Out riding along in our automobile around the Beechmont area of Louisville, a call comes in. A child is on a ledge. They need our help. This is old school. We arrive on scene. Let's get our portable trampoline. Move move move. What?
The portable trampoline went off track in 1907?
We must act quickly a child's life is in danger. Not a child but a BABY? 18 months old! He is going to fall, oh noooo!
Never fear, a local hero caught super baby as his first solo attempt at flight failed. Whew. That baby is safe. YEAHHH. Celebration, fireworks. Wait, why was the baby in a window sill anyway. Oh thats right, momma and papa were getting the nasty on in the shower. Don't blame them they are in LOVE. Attraction much. Chemistry. Like a tractor beam, sucked them right in. They have such a connection. Just lock the kids in a room, they will be ok. The baby gate was up, hello? And besides anyway look at him, he's fine, he was with his brother...who is 2 1/2, and mature for his age and...and, and he's...where is that kid anyway?
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Day at the firehouse
Ok, well I was told that I should be documenting my journey as a firefighter. "Write down every run you make and one day write a book," I was told by a retired firefighter while still in drill school. Well I have been on the job for three years and have never got around to doing that. Maybe this can be the start of something new, something eye opening to all you patrons in the bustling city working and running to and fro without really knowing what we do everyday. This is a common day at the firehouse at the Louisville Fire Department.
Arrive at 7:15 and shave and put on the uniform of the day (my blues). Being a firefighter at a company with 3 firefighters means that we take details, a rotation of 2 each to fill other open spots in other firehouses throughout the city. I am stationed at Engine 19 but was detailed to Engine 22, the fastest engine company in the city on this day.
Once I get my gear on track (put all my gear on the engine) and check some things on the engine (medical equipment, water, radios) everyone sort of hangs out a little in the morning. Sitting around chatting and drinking coffee, reading the paper. Since I am still the newest member of the department the responsibility to start the cleaning falls on me. Toilets, sinks, empty trash, sweep and mop the floors, wash and dry dishes. All common tasks that we all do at our own homes. After finding a place to bed down in the community bedroom we all sort of do our own thing, and wait for the bell to go off.
First run of the day is a medical call. Short of air. A very typical type of emergency medical call. We respond with Louisville Metropolitan EMS. We arrive first and take vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, level breathing) and get all the information we can from the patient or from the family members. Now we are firefighters first, emt's second. I am pretty certain no one becomes a firefighter because they want to be an emt, if they wanted that they would probably just do it. So there are all sorts of styles and demeanors that erupt as the variety of firefighters must become gentle and understanding to comprehend the complainant's woes. Some will sit down and be kind and caring, some get mad and annoyed at the stupidity of the calls, some are all business, some joke, some call people darling or honey. Everyone's personality comes out in each call we make, and I'll be honest, the dumber the call the less patient our response. We then wait with the patient until EMS arrives, we help load them on the bed and away we both go.
These are very common, our next run was the same, short of air except the patient had TB, AIDS, and bed bugs. Be very careful on these runs.
We also make car wrecks. This run had a little flair because the driver thought it was a good time to shoot up, while driving. It takes a certain skill set to shoot up drugs and bob and weave through traffic, this gentlemen unfortunately did not possess that skill.
Also, falls, cuts, etc. Our next was a little girl who was somehow playing with glass and got a gash on her forehead. It was not bleeding when we arrived and she wasnt crying. Basically at that point we really wont do anything. We will wait on the "am bu lance" and let them drive her to the hospital to get some stitches. However...things in the west end are different, the parent wanted us to pull out some street doctor magic and stitch her up on scene. We can't do that we say. She is in disbelief. How bout a band aid she says. That won't do we say. Come to find out, and it is unfortunate, she was hesitant to go all the way to the hospital because she would not have a way home, no car, not even a few bucks to get a bus ride home. We were tempted to give her money but we are advised to stay away from such activities. She told us to cancel the ambulance because she will "get it figured out." We concluded that meant the little girl will only get the band-aid we left with them.
And last but not least, who could forget the reckless mustang plowing through a parked car at a gas station at 6 in the morning. Why? We don't even ask anymore. The last we saw of him he was cuffed in the back of a police car.
Throw in a few more medical runs much like the first and that is our day. Hope this helps.
Arrive at 7:15 and shave and put on the uniform of the day (my blues). Being a firefighter at a company with 3 firefighters means that we take details, a rotation of 2 each to fill other open spots in other firehouses throughout the city. I am stationed at Engine 19 but was detailed to Engine 22, the fastest engine company in the city on this day.
Once I get my gear on track (put all my gear on the engine) and check some things on the engine (medical equipment, water, radios) everyone sort of hangs out a little in the morning. Sitting around chatting and drinking coffee, reading the paper. Since I am still the newest member of the department the responsibility to start the cleaning falls on me. Toilets, sinks, empty trash, sweep and mop the floors, wash and dry dishes. All common tasks that we all do at our own homes. After finding a place to bed down in the community bedroom we all sort of do our own thing, and wait for the bell to go off.
First run of the day is a medical call. Short of air. A very typical type of emergency medical call. We respond with Louisville Metropolitan EMS. We arrive first and take vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, level breathing) and get all the information we can from the patient or from the family members. Now we are firefighters first, emt's second. I am pretty certain no one becomes a firefighter because they want to be an emt, if they wanted that they would probably just do it. So there are all sorts of styles and demeanors that erupt as the variety of firefighters must become gentle and understanding to comprehend the complainant's woes. Some will sit down and be kind and caring, some get mad and annoyed at the stupidity of the calls, some are all business, some joke, some call people darling or honey. Everyone's personality comes out in each call we make, and I'll be honest, the dumber the call the less patient our response. We then wait with the patient until EMS arrives, we help load them on the bed and away we both go.
These are very common, our next run was the same, short of air except the patient had TB, AIDS, and bed bugs. Be very careful on these runs.
We also make car wrecks. This run had a little flair because the driver thought it was a good time to shoot up, while driving. It takes a certain skill set to shoot up drugs and bob and weave through traffic, this gentlemen unfortunately did not possess that skill.
Also, falls, cuts, etc. Our next was a little girl who was somehow playing with glass and got a gash on her forehead. It was not bleeding when we arrived and she wasnt crying. Basically at that point we really wont do anything. We will wait on the "am bu lance" and let them drive her to the hospital to get some stitches. However...things in the west end are different, the parent wanted us to pull out some street doctor magic and stitch her up on scene. We can't do that we say. She is in disbelief. How bout a band aid she says. That won't do we say. Come to find out, and it is unfortunate, she was hesitant to go all the way to the hospital because she would not have a way home, no car, not even a few bucks to get a bus ride home. We were tempted to give her money but we are advised to stay away from such activities. She told us to cancel the ambulance because she will "get it figured out." We concluded that meant the little girl will only get the band-aid we left with them.
And last but not least, who could forget the reckless mustang plowing through a parked car at a gas station at 6 in the morning. Why? We don't even ask anymore. The last we saw of him he was cuffed in the back of a police car.
Throw in a few more medical runs much like the first and that is our day. Hope this helps.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
It's just a cat right?
I had a good friend text me the other day, "Dear settled homeowner, are u in the market for a beautiful gray cat w blue eyes? he will surely turn ur house into a home. price: free. sweet, cuddly, but not needy." Well sounds like a bargain if I have ever heard of one. There are several factors that go into this decision. 1. As a young boy, I indeed did have a gray sheeba feline known as Smokey. Ah the memories are flooding back... 2. I AM a settled homeowner I can do WHATEVER the darn well I please with this establishment. Ill bring in a Siberian Tiger if I WANT! Of course I'll take a cat. 3. Loaded message, "surely can turn your house into a home." What homeowner doesn't secretly want your house to be THE hangout? What homeowner doesnt want the HOME in HOMEowner to be taken literally? Who wants a house that is not a home? So in a matter of several seconds, I agreed. I am now the owner of a fat cat named Isaac.
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