy is going well, those people are truly amazing. I always heard it is a difficult program, now I know why. I described my injury to the therapist, he had me do a series of movements, each one taking pressure off of my squished discs. I found it miraculous how simple movements could be so effective. If I keep doing the exercises, things should be back in place before long.

While there I was talking to a guy about an experience he and his wife had over the weekend. She had some lower abdominal pain and went to the ER at Woman and Infants hospital. They drove there, their car was right outside. The Doctor at the ER decided the patient should be medically cleared at a regular emergency facility rater than one specializing in maternity and such and wanted them to go to Rhode Island Hospital which is on the same campus and actually connected by an underground tunnel.

“I’ll call the Providence Fire Department,” he told them. “They’ll send a rescue.”

“Our car is right outside,” the guy told him.

“It’s a liability issue,” replied the doctor.

So, there you have it. The medical community is as clueless as the rest of the population who abuse the 911 system on a daily basis. I can hardly wait for whatever healthcare reform comes out of Washington. Something tells me I’ll be driving people to Physical Therapy appointments, at taxpayer expense.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 16th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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8 Responses to “Free Ride”

1.
brendan says:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:31 pm edit

Apparently W+I doesn’t deal with private ambulances enough to know that any one of them would take that run.
2.
brendan says:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:33 pm edit

Almost forgot- this incident is a perfect example of defensive medicine due to medical malpractice suits. Without tort reform, the next healthcare reform scheme won’t accomplish much.
3.
Medic2RN says:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:56 pm edit

physical therapy, emergency departments, methadone clinics ALL at taxpayer expense. At this point, who freaking cares. It’s all going to hell in a hand basket. Buy some good guns and enough ammo and be prepared.
4.
the Happy Medic says:
October 18th, 2009 at 10:59 am edit

Medic2RN – Buy some good guns and ammo? Are you preparing for war? Put down your rifle and pick up an application to run for public office.
Brendan hit it on the head with the comment about defensive medicine. Tort reform is an absolute necessity, but we also need to give doctors to right to treat their patients without an insurance company representative deciding what gets covered and what doesn’t. if I have to hear my doctor tell me what my kids need but my insurance doesn’t cover it I’m going to get un happy.

Stockpiling weapons is not the solution to the broken healthcare system and it didn’t happen in the last 10 months, or even the last 10 years. We have all been helpless passengers on this train crash called career politics.

Remove the anti-trust status of the insurance industry (and Baseball, the only 2 left) and lets get some of that good old fashioned competition back in the system.
Sorry for the rant Lt.
HM
5.
40lizard says:
October 18th, 2009 at 12:42 pm edit

I had to laugh when reading this post in order to keep from crying-during all my years in the medical world- we literally had to call an ambulance to take a pt 1/2 block from the office to the ER-and people wonder why the medical world is the way it is right now! and Michael, as far as the taxi service goes, we’re already there in some parts of the US. Experienced it first hand this week!
6.
michael says:
October 19th, 2009 at 10:01 am edit

Rant away, my friends, it all helps us get through. Don’t worry about Medic2RN, HM, he’s a great guy, I met him last year at Captain Quetta’s (PFD LODD, Cancer) funeral, he’s the kind of guy we want to have the guns!
7.
Jean says:
October 19th, 2009 at 1:26 pm edit

So very glad the PT is heading toward relief and healing!

The other topic is sucky.
8.
Dave Hayes says:
October 20th, 2009 at 4:28 pm edit

Ah yes – healthcare reform…it could have a surprise twist. Here’s my prediction:

http://mobileintensiveprayerunit.blogspot.com/2009/10/gods-plan-for-healthcare-reform.html

peace,
dave

Timeout

Rescuing Providence? How about rescuing the guy who says he’s Rescuing Providence? Looks like ole Lt. Morse will be playing patient for a while. I finally took recurring back pain seriously and had an MRI, turns out things aren’t so great back there. My doctor asked if there are and supervisory positions on Rescue 1. After I stopped giggling I realized she was serious.

I have a surgical consult next week and extensive PT in the meantime.

Some advice from an old coot if you care to listen; Enjoy each day you are on the trucks, learn something about yourself and how better to treat every patient that crosses your path. Appreciate the fact that what you do, though seemingly thankless and mundane at times is without a doubt one of, if not the most important and worthy profession out there.

Your next lift could be your last. It happens fast, one day your the king of the world, limitless possibilities and things to blog about, the next your future is uncertain, and your back hurts like hell.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 12th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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15 Responses to “Timeout”

1.
Bernice says:
October 12th, 2009 at 11:26 am edit

Heal quickly.
2.
peedee says:
October 12th, 2009 at 12:13 pm edit

Sorry Michael. Hoping for a speedy recovery for you.
3.
Jean says:
October 12th, 2009 at 12:48 pm edit

oh no. So sorry about your pain.
Hope you heal well and soon.
Just remember that you have much to offer no matter where you’re sitting.
4.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
October 12th, 2009 at 4:02 pm edit

So sorry to read this post Michael, and sincerely wish you back to full strength asap. Do hope that it’s nothing too serious. Providence can’t afford to lose YOU!
5.
Chrysalis says:
October 12th, 2009 at 5:29 pm edit

Michael, I’m so sorry to read this. I’m sorry you are hurting. Do what the doctors say, and take care of yourself. I know how it feels to be sidelined. Rest and do what you have to, for you.
6.
Mike “FossilMedic” Ward says:
October 12th, 2009 at 7:45 pm edit

Good luck with the consult and recovery. Like Jean said, you offer more than just a lift.
7.
Monique says:
October 12th, 2009 at 9:07 pm edit

Damn.

Whatever you’re getting done, Michael, ask around for a good doctor to handle it.

Best wishes. We’ll be thinking about you.
8.
Walt Trachim says:
October 12th, 2009 at 9:41 pm edit

Crap!

For what it’s worth, I’ve been there myself. I have a 575 lb. patient to thank for it. The good news is that it happened almost three years ago, and the help was there for me. I was out of work for a little over 6 weeks…

From one old coot to another one: do what you’re asked to do by both the doc who you’re being seen by and anyone else who’s involved in your care (like the PT folks you’ll be sure to deal with). Fortunately, I didn’t need surgery to fix what I broke; it was all SI joint-related and pulled muscles, but the bruising was nasty…

If you need anything, you know where to find me. Take care of yourself, ami.
9.
Gia says:
October 13th, 2009 at 3:02 am edit

Michael,
First the hands now the back? Get well quick!
Gia
10.
Medic999 says:
October 13th, 2009 at 8:14 am edit

It alls sounds far too common. I have two friends who have had to leave active duty due to injurys sustained whilst at work.
I hope yours heals and you get back to work soon mate!

On a brighter note though, surely now you are off work, you can pop over to Happy Medics neck of the woods in 4 weeks and share a pint with me????
11.
totwtytr says:
October 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm edit

It only takes one, although the one might just be the culmination of all the other ones that didn’t push you over the edge.

My doctor asked if there are and supervisory positions on Rescue 1. After I stopped giggling I realized she was serious.

Several years ago a co worker had what turned out to be a career ending back injury. At one point, one of the doctors suggested that he become an EMT since that was less work than being a paramedic. Some people just have no clue.

I hope this goes well for you and you can soon get back to doing what you so clearly love.
12.
michael says:
October 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm edit

Thanks as always for the comments. I just finished some PT, things may not be as grim as I first thought. I’ll be OOS for a while, but probably will make it back into Rescue 1.

You guys are great, thanks for the support!
13.
40lizard says:
October 13th, 2009 at 8:42 pm edit

Hang in there Michael! Take care!
14.
brendan says:
October 13th, 2009 at 10:59 pm edit

Miss ya on the streets L-T.
15.
LtAl says:
October 14th, 2009 at 9:41 pm edit

still have a couch waiting for you here.

One Hand Pizza

One Hand Pizza

It takes a a lot to get a rise out of old Lt. Morse. Lacerations, fractures, amputations, evisceration’s-I’ve seen it all. Not impressed with the little scrapes and bruises some people just can’t handle.

Take a simple burn, for instance. Some moron put his pizza, box and all into the 350 degree oven to keep it warm while he shut down the house. Lights off, shades drawn, drinks made movie ready, maybe five minutes.

At Pizza Time he reached into the oven, grasped the cardboard box firmly in his hands and headed toward the table. Ignoring the pain he felt when he hoisted the box from the hot oven, “there is no possible way a cardboard box could be this hot,” he reasoned, “surely the box would ignite.” he walked the twenty feet, refusing to put the box down.

Ten seconds later, after squealing like a little bitch and flinging the cursed box and all its’ contents onto the table Mrs. lt. Morse appeared with the bottle of Aloe Vera, washed the hot oil from his red hand and put him to bed. Where he ate pizza one-handed.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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9 Responses to “One Hand Pizza”

1.
Bernice says:
October 7th, 2009 at 12:13 pm edit

I promise I didn’t laugh… What? You don’t believe me?

Actually this is funny because not too long ago I was reminded whilst baking pumpkin pies not to burn myself. Low and behold, I am now the proud owner of a start-trek-esque burn across most of the back of my hand.

Ovens are dangerous.
2.
totwtytr says:
October 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pm edit

I have to confess when I realized it was you, I did laugh. But just a little.

Here is a hint as to what temperature paper ignites at,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451
3.
Jean says:
October 7th, 2009 at 1:28 pm edit

You? You did that?

ok, ok…breathe. You were really, really tired. Yeah, that’s it.

(hope it heals quickly.)
4.
hilinda says:
October 7th, 2009 at 2:35 pm edit

Actually, the ignition temperature of paper ISN’T 451°F. Not exactly, anyway.

It’s a range of temperatures, based on a variety of factors such as the actual content of the paper, the humidity, etc. The NYS fire behavior text quotes the ignition temp of newspaper as 392°F , and Fundamentals Of Fire Fighter Skills By International Association of Fire Chiefs quotes paper’s ignition temp as 425°F. Wikipedia gives a range: 424-474°F

I thought it was pretty funny when I first learned that it’s not precisely 451°F, but it’s not really all that funny. I don’t know that there’s anything that ignites at an exact temperature, every time. Too many variables.

So… Michael… cold water is your friend.
Nice to see you man up about it, too.
And at least you threw it on the table. That’s some mighty impressive control, that is.
5.
admin says:
October 8th, 2009 at 6:26 pm edit

The wound has healed but the emotional scar remains! But the pizza was pertty good.
6.
peedee says:
October 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am edit

You mean you didnt call 911 for a ride to the hospital to get your 1st degree burn looked at even tho there is a perfectly able adult and car right there for your use?? Wow, way not to abuse the system. ;)
7.
Ryan says:
October 9th, 2009 at 10:03 pm edit

See what happens when you try to cook. Or heat things up for that matter. Jeeze, you have to come back soon, where I can chaperone you. Way to add insult to injury. Get better Mike, talk to you soon.
8.
Gia says:
October 10th, 2009 at 3:32 am edit

I cannot tell a lie… I laughed.

Hope your hands feel better, (both hands??? ((snicker)) )
9.
Erin L. Blackman says:
October 11th, 2009 at 8:34 pm edit

BAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! I’m not gonna stroke your feathers and not do it here! Did Cheryl tell you to quitcherbitchin? LOL

Oh, Michael… what’re we gonna do with you?

Falling

A kid fell off the escalator at the Providence Place Mall Saturday night. Adam, my once and future partner was first on scene. He told me the worst part for him is rolling the patient and seeing the face for the first time. Often, it is the face of death.

A while ago I was on scene at the same mall on the same lower level landing spot with the same situation. This time it was a girl, twenty-three years old, one in the morning, dressed for a night out with her fiance. Her earrings survived the forty foot fall off the side of the escalator, they were still attached, looking strangely out of place nestled in the blood soaked hair. Silver hoops, I recall, reflecting the fluorescent lights three floors above. She must have landed on the back of her head, it felt like applesauce when I reached my hand back there to lift it and place the cervical collar. Her eyes were closed. I lifted the lids and shined my light into them. Fixed and dilated. A ladder company was there to assist, I stepped back and watched as they placed her on the spine board and loaded her onto the stretcher.

“Is she alright?” asked a guy about her age who stood nearby.

What do you say? We are trained to tell family and friends generic information, “we’re doing all we can,” things like that.

A Spider Man doll lay on the floor, a few feet from the pool of blood that had formed around her head. She had won it at the nightclub they spent the night at, celebrating both her birthday and her graduation from the local Junior College. She had planned on giving it to her four year old in the morning, he loved Spider Man.

I held her head in my left hand, the collar giving me some support as we rode to the ER, bagging her with my right. I let her eyes remain closed as we cut off her outfit, so carefully put on only hours before, and covered her with a sheet. There were more injuries, but no sense treating them. She was gone.

I often wonder if I should have ended my involvement there, passed her off to the people at the ER and moved on. Instead, I talked with her fiance, asked about who she was, where she came from. He needed to talk, I needed to listen. Now, instead of another memory embedded deep in my subconscious, I have a vivid recollection of the event, and to this day need to catch my breath every time I walk past the spot she fell; the same spot that may or may not hold the same emotional impact for Adam.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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4 Responses to “Falling”

1.
Joseph Schmoe says:
October 5th, 2009 at 3:14 pm edit

Odd what we remember and what triggers the recollection. Odd too what I would like to remember and can’t and what I would like to forget and can’t!!

Thanks for the post.
2.
40lizard says:
October 5th, 2009 at 10:58 pm edit

It’s amazing how that works! I can’t remember where my keys are most days but there are things that trigger instant recall of days gone by dealing with some of the saddest happenings in the medical office I worked in at the time.

Please tell Adam to hang in there if you don’t mind!

Thanks!
3.
Jean says:
October 6th, 2009 at 10:21 am edit

Adequate words fail me, Michael.
I do know that one of the things I am constantly impressed by is the amount of respect felt (and shown) by you and yours.
Bless you all.
4.
JoeEMT799 says:
October 6th, 2009 at 1:18 pm edit

Just brought back my mall experience. Guy jumped 6 stories to the ground floor. 2 weeks before Christmas on a Saturday afternoon. Full House. When I looked up all you could see was hundreds of little faces looking down at you. Even though he was a mangled mess, I decided to Trauma Code him. Teresa was just spreading her wings so I decided to have her run the code. It went well and we did everything. He didn’t make it but I hope the experience made Terri that much more prepared for her future role as a Rescue Officer. Man Mike, These runs just can’t escape your mind. JoeEMT799

Rejected?

The sequel to Rescuing Providence has been done for a long time, I’ve been trying to find somebody to publish it. Paladin Press decided to pass on it, they took a risk with the first one, hoping their core readership would find the subject matter interesting enough to fork over $22.00 to read a memior/autobiography from a firefighter EMT in Providence, RI. Sadly, their readers weren’t interested, less than one hundred people ordered the book from Paladin’s website and cataloug. On the bright side, thousands of people did order the book through www.Amazon.com, www.barnesandnobel.com and many other on-line retailers, as well as in many bookstores regionally. Borders especially was very supportive, due in no small effort from my friend Erin whose support is greatly appreciated. Paladin passed on the sequel, not because they didn’t like the book ;rather the bottom line made it unprofitable.

So, that is where I am. My work isn’t profitable. And that is okay. For a while there I had dreams of writing books and things and hopefully squeaking out a living doing so. Even under the best circumstances that would have been a long shot. The current economic situation has made it harder still. I’ve talked with a few authors of books revolving around EMS and they too have found this to be a difficult road to travel. Unbelievably, there just isn’t enough interest in our subject matter for a publisher to take a chance on publishing our books, and devote the resources needed to promote them. They need guaranteed hits, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, household names like those are sure hits. Established writers like Stephen King, Dan Brown and about two dozen others account for 90% of sales. I can’t say I blame the publishers, but it is frustrating.

Speaking of frustrating, an EMT I see from time to time at area hopsitals, a person who I’ve always respected for her professional attitude, her patient care and obvious pride in the proffession needed a little boost the other day but I was too stupid to offer any encouragement.

The triage area at Rhode Island Hospital is a busy place, ambulance crews for different agencies, fire departments and hospitals converge there, share a little conversation and a laugh now and then, but mostly stick to themselves, transfer the patient and move on. I spend a lot of time at the hospital, Rescue 1 is housed a mile and a half away, most of my patients live around the corner. I see the different crews, the different attitudes, the different people. The person I’m writing about probably has no idea I even notice. But I do, I just can’t help notice people who stand out.

She wears the uniform of her private service with pride, gives a great report to the ER staff, is always courteous to her patients and good to her partners.

The other day she looked run down, wrinkled and exhausted. It was shocking to see. I asked if she was okay, she responded with some off the cuff remark about the futility of it all. All I did was agree and move on. If I could do it over, I would tell her that if nothing else I have noticed how well she conducts herself while working for one of the private companies that I know do not pay as well as they should. I would tell her that I’ve often marvelled at how well she does her job and how fortunate her employer and patients are to have her. And I’d tell her that more than once I’ve tucked in my shirt and stood a little straighter, then written my reports a bit better, and realized how fortunate I am to be doing 911 calls rather than transports, because of her.

But I didn’t. I walked away, dismayed that the EMS “career” has taken another good one.

So…what the heck am I doing complaining that my book isn’t getting published as quickly as I want, or the publishing world isn’t bowing at my feet? I’ve got a great hobby, writing, because I’ve come to realize that that is what this is, I’ve got a great job, and a little respect from the people in my profession who have read the first book, have learned a little about who I am and how I think.

I think I’m going to take a risk the next time I see her, and tell her she is inspirational. Coming from an old, wrinkled worn out Providence Firefighter might not be much help, but it probably won’t hurt. I need good people around me. They are contagious.



Oh, the book. I have no idea what my next step is. I just got a rejection from Potomac Books. They expressed interest in March. I made it through the first steps and was waiting for final acceptance. Didn’t happen.

But hey, I’ve already got the best job in the world!

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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11 Responses to “Rejected? Nah”

1.
medic297 says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 pm edit

Thanks Mike,Its nice to know that someone notices when a EMS provider no matter who they work for does agood job and just does good pt. care. I have been in the business a well lets say a “long time” and I cannot tell you how many times my pt. care report went ignored because I worked for a “pvt” ambulance company. Good pt. care is good pt. care no matter what the patch my say! Again thanks for noticeing
2.
Jennie says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 5:21 pm edit

Definitely take the time to say something nice! There is nothing better than when someone goes out of their way to make it feel like what you do matters. Don’t just stop with her. There are tons of great people having a bad day that don’t get the boost they should.

You’ll get your book out there, no worries, just patience. And I’ll be there to order it :)
3.
Stephan says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:31 pm edit

Have you considered a company that prints as you buy the book? They may be interested since they don’t actually print the book till someone orders it.
4.
peedee says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:06 pm edit

You do have a great job Michael. I think I’ve told you before, but I’ll say it again; Every job I’ve had since I was a paramedic pales in comparison. I’m so sorry I left it.

And tell her next time you see her. ;)

I so hope your book gets picked up eventually. It’ll never go out of style and I think timing is everything here. Your not gonna give up trying to get it published are you?
5.
totwtytr says:
October 4th, 2009 at 3:21 am edit

EMS books are a hard sell in part because when you come down to it the stories are pretty much interchangeable from system to system. So, the market will only bear a small number of books at any one time. Even EMS based novels don’t do well, probably for the same reason. I know someone who has had a book out to various publishers for over ten years and has not got one serious bite.

The other problem is that of the stories are so weird that no believes that they aren’t fiction.

Despite all that, I wish you luck and hope you find a publisher.
6.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
October 4th, 2009 at 4:58 pm edit

Hi Michael, Have you thought of self publishing (called horribly over here ‘Vanity publishing’) I did it this way a little while ago, on a simple book written about growing-up in the fifties!! It was originally written for my Grandson Manu, so a very simple affair indeed, but it just grew and grew and it has now had it’s second run of printing. I pay the cost of printing and then sell on. My Anthology of Poems which will be ready I hope by Christmas, has been done excatly the same way. It does mean a little work with lay out etc but you do then have full control and you could do it all on the internet and sell via your blog. Just a thought.
I love your stories and I think you must do another book, you write so very well.
Sincerely Susie H.
7.
GIa says:
October 5th, 2009 at 5:13 am edit

Just don’t ever give up, Michael, some dreams take time to build and yours appears only half made! Your impact on this world shines each day you arrive at PFD and touch a life in need. And also touch the lives of unknown bloggers! Thank you once again for your words of wisdom on my blog! I didnt scream at the heavens when I arrived at the top, merely bowed my head and asked for peace for the babe! A great day is ahead for you, my friend!
8.
Bernice says:
October 5th, 2009 at 9:36 am edit

Hey Michael, I don’t suppose a letter to her employer could hurt either. Having something like that in your file is well, pretty spectacular. Definitely say something to her. I have been on the receiving end of praise from the old grizzlies and it is shocking and well, really really nice to be noticed for your good work. :) Use that hobby, write the letter and tell her she does a great job.
9.
michael says:
October 5th, 2009 at 11:49 am edit

Thanks folks for giving me a lot to consider. The time involved with writing a book is one thing, but then the real waiting begins. Just when you think you have things figured out, right back to the old drawing board. I was considering posting the second book on the blog, a chapter a week or something just so I could get it out of my mind and move on to something else. Maybe self publishing but I’m way too lazy to promote it. Maybe I’ll wait and see how the movie pans out, I really don’t know.

I hope the person I wrote about was just having a bad day, but I do plan on saying something to her, I just worry about sending out the wrong message so I have to really think before I say anything, and thinking usually gets me in trouble.
10.
Ambulance Driver says:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pm edit

Michael, have you sent a query letter to Kaplan Publishing? Fire/EMS/public safety/law enforcement is their core market, and they’re always on the lookout for books like yours.

And if that doesn’t pan out, give a call to Lou Jordan of Emergency Publishers in Taneytown, MD. Lou is the owner of EMSbooks.com, and he has a small publishing business.
11.
Ted says:
October 14th, 2009 at 7:53 pm edit

All I know is that I can’t wait for that second book to be published, and I hope I get another pen when I buy it!

Last Act

Gia (A Gia’s Life) had a bad call the other night, a baby, screaming, the outcome not so good. It got me thinking how of how many people are affected by every call we go on. Obviously, the people making the 911 call, then the dispatchers, then us, then the people who hear the sirens and see the lights, and get out of the way, or not. Neighbors, friends, family; everybody who sees a fire truck, police cruiser or ambulance pull up at somebodies house can’t help but be curious.

It’s like a ripple in the universe, I wonder how far it goes. When the outcome is positive, does the energy go forward and add to the general flow of things, and if so, when things go badly does that change the tide for everybody involved, no matter how small a part?

A few years ago I realized how important my role in all of this is. When I arrive on scene at an emergency, every move I make is embedded into the memory of the people who called for help. It may be subconsciously, but the experience lingers.

Years pass. The memory fades. Some things stand out. The time the ambulance people helped dad when he fell. When Mom crashed her car on 95, the firemen were so nice. They helped the baby when she swallowed a marble. They tried their hardest to get Grandma back but it was just her time to die.

It is an enormous responsibility, one not to be taken lightly. For generations people will talk about us when they get together. How we act lives long after the act itself is over.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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4 Responses to “Last Act”

1.
hilinda says:
September 29th, 2009 at 1:58 pm edit

I had a difficult call last year that got me to thinking about the same things.
It goes both ways.
What we do and say affects the patient, their family, the community- and what they do and say affects us, our family and friends- often the same community.
Ripples, indeed.
Sometimes, what with the internet, those ripples reach very far.

I’d like to think that when things go well, that does, in fact, continue forward, and when things don’t go so well, it is the community itself that enables things to go forward. Shared joy is joy multiplied, shared sorrow is sorrow divided.

Doesn’t always feel that way in the moment on those bad calls.
2.
Teri says:
September 30th, 2009 at 5:59 am edit

Thank you Michael……………
3.
Chrysalis says:
October 1st, 2009 at 4:34 am edit

You are so right.

I remember a call where a man had a skull fracture at a game I was at. I knelt by his side; stopped his buddies from taking him in their vehicle, and insisted on an ambulance for him. I kept him talking to me and kept him as calm as possible until the paramedic and EMTs got there. Many years later, when I ran into a family member of his, I’d asked about him, and explained that I’d been the nurse there with him that day. They just lit right up and started to thank me for keeping him talking. They said he would stop breathing when he was left unattended in the Emergency Dept. and they had always wanted to thank me for how I was with him that day. I was surprised at how vividly they remembered me in all of that, too.
4.
Medic999 says:
October 1st, 2009 at 5:58 pm edit

What I try and teach or show everyone new coming into the service is to have the realisation that what may be an off day for us that is quickly forgotten, will become a patient care episode that the patient, their family, friends, work colleagues and neighbours will talk about and remember for a lifetime.
One throw away comment, or one moment of bad attitude can change more than one persons perception of a paramedic and an ambulance service.

Some People!

A guys wife has had four seizures since midnight. It’s four a.m. She’s sitting in a chair in their living room, unaware. We get the stair chair ready and carry her out of their home and into the rescue.

“She goes to Miriam.”

She’s having seizures. The closest hospital is Rhode Island, we’ll take her there.”

“She goes to Miriam.”

“Not tonight.”

The ride is uncomfortable. He glares at me all the way. She begins to seize. He looks at me as though I caused this. For some unknown reason I feel the need to explain the situation to him. Miriam is ten minutes away, Rhode Island three. I’m sure we would make it to Miriam without any harm to the patient, but sometimes you have to go on princable. Rhode Island and Miriam are one. The same doctors, the same record keeping system, the same company. There was no wait at either facility at this hour.

It’s odd, how a person can be angry at somebody who rushes to their house in the middle of the night, carries their wife out the door, onto a stretcher and into a rescue, gives her oxygen, starts an IV, assesses her vital signs, administers medication to help with the seizure and gets her to a world class hospital in less than thirty minutes from the time he made the call.

I love this job, and get paid well to do it, but some people…

This entry was posted on Monday, September 28th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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5 Responses to “Some People…”

1.
brendan says:
September 28th, 2009 at 4:52 pm edit

This is why family of anyone other than small children ride up front in my truck. I’ve got enough to do without getting the evil eye for 20 minutes.
2.
brendan says:
September 28th, 2009 at 4:54 pm edit

Oh, and good job as usual L-T.
3.
peedee says:
September 28th, 2009 at 6:42 pm edit

::sigh:: So sorry you have to put up with this crap.
4.
Teri says:
September 29th, 2009 at 2:58 am edit

Oh man, how do you do the ones involving babies??? I had one last night… I am gonna do the whole CISM thing.. I can’t get it out of my mind.. I am going out of my mind…. Bless you for being there for them!!**sigh or cry, I can’t decide!**
5.
Teri says:
September 29th, 2009 at 2:59 am edit

**CISM = critical incident stress management**

Movie News Part I

I wasn’t sure what to expect when Eric, the producer/director of Phantazma pictures invited me for lunch to discuss progress on Rescuing Providence, The Movie. (title still to be determined, suggestions welcome…spoiler alert, the story has a Christmas theme)

We met at DiCarlo Trattoria, a beautiful restaraunt located in Smithfield, RI. I strongly recommend the place. The purpose for the meeting was to discuss the script, what that meant I had no idea, I was concerned that my vision might not coincide with Eric’s, and wasn’t looking forward to getting into a creative struggle right from the start.

Instead of the creative struggle, the opposite occurred. For hours we went back and forth, scene by scene, Eric describing the story from a cinematic perspective, me from an emotional level. I was able to start learning how better to tell a story visually rather than with words. I’ll never be an expert at it, but it will be a great learning experience for me to work with Eric, and I hope the opposite holds true.

One thing that struck me was Eric’s innate understanding of the job we do. Also, his desire to get into my head and bring out the very best I have and put it into the script is refreshing. I can get a bit lazy, he won’t allow that. Our desire is to make not just a nice little movie about EMT’s and firefighters, but to create something great.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 27th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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16 Responses to “Movie News, Part 1”

1.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
September 27th, 2009 at 1:04 pm edit

This is so cool! can you say that these days? but it is…
2.
the Happy Medic says:
September 27th, 2009 at 1:32 pm edit

Titles:
“The Happy Medic goes to Providence”
“Happy Christmas”
“Code 3 with 1″
“HM in RI”

Remember your title doesn’t have to line up with your story…
SOOO exciting! I respectfully offer my services as a background street crosser or overly disinterested ER Doc.
3.
michael says:
September 27th, 2009 at 4:55 pm edit

If this thing makes it to production the folks on the right (blogroll) have an open invitation! Hm in RI…hmmmm
4.
hilinda says:
September 27th, 2009 at 5:00 pm edit

I can’t wait to see it!
5.
peedee says:
September 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pm edit

This is sooo exciting for you Michael!! And us!!! Cant wait to hear how it all progresses. Make sure you keep us updated!!
6.
patrick says:
September 27th, 2009 at 11:59 pm edit

Can I be an extra, or play na dead body or something, lol.

Seriously, I’m happy for you. I’m still trying to motivate myself to write the “Rescuing providence” of FDNY EMS. Not that I would ever be able to top your book. :)
7.
Bernice says:
September 28th, 2009 at 2:49 pm edit

For the record, I claim any open extra spots for a tall brunette.
8.
Jean says:
September 28th, 2009 at 7:10 pm edit

wow. wow. wow.

(I work cheap.)
9.
GIa says:
September 28th, 2009 at 10:35 pm edit

Oh this is soooo wonderful, Michael! If the movie needs a dispatcher from the Cape, umm don’t forget my audition!! Am so excited for you! Hey I can say “I knew you when”…
10.
trish says:
September 30th, 2009 at 8:08 am edit

Sounds like a great project. I live in Smithfield, and would love to know the name of the restaurant you recommend, by the way.
11.
Chrysalis says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 am edit

Hope you won’t forget your little friends. ;)

Keep us all posted. We are all so excited for you.

Speak Up!

“WHAT?”

“What are you doing down there?”

“SPEAK UP!”

I leaned closer to her ear.

“I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING DOWN THERE?”

“”WATCHING THE TELEVISION!”

The was no TV in the room, just another elderly patient suffering from dementia. Ethel was on her back, a four inch laceration over her left eye, dried blood all over her face. Bruising had already begun, the sickly yellow color a sharp contrast to her milky white skin.

“We’re going to take you to the hospital,” I said as the guys got the backboard and corrar ready.

“I’M IN THE HOSPITAL!” she said.

“Well, we’re taking you to a different hospital then.”

“GOOD! THE FOOD HERE IS LOUSY!”

Without furthur ado we left the place. I looked at the interagency report on the way to the ER. She had been living at the same place for five years. Dementia is difficult for family and friends, I’m not sure how bad it is for the patients.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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11 Responses to “SPEAK UP!”

1.
peedee says:
September 24th, 2009 at 12:29 pm edit

I’ve decided it may not be so bad. A very fuzzy cluelessness if you will.

My grandfather was in an assisted living facility for about 2 years in the end. He used to call me anywhere from 6pm – 11pm and tell me they hadnt fed him and could I bring him a sandwich and some milk? I would bring him a sandwich/milk and on my way in, I’d ask the nurse if they forgot to feed him. She would smile and tell me, No, he just forgets that he ate.

I continued to bring him his sandwiches/milk for two years even tho I new he had been fed, all the way until he succumbed to his illnesses. Sometimes he’d forget that he even called me to ask for them. I wish he was still alive to call me for sandwiches. =(
2.
GIa says:
September 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm edit

Michael, off post but how do I follow you on this new blog? How do I get the updated posts? Help!!
3.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
September 24th, 2009 at 4:08 pm edit

Such a shame poor old thing, but for all the health problems she knew the food was no good where she was and was up for a change! Funny how when everything else is failing – taste and enjoyment of food is often the last to go. You do see life in all it’s glory Michael.
4.
Little Girl says:
September 24th, 2009 at 7:41 pm edit

When my Grandma by Love’s health started to fail while she was living in a nursing home, she use to call me up and ask if I could bring her a Teen Burger from A&W. She love the taste of the bacon, and said the food in the nursing home was horrible.
5.
Jessica says:
September 24th, 2009 at 7:47 pm edit

It looks like she’s still getting some enjoyment at bossing nurses around, even if she doesn’t remember why they’re so stand-offish…

http://www.booshy.wordpress.com
6.
Crusty says:
September 25th, 2009 at 11:18 am edit

Funny stuff…I like the succinctness of your posts…excellent for ADHD’ers. I’m going to link to your blog on my blog.
7.
admin says:
September 27th, 2009 at 11:48 am edit

It seems we all know somebody in similar circumstances. Whenever I bring patients with dementia to the hospital and have to triage them I feel like I’m betraying them somehow when I say out loud one of their medical conditions is “dementia.” It just sounds awful, I haven’t figured out a way to get around it, other than staying out of hearing distance.

Thanks, Crusty, I will return the favor as soon as I update this thing, ADHD runs rampant at Rescuing Providence headquarters unfortunately, it may take a litte time!

Thanks for stopping by Gia, I was getting worried. I think there is a widget I can get on here that allows followers, I just have to figure out how to do it, I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks again for the comments. I always look forward to reading them.

Rear Window

I’d been to the house a few times, saw the layout, visualized how we would get her out when she died. I hoped it would be peacefully, in her sleep. Then, the coroner could come, or the funeral home people and remove her from her home with some dignity. Sadly, that was not the case.

At 0930 we received the call; a woman not breathing. I knew the address was familiar, when we approached the mental images flooded into my mind. A wheelchair. An obese woman. A tracheotomy and colostomy bag. Diabetic supplies, needles, insulin bottles, blood glucose monitors, cotton balls, donuts. The doorway, narrow. The family, equally as large, equally in denial, empty pizza boxes, candy, everything that shouldn’t be but was.

The guys from Engine 11 had started CPR in the doorway, I struggled over the patient, checked the defibrillator pads, had them halt CPR, waited for the machine to do its job.

No Shock Advised.

Cpr continued, a backboard was brought into the apartment, she was rolled on her side and strapped down, chest compressions done to the best of our ability throughout, airway maintained, IV’s attempted. I had my new partner, Ryan get the intubation equipment prepared and the back of the truck ready as we carried her out. The stretcher groaned, but held.

Inside the truck, daughter standing outside, lost, crying, afraid. I closed the door, she stared at the truck, unable to move. The intubation attempt was unsuccessful, IV access not obtained. All we could do was CPR and rapid transport. I looked out the rear window, the solitary figure of a girl, the same size as her dying mother filled the opening at first, but shrank the further we travelled, until she disappeared.

We tried. All the way to the ER, six IV attempts failed. When there is no pump to fill the veins other than chest compressions done in back of a speeding truck the chance of a successful stick is minimal. Another ET attempt failed, this time my own. I visualized the vocal cords, had everything in place but the tube just wouldn’t advance.

“Keep doing cpr, try to keep the airway open and save whatever braincells she has in case they revive her.”

It was akin to surrender but there is little we can do without proper IV access or a tube to administer meds. The ride was over before I knew it, the patient delivered to the Medical team that had assembled. I gave the story to the attending, apologizing for the lack of IV or tube, he put a hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eye, looked at the patient and said we did a good job.

Somehow, they got a heartbeat. She was on a respirator when I walked out. I saw her daughter in the distance, in front of the family services office. For a moment I considered walking the long corridor and offering some comfort, but it just seemed too far.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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8 Responses to “Rear Window”

1.
Jean says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:51 pm edit

Why do people treat themselves so poorly, teach their children to do the same and, expect someone to make it all better in an emergency that they spent years bringing on themselves? Does a sensible answer to that question even exist?
2.
brendan says:
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm edit

Maybe you guys will get IO needles when the protocols update.

Don’t laugh, it could happen.
3.
brendan says:
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm edit

[/sarcasm]
4.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
September 24th, 2009 at 4:21 pm edit

So sad Michael but surely they must know which way they are decending with never caring to at least try, to watch diet etc – it seems almost a death wish for some – oh dear that does sound harsh – I don’t mean it to, but seems such a waste of this life we have been given.
5.
The EMT Spot » The September EMS Roundup says:
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:24 am edit

[...] Rescuing Providence aptly relates the feeling we all get when the call just goes wrong in Rear Window and Medic999 gives props to a local facility for their remarkable compassion in the post [...]

Taxi 1

Anybody who has worked for more than a few years in EMS is well aware of the socialist tendancy of our services. As the debate in Washington rages on, the left supporting healthcare reform, the right satisfied with the status quo, we continue to provide “free” transportation for marginally ill people to the nations emergency rooms.

I often wonder how things have gotten so out of control. People call 911 for a ride to the ER while their family waits, driveway full of cars, then follow us to the hospital. Once we arrive at their home, more often than not, the patient informs us of his hospital of choice, then is surprised and indignant when I inform him or her I’ll gladly take them to the closest hospital to treat their emergency, if they need to get to the hospital of choice they will have to arrange other transportation.

A lot of people find this disturbing. “Just do your job,” I’ve heard more than once.

My job, I think, is to respond to emergencies, and treat and transport seriously ill people to the appropriate medical facility. It is not, at least for the time being, a taxi service.

What is next? A three digit phone call for free rides to the grocery store because a person is hungry?

In case you are considering this post more grumbling by a disgruntled employee, consider this litany of nonsence from the weekend:

Difficulty Swallowing (no allergic reaction)

Ten Year Old “out of control”

Emotional twenty-four year old male whose broke up with his boyfriend

Twenty-two year old female with a tooth infection

Seventy year old who needs medication refilled

Intoxicated male in bed at home seeking detox

Blood pressure needs to be “checked.”

MVA in parking lot, zero damage, barely moving vehicles, three occupants boarded and collared, transported to the ER

Two year old female with a fever 101.

The patent’s insurance company, or in most cases here, the government is billed anywhere from $350.00 to more than a thousand depending on the length of the ride and treatment.

There has to be a better way.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 21st, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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13 Responses to “Taxi 1”

1.
Ted says:
September 21st, 2009 at 2:19 pm edit

I call it “The Show.”

Sometimes it seems like a never-ending cycle.

Common sense would tell you that “difficulty ambulating,” while inconvenient, is rarely a medical emergency, and yet how often do we send an ambulance, police car and fire engine careening across our service areas with flashing lights and blaring sirens, putting literally dozens of lives at risk in the process, for someone who simply needs a visit from a visiting RN and a maybe a referral to a long-term care facility by a social worker?

When I first went to work for a local urban 911 service, I would say that the ratio of crap calls to true emergencies was like 10-to-1.

When I quit last month, almost 8 years later, I would conservatively put that same ratio at more like 40-to-1.

We need some kind of a diversion program, like PAs or NPs in minivans making house calls, so that the elderly patients who are calling 911 because they can’t cope with independent living no longer overwhelm the system.

And more than anything else, we need the authority to utter a single word to the frequent fliers and system abusers we all know too well: “NO.”
2.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
September 21st, 2009 at 4:18 pm edit

Gosh! it must be so difficult at times to keep your patience…don’t know how you do it! You must be seething most of the time, not easy at all.
btw Your new Blog is looking really very nice, just can’t manage to part with my older one yet!
3.
the Happy Medic says:
September 21st, 2009 at 4:23 pm edit

Lt,
EMS 2.0 has a trigger to allow ambulance crews to refuse emergency transport to persons not experiencing an emergency, instead gaining access to the rest of the healthcare system. Complicated under both the current and proposed systems, but possible.

Paramedics are more than qualified to assess and refuse treatment, let’s let them.
4.
brendan says:
September 21st, 2009 at 7:10 pm edit

ObamaCare will it all better, right?

Right?
5.
Joseph Schmoe says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm edit

We have created this nightmare, I am not sure we can fix it. With the fire service latching on to EMS as a way to justify staffing levels, I am not sure EMS 2.0 will be embraced by many all-risk providers.

I view it as more of a cultural issue. We are becoming a society where there are more “takers” than “givers”. Indoctrina…. I mean education may have to suffice, that and our willingness to accept the liability of saying no.
6.
Lucian says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm edit

Lt,
This is something we all see…maybe you see it more working in a city (you run a much higher volume of calls than I do in my rural system) but the problem is everywhere. For me, the problem is more that people dont have primary care doctors to go see when they have a runny nose (or better, going to see their PCP for preventative medicine and the like), so the people go to the ER. The majority of people I pick up who use the ER as their primary care think that calling an ambulance will get them seen in the ER faster than going by car…in the words of Lee Corso…NOT so fast my friend!

It gets so bad that sometimes I realize that I havent used my skills in months at a time…if I do ALS its typically EKG/IV on a stable patient…maybe some nebs here and a CP protocol there, but I competely agree with Ted above…I’d put our system’s Non-emergency to Emergency call ratio at about 30-40:1. If only we had paramedic based refusals…
7.
michael says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm edit

It appears I’m not alone in my frustration! 40:1, that is just ridiculous. Sadly true.
Thanks for the commentary, much appreciated.
8.
totwtytr says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm edit

Sorry, Happy Medic, the science doesn’t support your conclusion. In study after study, paramedics prove to be poor at deciding who should go to the ER and who can wait.

Prehospital Emergency Care 2009, Volume 13, Issue 4 pages 516 – 527

Dallas FD has such a program, and they pay out a lot of money each year for bad decision making.

The way to fix this problem is to use financial incentives for people to seek alternatives to the Emergency Department, and thus EMS. Since for most welfare recipients EDs and EMS are free, they find it easier to use them than go to primary care clinics. Which have inconvenient things like waiting times.

The primary care problem exists in large part because reimbursement rates for PCPs is so low. As a result there are fewer of them than in other specialties, and many of them refuse to see Medicaid or Medicare patients.

Health care reform will make this worse.

Better

Nestled between free rides to the hospital for routine medical care an occasional gem slips through.

“My heart is racing.”

I put her on the monitor. 180. Racing indeed. We started an IV, put her on oxygen, instructed her to “bear down.” Nothing worked. I got 6 mg. of Adenosine ready, John filled a 20 ml syringe with normal saline.

“You’re going to feel strange,” I said to her. She nodded her head. I attatched the medication to the IV line, looked at John, pinched the line and pushed. John followed immediately with the flush.

Her rhythm slowed, down to 140 but shot back up.

“We’re going to try that again,”

She closed her eyes and waited. We repeated the procedure. I waited for the flat line but it never appeared, just a slow, steady sinus rhythm. It leveled off at 100.

“How do you feel?”

“Better.”

Making people feel better. That is what it’s all about.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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14 Responses to “Better”

1.
peedee says:
September 15th, 2009 at 4:13 pm edit

ugh. I’ve been on the delivering and recieving end of Adenosine. Not fun recieving but cool as all get out delivering. I had a couple of Ablations done, no more tachy arrythmias. =)
2.
Medic 7 says:
September 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pm edit

Amen. I just recently saw my first chemical cardioversion. Pretty amazing to watch, both on the monitor, and on the patient’s face.
3.
michael says:
September 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm edit

Peedee, me too! Thank god for ablation, those pesky svt runs were becoming annoying!
4.
brendan says:
September 15th, 2009 at 6:00 pm edit

I’ve heard giving a patient a syringe and telling them to blow the plunger out works well, but haven’t had the chance to try it yet.
5.
peedee says:
September 15th, 2009 at 9:50 pm edit

lol yeah Micheal, what really sucked was when the adenosine didnt work….as soon as I saw the valium come out I knew what was next.

Cardioversion REALLY sucks. lol
6.
admin says:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:04 pm edit

Ouch! I have never had the experience, giving or recieving and hope to never have to!
7.
Medic61 says:
September 16th, 2009 at 7:57 pm edit

That’s awesome! I love the feeling of making people better :)

Don’t know how I missed that you had moved to wordpress, but I’m glad I’ve found you now! Congrats on the new blog, it looks great!!
8.
michael says:
September 16th, 2009 at 8:15 pm edit

Great to hear from you, Sam! I’ll be linking to your site later, good to have you back.
9.
Medic999 says:
September 17th, 2009 at 4:20 pm edit

I wish we had adenosine over in the UK. All I can rely on is valsalva manouvre, carotid sinus massage and my mate driving fast!!

Where's Home

It’s a long ride, even at full speed, in the middle of the night, lights and sirens blaring through the empty streets. A call for an infant not breathing is a nightmare. Ghosts of prior fatalities, the littlest ones, climb on board and take the ride with us, their blue faces and eerily cold, stiff bodies right there in the front of the cab, keeping us company. Protocols, procedures and a plan how best to deal with distraught parents make room for the memories as the destination nears.

The fire company arrives first, their own ghosts following them to the third floor. They are rushing, one after the other, running up the steps toward their patient. The rescue stops in front of the house, we get out and follow.

I’m sorry if we weren’t all laughter and smiles when we saw your beautiful daughter sitting on your lap, breathing normally, perhaps a little sniffle, fully dressed and waiting for a ride to the ER for free medication. Sorry if we disturbed your sense of entitlement when the fire guys voiced their displeasure at your inability to communicate. Sorry that learning to speak the language of your new country is low on your list of priorities.

Next time get your story strait before setting things in motion. or find somebody who can.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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7 Responses to “False Alarm”

1.
hilinda says:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:57 am edit

I have a lot of sympathy and understanding for someone living in a country whose language they don’t speak, or don’t speak well. I was there once. Learning a new language is challenging, and living in a different country, a different culture, can be frightening and overwhelming.

But.

As a parent, especially if I had a very young child, knowing whatever I needed to know to be able to care for them, especially in an emergency, would be high on my priority list. It would BE my priority list.

I don’t think this situation was just a language problem, though. I think an awful lot of people out there have no understanding at all of emergency services, or what they are asking of people… or they don’t care. Hard to know, sometimes.

I prefer to believe that it is more often misunderstanding than abuse, but it gets… wearing.

I’m sure you all were glad the baby was okay. Very glad. But that doesn’t make all the stress and adrenalin just go away, does it?
2.
40lizard says:
September 15th, 2009 at 2:58 pm edit

glad the baby was ok but I am not sure if I could’ve held my restraint-even if it turned out like this call- I just don’t know.
3.
Innismir says:
September 16th, 2009 at 10:23 am edit

Next time get your story strait before setting things in motion. or find somebody who can.

Yup, wife had an Uncle who’s wife did that while he was having trouble breathing. Called around to find someone who spoke better English then she did. Took her a few minutes.

He died on the way to the hospital.

Jackass.
4.
admin says:
September 16th, 2009 at 12:53 pm edit

That is unfortunate, Innismur. I could tell you about the hundreds of fatalities that occur involving accidents while responding to “emergencies” each year but I don’t think you would understand.
5.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
September 17th, 2009 at 5:19 pm edit

Absolutely no excuses for parents ( unless not the brightest knife in the draw)
When I first lived in the Middle-East in an area where only a few spoke English, the first words I ever learnt in Arabic, were “Ana fee hager ela Tabeeb” – “I am in need of a Doctor”. They in fact served me well in a dire emergency, it is our duty, if we are hopeful to make a life in new country, to at least learn the basics. Keep Safe.
6.
Innismir says:
September 18th, 2009 at 9:34 am edit

@Admin:

Look, I understand where you’re coming from. I agree that it’s just as “unfortunate” about public safety fatalities as it is with my wife’s uncle.

I also completely agree that if they made a better effort to learn English, he had a good chance of being alive today.

However, you can’t make blanket statements about non-english speaking people the same way that I couldn’t say that “Ambulance drivers would get into a lot less accidents if they learned how to drive then rely on their lights and sirens” or some other nonsense.
7.
michael says:
September 19th, 2009 at 10:24 am edit

Innismur, if you have time read some more of the blog. I am and have been an advocate for non-english speaking residents, legal or not. A blog is a continuous narrative, not one blanket statement.

Where's Home?

They looked alike, maybe father and son, maybe brothers, I couldn’t tell. Turns out they weren’t related, just good friends. Veterans of the Iraq war. The older guy had called us to take care of his friend, a thirty-year old guy suffering from PTSD.

They stood as we approached, not sure what the future held. I opened the passenger door and walked toward them, also unsure what to expect. Two guys sitting on the steps of an old building in Roger Williams Park at three o’clock on a Sunday afternoon could need a number of things, usually detox.

“Did you guys call 911?”

The younger of the two looked down. He had been crying. His friend explained.

“I’ve been talking to him all day but he can’t stop crying. I think he wants to kill himself.”

The young guy looked miserable. I helped him into the rescue, his friend walked away without saying goodbye.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

He handed me his VA card.

“I can’t keep it together. Nothing works. I can’t keep a job, I haven’t seen my daughter, I just want to go home.”

“Where is home?”

“North Carolina.”

He showed me his shoulder, the scars from small arms fire recently healed. They put the body back together, the mind is slow to follow. During the ten minute ride to the VA I learned a lot about him, sometimes strangers have a way of communicating that is more intimate than the closest of friends. It’s safer talking to people you don’t know and probably will never see again.

He did most of the talking, he needed somebody to listen. His story was all too familiar. Once discharged from active service the world outside the military isn’t always the kindest place. The Northeast isn’t always the kindest place. Iraq definitely wasn’t the kindest place.

I told him it’s okay to get on with his life. His emotional wounds would never fully heal, but a good life was possible in spite of what he had survived. Medication, therapy and communicating would help, and there is nothing wrong with any of those things, just tools, or in his view weapons to be used against the potentially deadly enemy he faced.

I’m not sure if he heard me, or remembered anything I said, but I felt a lot better knowing I was able to make our short time together tolerable for him, at least for a little while.

I walked with him into the VA. Without looking up from her computer screen the secretary asked, “Last four.”

He told her. She put the last four numbers of his social security number into the system and told him to take a seat.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 14th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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7 Responses to “Where’s Home?”

1.
peedee says:
September 14th, 2009 at 10:03 am edit

Poor kid. I can only hope he got the help he needed. So sad.
2.
Ryan says:
September 14th, 2009 at 6:22 pm edit

God bless our military, fire, police and EMTs for all that they give (mind, body and soul) for our great country. That we may reap the benifits of freedom, many not even knowing what it took to get it, or what it takes to keep it.
3.
JoeEMT799 says:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:35 am edit

Way to many of these. Nobody ever think about this end of war. In fact they were cutting the budget of the veterans while they were over there. The grunts get dropped to the bottom. Good Luck my friend and hopefully you will find the real help you need.
4.
Catherine says:
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm edit

I don’t know if you religiously follow Medic999, but I wrote a guest post for him a few months back about being a psych transport and how wonderful the paramedics were. It’s so refreshing to read accounts from the medics who really care, and don’t just roll their eyes at psych cases. I thank you, and I’m sure that vet would too if he knew how to contact you.

Cramps

“Rescue 1, respond to the soccer field for a twenty-one year old male laying in a silver van complaining of leg cramps.”

“Leg cramps?” I said to myself.

“Laying in a van?” I said to myself.

“Rescue 1 responding,” I said into the radio.

Our patient was indeed laying on the back seat of the college’s athletic transport van, motor idling, waiting for the “paramedics” to administer an IV and fluids to alleviate the cramping legs.

“He needs an IV right away,” said the athletic director, a tiny woman who knelt on the floor of the van massaging the players legs.

“He’s already getting what he needs.” I couldn’t help myself.

“He played 110 minutes, he’s dehydrated,” she said, rubbing his calves.

“I’ve worked 110 hours, I’m dehydrated,” again, I couldn’t help myself.

Ryan brought the stretcher over to the side door of the van, the player couldn’t move. We got a backboard to make our lives easier and got him into the rescue.

“We’re taking him to the hospital,” I told the trainer.

“He just needs IV fluids, can’t you just do it here?”

People honestly believe that the City of Providence has unlimited resources, can dispatch an advanced life support rescue to a soccer field to administer IV fluids to a soccer player while true emergencies are tended to by all the other rescues that are sitting around waiting for something to do. As I tended to our patient, the people at Fire Alarm were on the phone trying to find rescues from neighboring communities to answer the calls that keep on coming.

We started an IV and headed toward the ER. The trainer came with us, followed by the van. They were not happy with our response. Neither was I.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 13th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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16 Responses to “Cramps”

1.
Ryan says:
September 13th, 2009 at 11:27 am edit

If the patient had done just a little pre-planning and properly hydrated and rested during this game, since this same situation had occured in the past, it could have been completely avoided. I have become more and more surprised by the citizen’s dependance on the Fire and EMS systems, not for legitimate purposes and what it was created for, but rather for the mundane problems that could easily be avoided by common sense. Then again, that is not that common anymore, is it?
2.
40lizard says:
September 13th, 2009 at 2:18 pm edit

the key words here are “common sense” which the world is unfortunately lacking to the extreme degree! Its a sad day indeed!
3.
totwtytr says:
September 13th, 2009 at 5:39 pm edit

The trainer wasn’t doing her job, part of which is to prevent this sort of thing. As is so often the case when someone f**** up, they expect EMS, the FD, or the PD to make it all better.

I wouldn’t have let the trainer come with us, but that’s me.

Wait until they get the bill. Providence DOES bill, right?
4.
admin says:
September 13th, 2009 at 6:15 pm edit

“Wait until they get the bill. Providence DOES bill, right?”

Normally I don’t concern myself with the billing aspect of the job. All revenue generated by the EMS division goes directly into the general fund of the City of Providence and disapears into the abyss. If ten percent of the money we generate were redirected back to the EMS division things here would improve drastically. Our trucks are old, equipment pathetic, no computers, no c-pap, just got 12 leads last year-from a federal grant…I could go on but it is a familiar story.

I did a complete workup on this patient knowing the bill would be huge.
5.
the Happy Medic says:
September 13th, 2009 at 11:24 pm edit

Was he unable to keep down PO fluids? I can drink water faster than you can put it in, even with a 14g, so the Trainer clearly has no understanding of what she’s doing. I would have done the same thing Lt. Then remind the “Director” we are not her taxi and IV service.
6.
brendan says:
September 13th, 2009 at 11:30 pm edit

If this kid had to play 110 minutes, either they need a bigger bench or the team sucks. Possibly both.

“If the patient had done just a little pre-planning and properly hydrated and rested during this game, since this same situation had occured in the past, it could have been completely avoided.”

Nobody ever called 911 because they did something smart….
7.
totwtytr says:
September 15th, 2009 at 6:31 am edit

Brendan said,

“Nobody ever called 911 because they did something smart…”

That is sooooooo stolen.
8.
brendan says:
September 15th, 2009 at 11:31 pm edit

LOL I never said I came up with it. ;-)
9.
Walt Trachim says:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:24 am edit

No – I did! :-)

Seriously – isn’t doing what Rescue 1 did for this guy the trainer’s job? It’s obvious that what you all have said is correct about her: she doesn’t know her a** from a hole in the ground about her job. Therefore, she shouldn’t be doing it.

And I hope at the very least the bill gets someone’s attention. Whether or not it’s paid is definitely fodder for another day.
10.
RapidResponseDoc says:
September 16th, 2009 at 8:39 am edit

Hey, here’s an idea: he’s in pain, leg hurting, needs immobilisation on a backboard. Firstly, where I am it’s always skin-to-board, so that’s his clothes cut off and out the way. Secondly, were you sure he didn’t have a c-spine injury? Surely the top of the van needed removal, just to be safe??? That might have stopped any further idiotic calls….
11.
michael says:
September 16th, 2009 at 8:14 pm edit

Doc, I like your style! Welcome aboard.

And,,,Action!

rp

I’m happy and proud to announce I’ve established a working relationship with Eric Latek, Producer and Director at Phantazma Pictures, www.phantazmapictures.com.

Eric is an award winning filmmaker based in Rhode Island. He also comes from a family of firefighters. I had the priveledge of working for his father, EMS Chief Henry Latek for years before he retired.

eric

http://images.google.com/imgres?

After working for over a year on a screenplay based on my experiences on Rescue 1 I started the long process of marketing the work. I had met Eric a few years ago when he interviewed me for his documentary, Third State, http://phantazmapictures.com/wordpressmu/?page_id=6 which focuses on PTSD in emergency workers. I was immediately drawn to Eric’s vision of how best to portray the work we do, then in documentary form, now as a feature film. We talked for hours, sitting on a bank of the Providence River, his understanding of the work we do and the emotional toll it takes made me believe that whatever project he tackled would capture the true essence of the job; family, friendship and integrity.

We are now doing some script revision in preperation for pre-production. I’m looking forward to getting things rolling. Keep an eye on the “In Development” page for updates. I’ve learned that filmmaking is a meticulous process, at times painstakingly slow moving. I’ll keep you posted on any developments!

Tags: movie

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 12th, 2009 and is filed under movie.

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9 Responses to “and…Action!”

1.
granny grabbin says:
September 12th, 2009 at 11:16 am edit

I can’t wait. Good luck.
2.
Teri says:
September 12th, 2009 at 11:46 am edit

Oh Michael, congrats!! I wait with baited breath!!
3.
hilinda says:
September 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm edit

Looking forward to seeing it!
4.
Medic999 says:
September 17th, 2009 at 4:22 pm edit

Fantastic news mate!

Good luck with it all, Im looking forward to seeing the end result already!!!
5.
Medic61 says:
September 18th, 2009 at 9:19 pm edit

Oh my gosh, this is awesome! Please keep us updated; I can’t wait to hear more!
6.
glckfwkwpz says:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:38 pm edit

ZkVFnD axrbzseoqhst, [url=http://pjyjfbcqutpb.com/]pjyjfbcqutpb[/url], [link=http://rqvwzyxsrlum.com/]rqvwzyxsrlum[/link], http://gyztojdgixas.com/
7.
Susie Hemingway Moursi says:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:06 am edit

Now,if you need a tall blonde lady with an English accent, for an extra! lol.
Seriously this is fantastic, wishing you loads of luck Michael with this project.

9-11-09

septemberflag

The plan was to go to the beach and enjoy one of the last brilliant days of summer. Instead, we sat in front of the TV, shaking our heads when we could move them, calling friends and family and just feeling numb. An eerie silence smothered my neighborhood as the day progressed, the crystal clear air and eighty degree tempature seeming to mock the dismal mood that permeated my surroundings. The state airport half a mile away might as well have been a desert, nothing stirred, no low hum of planes taxiing, no roar of jet engines whining before the roar of takeoff, no noise, no movement, nothing but the sound of bugs and birds, and the occasional car as it passed on the main road, half a mile away.

When I could, I tore myself away from the television screen, the first tower had fallen, followed by the second some time later. The time between is lost to me, my memories flash them collapsing in quick succession.

“We just lost hundreds of firefighters,” I said to my wife as we watched the tragedy unfold.

“Surely they weren’t still inside,” she replied, horror and emotion choking the words.

“They were.”

Some things you just know.

I stood in the doorway of my garage, listening to the silence, hoping for the roar of a plane taking off, an F-16, A B-52, A Blackhawk…anything as long as it were headed over there, where, I had no idea but felt certain Washington knew, but the same deafening silence filled the quiet streets. I crossed my arms, shook my head and stood there. unable to move.

In the corner, leaning against a bunch of hockey sticks and a broom, was my salvation. I walkled closer, stood there for a moment, really seeing it for the first time, even though I put it out every Forth of July, Memorial and Veterans day and some others if I remembered. I was only paralysed for a moment, then took action. It was a tiny bit of energy expelled on my part, a few steps, grasping the pole, unfurling the flag, putting it into the porcelain holder I had screwed into my garage years before and stepping back. Almost magically a breeze, one of the very few that blew that day pushed past my home, opening the flag in it’s full glory, waving, then resting. That small act made me feel a lot better about things and I silently thanked those who have fought and died so that I had the opportunity to perform my private ceremony, thus mourning the lost and re-kindling my patriotic spirit that had lay dormant for years.

Later that day, I left for work, still stunned and shell shocked, my view of the world changed forever. I said goodbye to Cheryl, lingering a little longer than usual, both of us realizing how precious our lives really are. In a daze I drove the usual route, past the homes, through Pawtuxet Village, into Cranston eventually arriving in Providence.

Of all the things about that day I will “Never Forget,” the hundreds of American Flags that magically appeared along my route remain the most vivid. On doorways, utility poles, storefronts, from car windows, everywhere I could see the red white and blue flew proudly.

The best part of it all is nobody told us to do it, it hadn’t become fashionable yet, it just was. There were a lot of private ceremonies going on that day, I didn’t know it but I was never alone when I stood in my garage and planted the flag proudly on my home.

I will “Never Forget” those that perished that day, especially the firefighters, EMT’s and police officers that answered the call for help.

And as my ride to work on September 11th, 2001 showed me, neither will anybody else.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 11th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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12 Responses to “9-11-09”

1.
Teri says:
September 11th, 2009 at 4:58 am edit

Michael, Nice post, thanks!
I have been seing those words “Never Forget alot again today but I think they have become hollow to most. The comraderie, the patriotism, the common curtosy that was rampant for months after 9/11, has waned considerably as people have lost faith once again in their government and fellow men and women. It seems to me the ones who truley remember are the Firefighters, the Police, the emergency crews that would have to be there if this ever happened agian, they remember every day and have changed the way they live day to day! I understand that one’s life and circumstances once again take front seat, but for a country to become complacent again is hard to fathom! Most people tend to forget the service men and women still fighting and losing their lives from this date. I have an adopted soldier who looks forward to the weekely packages of snacks I send and the emails from home, even if I am a stranger to him and his 4 platoon men! Ahh a bittersweet day at best! Take great care out there!
Teri
2.
peedee says:
September 11th, 2009 at 8:28 am edit

I have this thing, actually my whole family has this thing. Dont mess with us/ours. If someone hurt my sisters or me growing up my brothers were there to pound the offender into the ground. I would protect my little sister to the death. My kid and my parents included. Its just the way it is. After 9/11 occured I had the same feeling about my country. I wanted to pound whoever had hurt us into the ground. I was angry.

That day eight years ago I watched the events unfold with all my coworkers on a little 10 inch tv screen at work. Lauren and I lived in Tampa at the time on the 3rd floor of an apartment building. As I pulled in, I looked up at my apartment and there hanging over our banister was our old flag. Lauren had put it out. She was in 7th grade at the time and she fully understood what had occured. And she was angry. She wanted to pound whoever had done this to her country into the ground. If she could have enlisted in the military then, she would have.

I’ll never forget. I’m pretty sure my kid wont either.
3.
40lizard says:
September 11th, 2009 at 10:28 am edit

None of us ever will forget! for me our world changed in the exact 4 and 1/2 minutes it took me to walk from the car to the office- I was ready to rumble, go whatever. By the time I got home hubby already had our flags out. They stayed out until they had to be replaced.
4.
Ckemtp – Life Under the Lights says:
September 11th, 2009 at 5:59 pm edit

Great post LT. We as Americans do remember. We Do stand together. We Do bleed, breathe, and stand as one. No matter what people might tell us.

Always Remember, Never forget
5.
Epijunky says:
September 11th, 2009 at 11:29 pm edit

I can’t say it any better.

My flag went up that day. Along with countless neighbors. Ckemtp said it better. Always remember, never forget.
6.
Susie Hemingway says:
September 14th, 2009 at 4:40 pm edit

None of us will ever forget that devastating day or the brave men who gave their lives trying to help others. This year, as most years since then, we spent our day quietly, recalling the saddest day in living memory. For me it unfolded like a horror film on 9.11. We watched it all with disbelief but it did not end like a horror film it just got worse!!! I will think of your flag flying on that day, so when the rememberance date comes round again, that will cheer me some…
7.
Chrysalis says:
October 1st, 2009 at 4:48 am edit

For sure we will never forget! Especially those that are still suffering from it. I have a friend that helped in all that mess, and now he is having lung issues so bad, he’s unable to work as a paramedic at this writing.
He’s a young man, too. Sentenced to a lifetime of health issues that others of us can take for granted, albeit unintentionally.

Connected

Connected

The old lady on the stretcher slipped in and out of consciousness as we rode toward the hospital. Her daughter leaned over from the bench seat, stroking her mother’s forhead and holding her hand. I felt like an intruder, sitting behind them in the Captain’s seat, filling out the report but they didn’t seem to mind my presence, their bond stronger than anything I ever felt.

The lady in the stretcher was nearing the end of her life, eighty-one years old and not in the best of health. This would be her third trip to the hospital this month, she has been passing out and falling for no reason. Her daughter looked intently into her mothers eyes as we rode. Letting a parent go is never easy, my own mother suffered a major stroke at age fifty-six and lingered for another nine years in a nursing home, never regaining her sense of self.

I stopped writing and watched the two interact. It occurred to me that the twenty-five or so years that were stolen from my mother and me could have been time to heal old wounds, get to know each other and enter into a more adult relationship. I envied the opportunity these two had but was happy for them as well.

An hour earlier I took another elderly person from his home, also accompanied by a daughter. They too had that special bond. She helped him walk to the rescue; he insisted even though his weakend legs barely held him up. The daughter was able to take care of the father now, and he let her, grateful for the assistance.

My own father died when I was twenty-eight. I had barely grown up, tried to be there for him during his year long battle with cancer, and did the best I could, but I now know that at twenty-eight the best I could do wasn’t nearly as good as I could do now that I’ve lived and experienced life for twenty more years. Father and daughter rode together in my truck, comfortable in each other’s presence as I sat alone behind them.

Funny what runs through your mind when you least expect it. Although fall is my favorite time of year the evidence of our mortality must sink in to my subconscious mind as flowers die, leaves get tired and days get shorter. It isn’t a bad thing, it actually makes me appreciate the time I have here and now and puts a little urguncy in the way I handle my relationships with the people who mean the world to me.

Zack just called, somebody got murdered in front of Crossroads. Nothing he could do this time, just declare the man dead and move on to the next one. The city had been quiet for an hour or two, then something happened. I swear a pulse or something unseen permeates the atmosphere at times and drives people to do insane things. As Zack leaned over a man who had his head split open with a machete’ I sat in the back of Rescue 1 on the way to Miriam with a man who had just tried to kill himself with a knife and Theresa and John at Rescue 5 treated another suicidal knife weilding patient.

Six hours to go. Except for a few hours I’ve been here since Friday, dozens of calls, a few emergencies, little sleep.

As always, thanks for reading, see you in a couple of days.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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3 Responses to “Connected”

1.
hilinda says:
September 8th, 2009 at 4:45 pm edit

Take care.
It’s a strange world we have- but at least we have it. For now.
2.
Chrysalis says:
September 10th, 2009 at 6:40 am edit

It makes you wonder at times. The undercurrent that runs and intersects and then divides us all. Various lives being lived out in various ways.

Fall is my favorite time of year too. I just wish it lasted as long as winter does. All the colors are just breath taking.
3.
RapidResponseDoc says:
September 16th, 2009 at 8:47 am edit

Excellent writing. I often think of my mother, battling her last fight against cancer, 10 years ago, especially when I see another with a similar story. It’s times like these that keep us human, stop us being automatons. Keep it up, great blog

Humbled

“She’s out of control.”

Five feet tall, one hundred pounds soaking wet, beautiful and twenty-five, how bad could it be? She had tried to go to a popular nightclub in the Silver Lake section of Providence. Showed her money, hugged the bouncer and staggered in the doorway. They wouldn’t let her in. She threw her cell phone and thirty bucks at the bouncer, started screaming. Security got involved, couldn’t control her and called for police and rescue. We arrived before the cops. She was all over the security guard at this time, hugging him, all luvvy duvvy.

“She’s all yours,” he said.

“I’ll handle this,” I said to Ben, my partner for the night. “I speak the language of love.”

I figured my Sesame Street Spanish, boyish good looks and uniform would be all I needed to tame this wild Spanish dynamo. The Spanish speaking Security Guard looked doubtful, Ben shrugged and stood to the side.

“What are they saying, anyway?” I asked Ben, who is fluent in Spanish.

“He’s telling her she’s too drunk to enter, she says she wants to party, he says she can party tomorrow, she wants to stay.

“I’m all over this.”

“Ola, mami,” I said, big smile on my face. “Estas Buena mama sota!”

I think I said hello, lady, you look very beautiful. She looked me in the eye, got all silent for a moment, broke free from the security guard and opened a full assault of the boyshly charming Spanish speaking idiot who stood in front of her. Fortunately, my cat-like reflexes are still intact, I sidestepped a few punches, dodged the spit, stepped away from the kicks and ran away.

“Stupid ugly American!” she shouted as Ben grabbed her and kept her away from me.

“I thought you didn’t speak English,” I said, keeping my distance.

“Want me to take over?” asked Ben.

Within a minute he had her on the stretcher, calm as can be and cooperating. She was getting very friendly, I called for assistance. It’s never a good idea to transport a single intoxicated aggressive female alone in the back of a rescue.

Engine 6 arrived, Ed got in back with the wildwoman and Ben, and I drove. It’s been a while since I had been behind the wheel, and I wasn’t too familiar with Rescue 2’s district. Being a cagey veteran I radioed our mileage before leaving the scene, no sense leaving anything to chance.

“Rescue 2 to fire alarm, transporting an intoxicated female to Rhode Island Hospital, mileage 216112.

“Message recieved rescue 2, to Rhode Island.”

I left the scene, took what I thought to be a shortcut through the neighborhood and promptly got lost in the maze. Two miles later I reappeared on the main road, found the highway and delivered our prize to the ER.

I transmitted our ending mileage to fire alarm and hid in the front while the guys finished the job.

If nothing else, things like this keep me humble!

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 6th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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7 Responses to “Humbled”

1.
totwtytr says:
September 6th, 2009 at 10:30 pm edit

Always let the cops get to bars first because there’s a slight chance that they might actually arrest the drunk assaultive person and not decide she has something that needs to be treated at a hospital. Slight.
2.
the Happy Medic says:
September 7th, 2009 at 12:28 am edit

You left out the part where it was an emergency. I think she’s moved my way, and with her friends.
3.
Teri says:
September 7th, 2009 at 7:22 am edit

Wow yeah, she needed a cell not a stretcher! I don’t understand why you were called? We always go first and if needed we call rescue from the scene!! Or the FD stages while we assess and go from there! As for directions, if it werent for IMC maps, I would be sending my guys every which way but the right way!! Have a safe Labor Day !!
4.
Chrys says:
September 8th, 2009 at 8:29 am edit

Think you’d better brush up on your Spanish, Michael. It wasn’t something you’d want to say to a lady. I barely remember any Spanish. I never used it so I’ve lost much recall of it. I’d say you got her attention though. Yikes.

Black Clouds

We drove past the building where a man jumped to his death yesterday. I looked at the place, counted the floors and focused on the window I thought to be the one he jumped out of. I played it over in my mind, just as Zack told the story to me yesterday, minutes after he brought the patient, still breathing then, into the trauma room.

“We got there first,” Zack explained, “the people in the lobby told me his wife had him but couldn’t hold on much longer.”

“Where were the cops?” I asked.

“Not there yet, I went alone. As soon as I opened the door to the apartment he went nuts, started throwing things at me, bottles, chairs anything he could get his hands on.”

“What did you do?”

“I had to back out. He wasn’t attacking his wife, but I set him off. The window was open, I didn’t think he would jump…”

The incident was twenty minutes old at this time. Not enough time to sort things out, the emotions too raw. Zack runs Rescue 4, located downtown on the same group as me. We’ve worked together for nearly eight years now. They call people like me and Zack Black Clouds. We just seem to get a lot of the horrible calls.

“He could have taken you with him,” I said, bringing Zack back.

“I could have stopped him.”

And so it goes, another piece taken from the armor of one of the best rescue guys in Providence.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 5th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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6 Responses to “Black Clouds”

1.
Teri says:
September 6th, 2009 at 6:23 am edit

How does one stay sane after this? How do you go on day after day with the weight of these ghosts parading behind you? I’d like to say, hero, thank you while you are here, not after you have left, so everyday, hear my thanks to you and men and women like you! I am humbled in your presence!
2.
40lizard says:
September 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am edit

Please tell Zack its not his fault- from what you’ve described it would not have mattered which or who in EMS walked through that door! The outcome would’ve been the same in all reality- he tried to help and that’s what matters! I know this a pretty idealized response but doesn’t begin to convey what I am trying to say! And to those who call you two Black Clouds- I’d tell them I rebuke that curse! You’re not!
3.
admin says:
September 6th, 2009 at 5:41 pm edit

Thank you Teri, I’m going to pass this on to Zack. (no need to be humbled, believe me we are actually simpletons doing the best we can.)

40 Lizard, thanks for the comments, Zack will be fine, he’s got some things to sort through but he’ll come out okay. We’re both working most of the weekend, he’s be too tired to worry!
4.
Teri says:
September 7th, 2009 at 4:34 am edit

Michael, being a simpleton doing the best you can actually is a requirement for hero status, i.e. Clark Kent=Superman, etc!! lol happy day to you!

Labor Day 2009

Anti-labor sentiment is on the rise, especially toward those in municipal unions. Figured I would dust this off in honor of labor day:

From Anchor Rising, February 3, 2008

“I grew up in a union household. My father belonged to the IBEW until he was promoted and took a job in management, taking with him the morality and ethics of his union membership. I remember my uncle, Bill, proudly wearing his Teamsters cap. Uncle Ron was a Warwick cop. Brian was president of his union at Rhode Island College. We would spend summer days at their homes, surrounded by family, the American flag always flying, either on a flagpole or attached to the house, the red, white, and blue flew proudly.

Modest homes meticulously kept, hard work, and an ability to enjoy the fruits of their labor and share them with friends and family was all they wanted. Uncle Bill was a WWII vet, my father a Navy signal man during the Korean War. Brian served in the Air Force during the Viet Nam War. They lived, and live, good, honest lives, are fiercely proud of their country, and fought for the freedoms we now enjoy. Union members. Not everybody in my family, but those I remember most.

My brother, Bob, just returned from Iraq. 500 days. Another union man. Myself, a firefighter in Providence. Union. We are living in the shadow of our uncles and father, and it is my belief we have made them proud.

Some of our union leaders have let us down, just as some of our elected officials have let us down. Politics is a cutthroat business, and like it or not, everything is political. Those that have risen to the top of our ranks thrive in that arena; most of us would rather do our jobs, do them well, and live our lives. We need people in positions of power for us to do that.

Relentless media attacks have insulated the union ranks. An us-against-them attitude prevails. Gone are the days when a union worked with management in a respectful, productive atmosphere. Maybe that never existed; I don’t know. “Gold Plated Benefits, Feeding at the Public Trough, Picking Our Pockets,” and on and on. “Socialists, communists, serving the weak, protecting the incompetent…,” enough already.”

http://www.anchorrising.com/barnacles/005314.html

(If you have a few minutes the comments following this post perfectly illustrate the necessity of labor unions)

laborday_gallery10The Governor of the State of Rhode Island has gone to the national airwaves to justify his descision to shut down state government for twelve days this year. State revenues are down as our tourist industry bears the weight of a struggling economy. The state coffers are empty. Aid to cities and towns are on the chopping block as well.

Again, union members are asked to give “their share” back to the community. The taxpayers need a break, the logic goes, the unions must make concessions. “It’s only fair.”

How is it “fair” that a segment of the population make contractual concessions for years, give back here and there and everywhere, then take twelve days off without pay? If every adult in Rhode Island were to write a check equal to what municipal union members have already given back our budget problems would be over.

I hereby relinquish my soapbox for the rest of the day, you may go in peace. Thanks for listening. Enjoy the weekend, it’s going to be a beauty here in Rhode Island.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/STATE_EMPLOYEES_SPEAK_09-05-09_HBFKCHT_v13.2f396b8.html

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 5th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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5 Responses to “Labor Day 2009”

1.
brendan says:
September 6th, 2009 at 4:07 pm edit

Mike that first link goes to the Projo, not AR….
2.
admin says:
September 6th, 2009 at 8:32 pm edit

Thanks, Brandon, fixed it.

Not Me

“What happened to you?”

He stood by the side of the road, his scalp nearly torn from his head, blood cascading down his face, a few fingers appeared broken along with his nose.

“I got hit by a car.”

The woman who stood by him, a pretty twenty-five year old shivered as the warm night air blew down Atwells Avenue toward Olneyville. She was confused, maybe intoxicated, I couldn’t tell. Another rescue was called while I treated the alleged pedestrian struck.

“Everybody says you were driving the car the took out two poles and a tree and landed on its roof.”

“I was hit by a car.”

“Whatever.”

Three blocks up the road emergency crews were busy cleaning up the wake of the “pedestrian struck,” drunken tour of the neighborhood. An expensive car lie on its side, three of the five occupants being transported to the trauma rooms. The driver had already been identified as the guy now boarded and collared in my truck.

“So, what happened?”

“I told you, I got hit by a car.”

“Everybody else is telling me you were driving the car that nearly killed four people and the driver.”

“Wasn’t me.”

We started a few IV’s, started him on 02, stopped the blood loss, the bottoms of my shoes were covered, and took him in. At the hospital the cops waited. I told them what I knew, the guy continued to deny any responsibility. It really was pathetic.

I am in no way condoning intoxicated driving, but people do it all the time. Most get away with it, wake up the next day and do it all over again. Some get caught, weaving between the lines or whatever, others crash their vehicles into trees or drive off the road, others go up on ramps the wrong way and kill innocent people. A few go to prison for the same crime a big part of the population is guilty of at one time or another but was fortunate enough to get away with. Some die.

Others are fortunate enough to get behind the wheel, full of arrogance, put four other people’s lives in jeopardy and drive like an an idiot with zero regard for anybody but themselves and take out a tree and a pole, flip the car, nearly have their head removed but walk away.

The police left the hospital. I asked if they were going to lock the guy up when he was released from the hospital.

“We’re not pressing charges, no evidence.”

If you must drive drunk, do it in Providence.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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14 Responses to “Not Me”

1.
brendan says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:50 pm edit

What, you didn’t know that Providence has the fewest drunk driving arrests in the state?

Gotta keep the crime stats down, even if it means not creating any.
2.
peedee says:
September 1st, 2009 at 9:12 pm edit

OMG, Unbelievable. How do the cops sleep at night??
3.
Teri says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 am edit

Ahem… my two cents worth from the Dispatcher point of view.. The COPS don’t make the laws that govern how, who and what must happen in order to make the arrest a good one that won’t waste the taxpayers money when the lawyers and judges throw it out without a smear on the persons record, be it driving or BOP. Michael it may be different in RI, I could be wrong, but I feel your anger and such should stay directed at the S*&6bum who almost lost his face and not the officer whose hands were tied by the law. Just my opinion….(oh I hope it doesn’t sound like I am standing up for the drunk driver! He SHOULD have lost his face and thankfully he didn’t kill or hurt an innocent bystander!)
4.
Chrysalis says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 am edit

Wow, I thought for a moment you were going to tell us another guy had been thrown from the vehicle.

Sad thing that people do this. It’s usually the innocent that are hurt when they do.
5.
admin says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:14 am edit

The descision to not pursue dui cases in Providence isn’t made by the guys on the street, it comes from upstairs. It is a nightly debacle. I have dozens of instances where drunk drivers are taken to the hospital rather than charged for all sorts of reasons, the most common being, “we don’t have a dui qualified officer on duty.”

A few months ago Rescue 1 was broadsided at noon by an unlicenced, intoxicated driver. Both rescue guys were injured, the truck OOS for months. After a heated debate between our chief and the police lieutenants the drunk driver was released, never even got a ticket.

I read an article once where the chief of police decided to go after “real criminals, guns and such,” (paraphrased) and didn’t have the resourses to go after drunk drivers. Why, I ask, are people with guns who basically shoot other drug dealers more important than innocent people being hurt and killed by drunk drivers?

Sorry for ranting, I have a more cohesive narrative planned on this subject, just waiting for the right time.

And as always, thank you for commenting!
6.
Ckemtp – Life Under the Lights says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:31 pm edit

I’ve seen that bigger city PDs tend to ignore DUI offenses, or use them more as a means to get people who they can’t get for other things. The state and County law enforcement guys tend to go after the DUIs moreso, at least in my area.

I wonder if it would have made a difference if the guy was unhurt. In my state, if a person needs medical treatment and is in custody, the bill goes to the arresting agency. Really. People on relatively minor offenses are let go, or released on a notice to appear, if they have a more expensive medical condition in need of treatment. I’ve even heard an anecdote of someone getting themselves arrested because they were in need of a surgery they could not afford.

Still, DUI is what it is. A career ender for medics as well.
7.
Medic2RN says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 pm edit

It is not a Providence thing, Lt. Having worked in a few systems in the area, it depends on several things. Some of them legit reasons, some of them include time to end of shift, anybody hurt besides driver (including private property damage) and, well “I just don’t care tonight.”

I’ll still write my reports like I’m going to court and then go home to my family.

Stay Safe,
Medic2RN
8.
Jean says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 pm edit

wow. Stunned.
9.
peedee says:
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:08 am edit

Thats a broke system for sure. If our smaller cities dont have DUI officers, BSO sends someone over to write the case. Isnt that what the counties supposed to do??

The Lion and the Mule

My friend Dave had a little setback, he’s in New London Hospital recovering from surgery on the same weekend three of his daughters are moving into two different colleges.

Enter the mule.

I’m actually having a ball, getting to know the girls a little better and helping a friend in need. On the way here I ran into the funeral procession for Senator Ted Kennedy. People stood on roadways and overpasses during torrential downpours and strong winds to pay their respects to the “Liberal Lion” as he passed.

MollyI was moved much more than I ever expected by the outpouring of grief, I hadn’t really given it much thought. As I drove I couldn’t stop the internal movie from playing. I was born the year JFK was assassinated, seven or so when Robert was killed. The Kennedy’s have been a big part of my surroundings since I can remember.

As I passed through Manchester I said a silent hello to Walt, paid a silent respect to Ted and kept on trucking.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 29th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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3 Responses to “The Lion and the Mule”

1.
Teri says:
August 30th, 2009 at 7:36 am edit

Lt, I had the same thoughts when I switched on the TV to catch the weather and found myself sniffling as I listened to the eulogy by Teddy Jr.. To be so loved as a father, was a wonderful thing and if nothing else, we can mourn him for that! To be mourned by the hundreds of thousands, imagine that! I loved his quote “My father wasn’t perfect. He believed in redemption.
Happy helping hands!! Stay safe and have a great weekend!
Gia
2.
admin says:
August 30th, 2009 at 7:16 pm edit

Thanks, Gia, all in all he was a a good, but troubled guy.
3.
Wat Trachim says:
August 31st, 2009 at 8:31 pm edit

Had I known you’d be in my neck of the woods I would have banged out for the day!

Mission Hill was a nightmare – we stayed away as much as we could, but about halfway through the Mass we had to go to Children’s to transport a trached/vented patient home to the South Shore. And we had to pass the traffic on the way. Very, very busy indeed, and the rain just made it that much more difficult.

Cooked

***WARNING***

Lt. Morse has swallowed a bitter pill.

Take an extremely overweight middle aged non-English speaking woman, add twelve prescription medications, mix one ridiculously expensive king sized bed in a government subsidized apartment, three parts fawning non-English speaking relatives, a huge helping of drama, a pinch of vomit, and two sets of stairs and you will get a person who “can’t move” until she sees the stair chair miraculously appear at the foot of her bed, then is able to drag herself from the previously mentioned king sized bed in the government subsidized apartment and plant herself into the chair, then let herself be carried down the previously mentioned two flights of stairs into an ambulance which carts her to a world class emergency room where she will be given thousands of dollars worth of tests to get to the bottom of her abdominal pain, which will go away on its own if given a chance.

Mix well. Bake in the back of the rescue until done. Repeat five times after midnight.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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10 Responses to “Cooked”

1.
Teri says:
August 25th, 2009 at 5:57 am edit

Ha this balances out the universe because of the last post… ;}
2.
Chrysalis says:
August 25th, 2009 at 9:07 am edit

Wow, Michael, is this different. Looks very nice. Hope you are happy with your new digs.
3.
Walt Trachim says:
August 25th, 2009 at 9:29 pm edit

Can we assume that said patient is of latin descent of some sort? Make me think so from the description, but I could be wrong… :)

I really like the new blog layout, Michael. Very nice. This is a permanent change, right? If so, I’ll be changing the URL in my blogroll to reflect this site…
4.
Medic 7 says:
August 27th, 2009 at 5:34 pm edit

Hi LT… I really like the new layout. And it seems like we’ve been playing the same game lately.

Me: “Sir, can you walk?”

Patient: “Oh no…my legs are weak. I’m dizzy. I’m gonna pass out. I can’t stand.”

Firefighter (to me): That’s Bull$hit. I just saw him walk from the bathroom to the bed.

Me: Sir, can you try to stand up?

Patient: Much moaning, whining and general drama.

Me (to my partner): Grab the chair.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

(And as an aside, my wife and I are thinking about moving to RI when medic school is done.)
5.
Jen says:
August 27th, 2009 at 11:06 pm edit

Hmmm….. sounds all so familiar. Look at it this way. You should have killer biceps from all the lifting!

Adorable

A six, seven and twenty-five year old just lit up the back of Rescue 3 like nobody’s business. Talasia had a fever. Her sister Shalasia held her hand all the way out of the apartment in the middle of the projects and to the hospital. Their mom looked just like them, only older. They wore matching pajamas and matching sandals. The rescue fascinated them, they seemed particularly fond of the lights.

Would I have called 911 at one in the morning to take my seven year old to the ER for a fever of 102 degrees? Hell no! But they were adorable, and being able to see that instead of being angry sometimes makes all the difference.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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6 Responses to “Adorable”

1.
Susie Hemingway says:
August 25th, 2009 at 1:27 pm edit

Your not only a very compassionate man you’re also a big softie for ‘adorable’ kids who make your most difficult job at times seem so much nicer. I bet they were happy to get your rescue too!

Bad Dog?

All day, nothin to do, think I’ll lay on this couch, now I’ll take a nap, now I’ll look out the window, nobody home, can’t wait. Boy it’s hot up here, when are they coming home? Think I’ll take a nap, look out the window, drink some water, get on the couch, where are they?

Nothin to do, take a nap, look out the window, water’s gone, have to pee, better not do it here, look out the window, soon I hope, when are they coming home? Getting dark, I’m hungry, sit on the couch take a nap, forget I’m hungry, can’t wait, is that them?

Not yet, gotta pee bad, no water in my bowl, lay on the couch, look out the window, take a nap, lay on the couch…wait, what’s that?

Oh boy, here they are,come on dad, hurry up, I gotta pee, oh boy, finally I hate to be alone, come on dad, I’ve been good all day, it’s hot up here, let me out, I’m dying up here, please hurry. Closer now, the door’s opening, oh boy, they’re home!

Ouch! Why did he do that? Ouch! Come on dad, cut it out. I know that smell, oh no, here comes another one. Ouch! That hurts. I get it, you’re the alpha male, I’m the dog. Ouch, jeez, I just had to pee soo bad, Ouch! For god’s sake, man Ouch…

One more and I’m going to lose it…Ouch!

The family pet attacked his owners tonight. A man and his wife had been out drinking. When they got home after being gone all day the man started teasing his dog. He had him since he was a puppy, seven years ago. He couldn’t figure out why his dog snapped. I covered his hand that had been nearly bitten in half and put a trauma dressing on his other arm, bone, muscle and tendons were showing before it was dressed. We needed another rescue for his wife. And animal control to take the dog away.

He’ll be put down by weeks end.pit bull

This entry was posted on Monday, August 24th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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11 Responses to “Bad Dog?”

1.
Bernice says:
August 24th, 2009 at 7:00 pm edit

Dangit man… that sucks.
2.
Little Girl says:
August 24th, 2009 at 9:05 pm edit

:( That makes me sad … our dogs and cats just want to love us.

It wasn’t the dogs fault, he just wanted to pee, cant you remember the last time you were stuck in rush hour traffic and your bladder was ready to explode.
3.
Jean says:
August 25th, 2009 at 12:28 am edit

Both of those jerks should be in jail!
4.
sussicue says:
August 25th, 2009 at 7:12 am edit

The man should be put down by weeks end!
5.
peedee says:
August 27th, 2009 at 6:54 am edit

awwww. That just sucks. I’m such a sucker for dogs and that poor thing was just pushed to the edge. Dang that makes me mad. >:/

Finally got ur new blog switched over on my blogroll! And thanks for the mention on yours Michael. Muah!
6.
Bill says:
August 28th, 2009 at 12:38 pm edit

“He’ll be put down by weeks end.”
The dog or the owner?

At Peace

The guys from Engine 10 were doing CPR when we arrived.heartbeat

“Asystole,” said Kraz.

He lay on the floor next to a hospital bed in the front room of an ordinary house on an ordinary street in Providence. The daiper he wore was clean. The inflated plastic bags that were wrapped around his hands new.

“Who found him?” I asked. Three or four family members stood outside the room, afraid.

“He was awake ten minutes ago,” said a twenty year old woman.

“Is there any paperwork or records?”

“What do you mean?” She was nervous, shaking as she watched the firefighters behind me move her grandfather onto a backboard and continue pumping his chest and breath for him.

“Did he have any wishes should something like this happen.” The guys had him ready to go.

“No bracelets or necklace,” said Bill.

“I know things are a little hectic,” I said to the girl, “but I could really use some information. Is there a folder or something from the hospital?”

She handed me a thick folder from the visiting nurse company that visited every day. No advance directive. I scanned the room, looking for anything that would allow me to let this man die in peace. Nothing. A picture on a wall showed my patient in 1967, dressed in a South Vietnamese military uniform, smiling, holding a rifle. His name and date of birth were written below. On a dresser were some medications. I put them in a bag, copied the information from the wall and left the home.

Inside the rescue we worked the code. An IV was established, Epi and Atropine administered, CPR continued when a rhythm didn’t materialize. We had the defibrillator pads attached. I looked at the flat line on the monitor after each drug was pushed, hoping it stayed flat. It didn’t seem fair, he had fought enough.

My intubation attempt was unsuccessful, we rolled toward the ER, CPR all the way. Though I thought the effort doomed from the start my training took over. We did all we could.

The Medical team had assembled prior to our arrival. Ten or so people waited for us to move him onto their stretcher so they could take over. I gave the report.

“Seventy-six year old male, conscious at 11:15, found by family not breathing at 11:30. CPR started at 11:35. 20 Gauge IV in left AC at 1140, Epi at 1141, Atropine at 1143, remained pulseless and asystolic. History of stroke five years ago and Alzhimers.”

The hospital team took over, we backed out. Another round of Epi and atropine, then other meds, five minutes later I heard the attending,

“I’ve got a pulse.”

Ten minutes later he was breathing on his own, blood pressure rising.

An hour later he was still with us. It’s ten hours later and he is still with us.

Regardless of our beliefs or feelings we have a job to do. Once recessitation efforts are started, training and experience takes over, everybody gives their best effort and a power higher than us decides the outcome.

His son and granddaughter were at his side last time I looked. Everybody was at peace.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 and is filed under heartbeat.

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8 Responses to “At Peace”

1.
Jean says:
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm edit

Another difficult aspect of your job.
I continue to be in awe.

(I am honored to be on your bloglist, Michael. Thank you.)
2.
Medic2RN says:
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 pm edit

Lt,

Is he really at peace? Or is the family trying to keep him around for their “peace?”

Stay Safe,
Medic2RN
3.
Joe says:
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:42 am edit

You never know who’s going to make it.
4.
The EMT Spot » The August EMS Roundup says:
August 29th, 2009 at 8:34 am edit

[...] Providence launched a new blog site and reminded us that a higher power decides the outcomes in At Peace. Medic999 put together a well designed presentation of this months Handover Blog Carnival with the [...]

SOP # 1

Patient #1, a fifty year old male calls from a payphone outside a bar at 1:30 in the morning, states he has chest pain. The rescue arrives, the patient tells the crew to take him to St. Farthest. Apparently, St. Closest, a world class hospital doesn’t treat our patient right. He refuses to cooperate, won’t give any information other than he has been drinking all day and is now having chest pain, 10/10.

Patient #2, an eighty-three year old male sits on the floor in his bathroom at 3:15 in the morning holding the toilet bowl to keep him from slumping over. His wife of forty some years calls 911 for assistance getting him up. The rescue arrives, finds the patient is undergoing chemo to treat lung cancer, is extremely weak and dehydrated. His treatment thus far has been at St. Farthest.

Patient #1 is treated and transported to St. Closest, much to his dismay.

Patient #2 is treated and transported to St. Farthest. No questions asked.

Our protocols clearly state that Emergency Personnel transport patients without delay to the appropriate Hospital Emergency Facility.

Both patients were treated appropriately.

Rescue 1 has a Standing Operating Procedure: Nice guys never finish last!


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»

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 20th, 2009 and is filed under Uncategorized.

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9 Responses to “SOP #1”

1.
Gia’s Spot says:
August 20th, 2009 at 4:10 pm edit

Hoorah!!
2.
the Happy Medic says:
August 21st, 2009 at 2:40 am edit

Happy was here.
3.
Bernice says:
August 21st, 2009 at 1:24 pm edit

Looks great! Love the new digs.
4.
Jean says:
August 21st, 2009 at 2:01 pm edit

Verah classy!
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9.
Frizzlsnits says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:52 pm edit

Says a distressed Ann. The reason Ann has not heard from the company is because they went into liquidation last year. life quotes >:[[[ homeowners insurance :-)

What's The Worst?

“I need a shower, think I have time?”

“What’s the worst that could happen,” I answered.

Ed was working overtime and wanted a fresh start to the day. I was filling in for a rescue officer who was off on an injury. It was my first experience in charge of a fire department vehicle. Rescue 3 is quartered at the Branch Avenue fire station. It is a workhorse; five thousand runs annually the norm. All of Providence’s advanced life support vehicles are workhorses, the call volume dramatically increases as the years’ progress.

“Keep your radio on in case we get a call,” I said as the door to the shower room closed.

This should have been my first day back on Engine 9 after a six month detail to the rescue division. I enjoyed my time on Rescue 1, learned a lot and considered going back eventually but I missed the camaraderie at the fire station and, of course, the firefighting. Providence rescues still respond to fires but for the most part stay outside and tend to the wounded.

I was looking forward to the old routine, the discussion around the coffee pot, the housework, polishing brass, checking the trucks, rechecking the trucks, making lunch and with any luck, fighting a little of the red devil.

I didn’t get a chance to walk in the door of the Brook Street Fire Station.

“Welcome back, Morse, you’re going to Rescue 3, in charge,” said Tim, my truck mate from Engine 9 from the second floor kitchen window.

“See you tomorrow,” he said, laughing and shut the window so as not to let the cool air from the air conditioner out. I didn’t take it personally, I knew Tim was looking forward to my return, we got along pretty well. I would just have to wait another day.

I knew there was a possibility of being sent back to the rescue but I didn’t think it would happen so fast. The division is in desperate need of bodies. Not many firefighters are willing to be permanently assigned to the little white truck when the big red one is available. I put my gear back in the wagon and started toward the Branch Avenue fire barn and Rescue 3.

The shower water must not have had a chance to get hot when the bell tipped.

“Rescue 3 and Engine 2; respond to Route 95 North for an accident involving a school bus.”

Great.

“Rescue 3, responding.”

I heard Engine 2 roar out of the station. Thirty seconds later, Ed appeared from the shower, soaking wet and getting dressed while walking toward the stairs.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” he said, shaking his head.

“I should know better,” I responded as the overhead door let the warm summer air into the bay. There are certain things that should never be uttered when on the clock. “It’s quiet.” “Things are so peaceful.” “What’s the worst that could happen?

“Engine 2 to fire alarm, we have a school bus into a tractor trailer, heavy damage to the school bus, we’ll keep you informed.”

“Here we go,” I said to Ed as we sped toward the incident.

“Engine 2 to fire alarm, advise rescue we have a pediatric trauma code, expedite.”

The school bus driver drifted from her lane of travel at just the wrong time. A flatbed truck had stopped in the breakdown lane. The bus slammed into it, first smashing the windshield glass, then tearing into the passenger compartment, ripping the metal like a tin can. The baby didn’t have a chance. She was in an infant seat at the door when the back of the flatbed crashed into the passenger compartment.

We approached from the south, the roof of the bus was torn off the body three quarters down the passenger side. I saw another Providence rescue just ahead of the bus. Brian took a bloody, still infant away from a woman who had stopped to help and started CPR.

The mind has a way of slowing things down during crisis. In what seemed slow motion, Ed pulled Rescue 3 past the wreckage while I assessed the situation from the officer’s seat. I fully expected mangled bodies of school kids inside the bus. The bus appeared empty when I looked through the shattered windows. The truck stopped, I stepped out and approached the wreckage, not really prepared for what lay inside but forging ahead anyway. The driver of the bus sat slumped over the wheel, trapped. Another woman was trapped in the seat behind the driver. I forced myself to look down the narrow corridor for more victims. There were none. The bus had finished its morning route and was headed back to the garage.

Special Hazards arrived on scene and began extrication procedures. The State Police blocked the highway while we worked. I watched the firefighters work like madmen during the extrication. I felt helpless standing on the highway, waiting. Fifteen minutes into the operation the infant’s mother was freed from her temporary prison. We lifted her out, using the freshly opened roof of the bus as an extrication route. She was unconscious, deformities to her extremities and in shock. We got her into the rescue and rolled toward Rhode Island Hospital, the area’s Level 1 Trauma Center, about ten minutes away. She lived. He baby did not.

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

Don’t ask.

And so began the second part of my career in the fire service. I’m still a firefighter; once a person experiences that life it never leaves, it’s in your blood. For now, I spend my time on the rescue, EMS a second calling. I got off to a rough start, and the road hasn’t gotten much easier to travel but for all the pain, lost sleep and time away from my family I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Grace

Grace Monday, August 17, 2009



grace

This is Grace. I was at the Doctor’s office waiting for the Mrs. when a lady came in with her. The doctor wouldn’t let the lady in with the dog so yours truly ended up with her. It only took fifteen minutes, I’m in love. Damn dogs work fast.

She’s a worker dog in training. Eventually she’s going to a disabled veteran. It looks like whoever gets her’s luck has changed.

pool
http://www.projo.com/news/content/BUCKLIN_POOL_08-19-09_74FEK1N_v27.3c198f1.html

Thoughts and prayers for the kids and their families.

In a sane world, six Advanced Life Support vehicles would be enough resources for a city the size of Providence. We have 180,000 official residents, unofficially the number is as high as 300,000. The numbers swell during work hours and weekends.

In the world gone mad that we now live in twenty wouldn’t be enough. People call 911 for free rides to free healthcare at the emergency rooms. That is bad enough, what I find worse is the fact that we respond to these calls. I’m well aware that a headache could be the precursor to a stroke, and dizziness may be related to heart problems, and being intoxicated at home could bring more problems. Minor lacerations might get infected, one month pregnant people occasionally spot, nightmares happen, toes get stubbed.

During this pool emergency all of Providence’s rescues were on other calls. I’m not sure the exact nature of those calls but I’m fairly certain most were not life threatening emergencies. Rescue 1 cleared, mutual aid was called, a rescue from Johnston eventually responded.

If we must point fingers, mine are pointed directly at the people who call 911 because they can, everybody else does, they will “get in faster,” it’s free, it’s available.

Do we burden already overburdened taxpayers and municipal budgets and add more resources to an overtaxed system? Do we diminish an already undermanned fire suppression force to cater to the whims of a self centered general public?

If I were king there would be a fee charged to everybody who uses the 911 system. A sliding scale would be implemented. Whoever needs emergency services the least will be charged the most.

Real emergencies will be charged a dollar.

I'm having some growing pains over at Wordpress, I hope it's all worth it. I mistakenly cancelled the blog there, hopefully it will be back within a feew hours. Thanks for standing by!

http://rescuingprovidence.com/wordpress/

What should have taken a few hours has taken me weeks, and I'm far from finished, but without furthur ado, my new blog...

http://rescuingprovidence.com/wordpress/

Please take a moment and let me know what you think. I have a few projects up my sleeve and needed to secure a space on the web and try some new gadgets.

I can't figure out how to get my blog followers over to Wordpress, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Hope to see you "over there!"

SOP #1

Patient #1, a fifty year old male calls from a payphone outside a bar at 1:30 in the morning, states he has chest pain. The rescue arrives, the patient tells the crew to take him to St. Farthest. Apparently, St. Closest, a world class hospital doesn't treat our patient right. He refuses to cooperate, won't give any information other than he has been drinking all day and is now having chest pain, 10/10.

Patient #2, an eighty-three year old male sits on the floor in his bathroom at 3:15 in the morning holding the toilet bowl to keep him from slumping over. His wife of forty some years calls 911 for assistance getting him up. The rescue arrives, finds the patient is undergoing chemo to treat lung cancer, is extremely weak and dehydrated. His treatment thus far has been at St. Farthest.

Patient #1 is treated and transported to St. Closest, much to his dismay.

Patient #2 is treated and transported to St. Farthest. No questions asked.

Our protocols clearly state that Emergency Personnel transport patients without delay to the appropriate Hospital Emergency Facility.

Both patients were treated appropriately.

Rescue 1 has a Standing Operating Procedure: Nice guys never finish last!

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

“I need a shower, think I have time?”

“What’s the worst that could happen,” I answered.

Ed was working overtime and wanted a fresh start to the day. I was filling in for a rescue officer who was off on an injury. It was my first experience in charge of a fire department vehicle. Rescue 3 is quartered at the Branch Avenue fire station. It is a workhorse; five thousand runs annually the norm. All of Providence’s advanced life support vehicles are workhorses, the call volume dramatically increases as the years’ progress.

“Keep your radio on in case we get a call,” I said as the door to the shower room closed.

This should have been my first day back on Engine 9 after a six month detail to the rescue division. I enjoyed my time on Rescue 1, learned a lot and considered going back eventually but I missed the camaraderie at the fire station and, of course, the firefighting. Providence rescues still respond to fires but for the most part stay outside and tend to the wounded.

I was looking forward to the old routine, the discussion around the coffee pot, the housework, polishing brass, checking the trucks, rechecking the trucks, making lunch and with any luck, fighting a little of the red devil.

I didn’t get a chance to walk in the door of the Brook Street Fire Station.

“Welcome back, Morse, you’re going to Rescue 3, in charge,” said Tim, my truck mate from Engine 9 from the second floor kitchen window.

“See you tomorrow,” he said, laughing and shut the window so as not to let the cool air from the air conditioner out. I didn’t take it personally, I knew Tim was looking forward to my return, we got along pretty well. I would just have to wait another day.

I knew there was a possibility of being sent back to the rescue but I didn’t think it would happen so fast. The division is in desperate need of bodies. Not many firefighters are willing to be permanently assigned to the little white truck when the big red one is available. I put my gear back in the wagon and started toward the Branch Avenue fire barn and Rescue 3.

The shower water must not have had a chance to get hot when the bell tipped.

“Rescue 3 and Engine 2; respond to Route 95 North for an accident involving a school bus.”

Great.

“Rescue 3, responding.”

I heard Engine 2 roar out of the station. Thirty seconds later, Ed appeared from the shower, soaking wet and getting dressed while walking toward the stairs.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” he said, shaking his head.

“I should know better,” I responded as the overhead door let the warm summer air into the bay. There are certain things that should never be uttered when on the clock. “It’s quiet.” “Things are so peaceful.” “What’s the worst that could happen?

“Engine 2 to fire alarm, we have a school bus into a tractor trailer, heavy damage to the school bus, we’ll keep you informed.”

“Here we go,” I said to Ed as we sped toward the incident.

“Engine 2 to fire alarm, advise rescue we have a pediatric trauma code, expedite.”

The school bus driver drifted from her lane of travel at just the wrong time. A flatbed truck had stopped in the breakdown lane. The bus slammed into it, first smashing the windshield glass, then tearing into the passenger compartment, ripping the metal like a tin can. The baby didn’t have a chance. She was in an infant seat at the door when the back of the flatbed crashed into the passenger compartment.

We approached from the south, the roof of the bus was torn off the body three quarters down the passenger side. I saw another Providence rescue just ahead of the bus. Brian took a bloody, still infant away from a woman who had stopped to help and started CPR.

The mind has a way of slowing things down during crisis. In what seemed slow motion, Ed pulled Rescue 3 past the wreckage while I assessed the situation from the officer’s seat. I fully expected mangled bodies of school kids inside the bus. The bus appeared empty when I looked through the shattered windows. The truck stopped, I stepped out and approached the wreckage, not really prepared for what lay inside but forging ahead anyway. The driver of the bus sat slumped over the wheel, trapped. Another woman was trapped in the seat behind the driver. I forced myself to look down the narrow corridor for more victims. There were none. The bus had finished its morning route and was headed back to the garage.

Special Hazards arrived on scene and began extrication procedures. The State Police blocked the highway while we worked. I watched the firefighters work like madmen during the extrication. I felt helpless standing on the highway, waiting. Fifteen minutes into the operation the infant’s mother was freed from her temporary prison. We lifted her out, using the freshly opened roof of the bus as an extrication route. She was unconscious, deformities to her extremities and in shock. We got her into the rescue and rolled toward Rhode Island Hospital, the area’s Level 1 Trauma Center, about ten minutes away. She lived. He baby did not.

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

Don’t ask.

And so began the second part of my career in the fire service. I’m still a firefighter; once a person experiences that life it never leaves, it’s in your blood. For now, I spend my time on the rescue, EMS a second calling. I got off to a rough start, and the road hasn’t gotten much easier to travel but for all the pain, lost sleep and time away from my family I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Pool

http://www.projo.com/news/content/BUCKLIN_POOL_08-19-09_74FEK1N_v27.3c198f1.html

Thoughts and prayers for the kids and their families.

In a sane world, six Advanced Life Support vehicles would be enough resources for a city the size of Providence. We have 180,000 official residents, unofficially the number is as high as 300,000. The numbers swell during work hours and weekends.

In the world gone mad that we now live in twenty wouldn't be enough. People call 911 for free rides to free healthcare at the emergency rooms. That is bad enough, what I find worse is the fact that we respond to these calls. I'm well aware that a headache could be the precursor to a stroke, and dizziness may be related to heart problems, and being intoxicated at home could bring more problems. Minor lacerations might get infected, one month pregnant people occasionally spot, nightmares happen, toes get stubbed.

During this pool emergency all of Providence's rescues were on other calls. I'm not sure the exact nature of those calls but I'm fairly certain most were not life threatening emergencies. Rescue 1 cleared, mutual aid was called, a rescue from Johnston eventually responded.

If we must point fingers, mine are pointed directly at the people who call 911 because they can, everybody else does, they will "get in faster," it's free, it's available.

Do we burden already overburdened taxpayers and municipal budgets and add more resources to an overtaxed system? Do we diminish an already undermanned fire suppression force to cater to the whims of a self centered general public?

If I were king there would be a fee charged to everybody who uses the 911 system. A sliding scale would be implemented. Whoever needs emergency services the least will be charged the most.

Real emergencies will be charged a dollar.

Partners

Six months ago, Adam showed up at Rescue 1 to begin his six month detail. He started on a Sunday night. By weeks end we had survived a bloody suicide attempt, a ten year old in cardiac arrest who almost made it and a couple of shootings that didn't. You get to know your partner fast in Providence.

I'll be getting another partner soon, Adam will be greatly missed. Engine 7 is waiting for him, hopefully he'll get tired of that old horse and find his way home. It seems I'm constantly losing friends to the red trucks, Mike went to Engine 15, Renato is at Engine 11, now this. I suppose I'll survive.

He worried about his upcoming wedding, and who to and not to invite. You can't invite everybody, some people you want there just have to be passed over. I remember saying that he shouldn't feel obligated to invite me, that the tradition of inviting your officer to things like this could be waived, considering his newness to the job and all. At the time is seemed like a logical thing to say. Months later I couldn't imagine being left out.

Meg and Adam were married Sunday at Whispering Pines at Alton Jones. They met there some years ago when they worked as camp counsellors. The ceremony was held outside at the edge of a pond. Meg was stunning. Somehow she mixed elegance with an outdoorsy sparkle that was absolutely natural, charming and perfect. I loved that she didn't wear shoes.

I've never seen two people more in sync. They move together, smile at the same time, walk in stride and are filled with that magic everybody wants.

Thank you, Meg and Adam for having us share your day. It was a refreshing breath of love, honesty and joy. I am proud to know you.



(I had a great picture to post but my phone went through the wash. Maybe tomorrow)

Grace

This is Grace. I was at the Doctor's office waiting for the Mrs. when a lady came in with her. The doctor wouldn't let the lady in with the dog so yours truly ended up with her. It only took fifteen minutes, I'm in love. Damn dogs work fast.

She's a worker dog in training. Eventually she's going to a disabled veteran. It looks like whoever gets her's luck has changed.

Let's Go

Somebody calls for help. We respond.

http://callitasiseefit.blogspot.com/

This is the right thing to do. So let's go.

Thanks

Oh, and read this if you are wondering why I care.

http://pinkwarmdry.com/blog/

Abused Angels

http://www.mcauleyri.org/index.php

1022 hrs, Rescue 1 responds to 622 Elmwood Avenue for an intoxicated male. This is an everyday occurrence. The Mcauley House is run by some truly great, patient, benevolent people. Hundreds line up daily outside year round for the free lunches. A few of their clientele are chronic, homeless alcoholics. They are treated with kindness there, given a warm meal and more important than that some respect.

We respond to the address. Two "regulars," a man and woman, both in their early fifties sit on a wall keeping each other upright. Today, the man is more intoxicated than the woman.

"I'm doing good," she says, giving me a high five as I help her companion to his feet. He is dead weight, about 175 pounds of a body that barely functions. His clothes are clean, he must have gotten new ones from the hospital, yesterday he was filthy.

"I'll be there in a little while," the woman tells him and gets in line for the free lunch.

What's Next?

It's Friday Morning, 0820 hrs. I've been here since 1700 hrs. last night and won't be free until 0700 hrs. tomorrow morning. Typical Thursday Night, three intoxicated men, a seventeen year old girl who was released from the hospital two hours prior to calling 911 again because the medication they gave her for pulled muscles weren't working (the family lived 1/2 a mile from the ER, followed in the car...both times,) a building fire, a thirty-nine year old female vomiting and a guy sleeping next to the highway. I'm sure there are a few more but they were as unmemorable as the others.

The cost for all of this emergency medicine is staggering. Some day I'm going to do a running total of the costs incurred by the people who call 911 during a typical shift. Mr. Cynical himself will probably be amazed.

Washington wants to fix the health care system. They should start at the emergency room.

Just for giggles, whatever happens next will be my next post. I'm fairly certain it will be uneventful, but the beauty of this job is the unknown. I may be entering the twilight zone. Or not. We shall see.

Stay tuned!