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 |  34 Years as a Paramedic. 6 Years as a Patrolman. These are the stories. |
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When I was 8 my Mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her "A Paramedic, a Policeman, a Fireman and a Cowboy". Hell, I couldn't decide which one I wanted to be, I was only 8. Well here I am 56 years old and I almost achieved my goals ! I joined the volunteer fire department on my 16th birthday where my Dad and brother were serving. My Dad was the Assistant Chief. My friends at school were volunteers too. Some FFs (firefighters) and some EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) They convinced me to join the volunteer EMS (Emergency Medical Service) I refer to that as the best decision I've been paying for my whole life. I served as a volunteer FF for 15 years on 2 departments. When I got a car I transferred to the department my friends were at because they had a rescue truck. (Plus I could put blue lights on my car and get girls to notice me) There I trained in basic and advanced vehicle rescue, special vehicle rescue (semi trucks and busses mostly) trench, high angle (ropes and pulleys) and collapsed structure rescue. I learned how to be a mask man too because I thought the action at the fire scene was at the hot end of the hose. My best friend at the time was a fellow named Mike who I met in first grade. He got me through EMT class then talked me into the Paramedic Program. We took it together. We were both too young but our Chief made some phone calls and pulled some strings and got us in a year early. I was a dedicated volunteer and as years went by jobs opened up and I chose to do it as a career. I took a 6 year break from EMS to try my hand at police work. In The fall of 1992 I graduated Valedictorian of my Police Academy, and received the "Top Gun" Award for achieving 3 consecutive perfect scores during hand gun qualifications. I eventually returned to my original love, being a Paramedic. I would still be one today if not for a young man on a cellphone who failed to see a huge Ambulance painted with reflective yellow and white paint and pretty red lights blocking his entire path on a sunny cloudless afternoon. Kids. People asked about my time in public safety. About the worst, biggest, funniest and most bizarre. I told them stories but not the bad stuff, no need for them to throw up on my shoes, right? Usually I'd tell them the weird stuff. Most of them would tell me "You should write a book." So instead of being a cowboy, I'm an aspiring author. Besides, horses have weird eyes, like they can read your mind when looking at you. Creepy. |
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