Wednesday 08/05/09 @ 0217

I awake to the sound of my pager which reads," MEDICAL (location) LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (patient)FALLEN IN BATHROOM". I know the patient is the grandfather of a fellow firefighter in town. I get out of bed and get dressed rapidly. Grab my keys and out the door. I get to the station and realize I am the only trained medical First Responder currently (The chief is a medical First Responder but is out sick this week). I get into the station and grab all the medical bags as I know the patient has seen many years go by in his life. I start the grass rig and pull out of the station while notifying dispatch of the same.

As I arrive at the scene I see someone directing me inside as I notify dispatch that I am on scene and set up command. I grab the kits and head inside. Another firefighter arrives that knows the patient well and assists in assessing the patient. The patient had injuries to the face area sustained in the fall and was bleeding. We break out a cold pack and keep the patient from moving from the position he is currently in. Fortunately for us, the patient is conscious and able to communicate with us. The patients vitals are stable and we are not going to risk moving the patient.

As the paid FD arrives I pass on all information to them and wait for the ambulance that should arrive shortly behind them. The EMS crew arrive and I repeat what I told the firefighters. I then assist the EMS in getting some of their gear. The patient is collared and then back boarded placed on the gurney and taken to the ambulance. I leave the patient in the hands of the EMS and begin helping the family get ready to leave for the hospital. I wish them my best and start loading gear. I notify dispatch that command of the scene has been terminated and I will be returning to station.

I arrive back at the station and notify dispatch of the same at 0300 hours. Get the rig in, shut down, and unload the medical kits. I then go and do the necessary reports and call it a night.

Up in the wee hours of the morning... Check

Provide First Responder care to a patient... Check

Get back to station safe... Check

Money earned... $0

Monday 08/03/09 @ 2310

Pager goes off, "MED RESCUE TRUCK OVERTURNED JUST WEST OF (location). I grab my keys and pager and out the door I run. As I pull up to the station there are 3 other firefighters there getting in their gear and loading up. Out the door we roll with 2 grass rigs loaded with some medical gear. The drive was short and uneventful considering we only had to go 1/2 mile to the scene. As we approach the scene there is a semi-truck with a trailer load of hay layed over blocking most of a US highway that goes through our town.

Upon arrival I advise the firefighter with me to park on the far side of the accident because there was no emergency vehicles on the other side and traffic needed to be warned so we would not end up with a multi-vehicle accident that would more than likely get one of us hurt.

My first priority as the only trained First Responder on scene is to the driver. I make my way around the truck and find the driver walking around. I begin assessing his injuries which appear slight. He admits to some confusion. After I get him moved to a safe area I grab the medical kit and begin a more thorough evaluation. A rescue rig and ambulance show up from the only paid department in the county. They take over patient care. The driver said that he was alone but after admitting to confusion I began a search of the cab of the semi-truck to insure there were no more victims. The cab was clear.

During my walk to check the cab I smelled fuel and noticed a leak. I notified the incident commander of this. Another firefighter climbed into the cab and shutdown the electrical systems due to the fuel leak. Now we get to stand around as county and state troopers arrive and start the accident investigation and the ambulance departs to transport the driver to the ER. A wrecker arrives and after the trooper has gotten the information he needed off the truck gives the ok to move it. Another firefighter and I climb up on the trailer and start cutting away the straps off the hay so they can right the vehicle. We get clear and the wrecker pulls the truck back on its wheels. The Dept. of Transportation has brought out a front end loader to clear the hay off of the highway. It gets to its job as we stand around with nothing to do now but to monitor the scene. It is quite boring.

An hour later the wrecker has the truck ready to move out and the loader is finishing of the last of the hay. We load our gear and prepare to leave. We terminate the scene and head back to the station. I am absolutely amazed that we got back at 0130 on 08/04/09. Just to think I have an interview in the morning for a promotion at my full time job. Looks like I will be a little tired. I get home and realize I am too awake so I type out this little blurb and when it is done I will go to bed......

Responded to a accident.... Check

Administered First Responder level medical care.... Check

Returned to station with everyone safe...Check

Money earned.... $0