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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Remember.
        
(Message started by: medic1852 on Mar 28^th, 2006, 3:21pm)

Title: Remember.
Post by medic1852 on Mar 28^th, 2006, 3:21pm

Firefighters, police officers and all the emergency response people

I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning
bedroom for trapped children at 3 AM, flames rolling above your head,
your palms and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your
weight as the kitchen below you burns.

I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in the morning
as I Check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start
CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too
late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was
done to try to save his life.

I wish you knew the unique smell of burning insulation, the
taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your
turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able
to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that I've become too
familiar with.

I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire
"Is this a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building
constructed? What hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?"

Or to call, "What is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or
life-threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for
us with a 2 X 4 or a gun?"

I wish you could be in the emergency room as a doctor pronounces
dead The beautiful five-year old girl that I have been trying to save
during the past 25 minutes, who will never go on her first date or say
the words, "I Love you Mommy" again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the
engine, squad or my personal vehicle, the driver with his foot pressing
down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn
chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in
traffic. When you need us how ever, your first comment upon our arrival
will be, "It took you forever to get here!"

I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of
teenage years from the remains of her automobile. "What if this was my
daughter, sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her parents
reaction going to be when they opened the door to find a police officer
with hat in hand?"

I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and
greet My parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I
nearly did NOT come back from the last call.

I wish you could know how it feels dispatching officers,
firefighters and EMT's out and when we call for them and our heart drops
because no one answers back or to hear a bone chilling 911 call of a
child or wife needing assistance.

I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally, and sometimes
physically, abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express their
attitudes of "It will never happen to me."

I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental
drain or Missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities, in
addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen.

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of
helping save a life or preserving someones property, or being able to
be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos.

I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little
boy Tugging at your arm and asking, "Is Mommy okay?" Not even being able
to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to
say. Or to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy
having CPR done on him as they take him away in the Medic Unit. You know
all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have
become too familiar with.

Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never
truly understand or appreciate who I am, who we are, or what our job
really means to us........I wish you could though.

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Linda_Howell on Mar 28^th, 2006, 3:28pm

Thank you for that glimpse into a world most don't fully appreciate and very few have the courage to live.

Linda

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by LeLimey on Mar 28^th, 2006, 4:22pm

Damnit Rodg that's two nights in a row you've made me leak!
Thanks hon

for everything. :-*

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Mar 28^th, 2006, 5:15pm

You guys are my heroes. Thanks to all of your kind for all you do and all you try.

Carol

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by tanner on Mar 28^th, 2006, 5:23pm

Medic, I honor everyone who gives in the spirit that you do to help others and to defend our country!

You get double kudos !!

greatfully ......................tim

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by lilboo on Mar 28^th, 2006, 6:32pm

Wow, that was very touching, you guys truly are amazing. I know my son wouldn't be here if it wasn't for people like you and my husbands life has also been saved on several occasions.
I for one thank god there are people like you out there and really appreciate what you do.
You are like angels on earth.
Thank You

Kathy

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Jonny on Mar 28^th, 2006, 6:50pm

David Lee Roth is an EMT.

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by medic1852 on Mar 28^th, 2006, 6:54pm

on 03/28/06 at 18:50:50, Jonny wrote:

David Lee Roth is an EMT.

Hate to see him on the scene of a "jumper"....[smiley=crackup.gif]

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Jonny on Mar 28^th, 2006, 6:57pm

on 03/28/06 at 18:54:01, medic1852 wrote:

Hate to see him on the scene of a "jumper"....[smiley=crackup.gif]

LMAO....Rodg, ;;D

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by PL259 on Mar 28^th, 2006, 7:00pm

Thanks for that.

JImbo
District 5 Volunteer Fire

Going to print that and show it to the powers that be in my job, since in their infinite wisdom they made me transport special needs patients last year. Had an emt bag but not an emt, Duh, Dumb, yeah, I shud have quit on the spot. They are now going to let me go get a basic emt certification (before the next hurricane I hope).

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by medic1852 on Mar 28^th, 2006, 7:00pm

You all have a safe and pain free one...I am off to get my nappy ass on the truck and keep the town safe from drunks and disability freaks.....

Rodger

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by echo on Mar 28^th, 2006, 7:02pm

Thanks for sharing your "wish" list.

As an ex cop and nam vet I can relate to only a few of them.

Proud father of a Marine who became a fireman, EMT and now a policeman.

I am so very thankful that we have men and women who chose this path for a career.

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Charlie on Mar 28^th, 2006, 11:12pm

Thanks Rodg. It is tiny look at a world that I haven't much experienced. I only know it second hand from some firefighter friends. Every now and then I hear stuff that's hard to believe.

Glad you're still among us too.

Charlie

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Melissa on Mar 29^th, 2006, 10:11am

:'(

Thank you Rodger.

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by imnotbub on Mar 29^th, 2006, 10:26am

Thanks Rodger, my son is a paramedic in Newark NJ. I don't see him too much, I guess he's very busy, and when I do, he doesn't talk about it. It's an eye opener to know just what it is that my boy does for a living.

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by aprilbee on Mar 29^th, 2006, 10:29am

WOW... :'(

here in Oklahoma we are flying our flags at half mast for a fallen firefighter who was helping put out wild fires here...God Bless ALL of you....... :-*

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Dragnlance on Mar 29^th, 2006, 10:36am

I have a close friend that is an EMT. I get to hear some of the horrors that he gets to witness. I can't figure out why he does it. I couldnt.

Thanks for posting Rog.

Lance

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by sandie99 on Mar 29^th, 2006, 12:42pm

It takes a lot of guts to face those situations day after day. I know that I would not have the courage nor strength to do that. Rodger, you're one of everyday heroes. :)

Best wishes & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Lizzie2 on Mar 29^th, 2006, 12:56pm

on 03/29/06 at 10:26:04, imnotbub wrote:

Newark, NJ? Busy for sure!!!

Rodger - Thanks for posting that and thanks for all who do what you do!!

As one who used to receive in the Emergency Department, I only know a fraction of the story, but saw horrors that most people couldn't even dream about if they tried.

Rough world out there...

Hugz,
Carrie :)

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Ghost on Mar 29^th, 2006, 1:14pm

Monday I will know if I get accepted by Volunteer Fire Dept. Here.

Did some + schools and training in Navy, so I decided a couple months ago to put some of that to use finially.

Mike

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Gator on Mar 29^th, 2006, 2:13pm

Thanks Rodger. I wish more people had a greater appreciation for what our first responders go through.

I was a Law Enforcement Patrolman in the Air Force. Have done the traffic accident fatality response, helped extricate victims from smashed vehicles, smelled burning hair and flesh, stood watch over a body that took a header from a 2nd story balcony for 12 hours in the hot sun until the prefecture (Japan) coroner released the body, been there as families were notified of accidents and deaths, suffered the loss of a brother officer, entered an aircraft that crashed as it lifted off and helped passengers out, even though there was a possibility of fire and explosion, faced drunks with knives and beer bottles, responded to domestic abuse where the wife attacked us as we hauled the man who beat the crap out of her away, ate cold meals or did without, been ridiculed and cursed for doing my job, the list goes on and on.

Have never had to go into a burning building. Burning to death is one of my biggest fears. I have nothing but respect for those who do it for a living.

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by medic1852 on Mar 29^th, 2006, 3:49pm

Thank you all so very much for you kind words.. It means alot to me. I posted this not for myself but so that you all would remember the ones who are out there and what they see and hear...We do this job not for glory but to serve and help...to make our towns a safer place....

Rodger

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by SherriW on Mar 29^th, 2006, 4:20pm

I lived in ny for 13 years and was there when the towers whet down ... I remember the fearless men and woman who took on such a task.. I remember the hurt and pain we all went through...I will never forget... Nor will I ever forget the ones just like u... U are all hero and u give ur lives so freely to help others... and for that I am truly grateful... ;)

Title: Re: Remember.
Post by Richr8 on Mar 29^th, 2006, 4:46pm

Thanks Rodg! My heart goes out to all who choose to serve.

I am originally from NYC, and my oldest son and Sister in law were both in the towers when they fell. Both survived, although my sister in law has not worked a day since . To this day she dreams about the bodies of the people that jumped hitting the ground around her. It took her life in a very different way.

My son was actually late for a meeting and had not yet entered the tower when the first jet struck. My sister in law was at work on the 7th floor of tower 2. She was actually out of the building before the 2nd jet plowed in. My X and I watched it all on TV knowing her sister was in one of the towers. We had no idea our son was in the area and only found out about his close encounter later in the day when he called.

Rich