Isn’t it funny how someone’s world can change in a split second? In the EMS field we deal with it all the time. 17 year-old boy having some innocent fun in the Delaware River , went underwater and didn’t come back up. He was pulled from the cold deeper water by one of the rescuers who was frantically searching, and risking his own life. I was the first trained person to touch this young man and I didn’t give up until the M.D. pronounced  his death, and I didn’t want to give up then either. I spent over 1 hour trying to revive him with CPR and an AED because I care. I care about the family members sitting on the shore begging me to save their son, brother, and their friend. My heart was so heavy knowing the probable outcome for this young man that so many "strangers" tried to save. As I held his lifeless body in my arms, I felt my heart breaking as if I lost someone I loved. Is it wrong to get so attached to a patient that I never met or would never meet again? It isn’t wrong because I care about the safety and wellbeing of the public I vowed to assist and help. I pray for the family and friends of this young man. I also pray for everyone that reached out a helping hand to a total stranger. Everyone on the bank of the river that day, did everything possible to save this young man. It is unfortunate that we can’t stop death, but we can remember to live our lives to the fullest and one day maybe meet those people that we have tried to save but lost.

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Well, the first day of Fire Academy was kind of what I would have expected from boot camp,  if I had joined the military.  Minus the yelling.  Petty punishment for small mistakes, but overall very clear and to the point.  I definitely knew what is expected of me during the academy.  I think the younger guys may have a tough time with certain aspects of the training and eventually the job.  Being accountable and taking responsibility for actions and decisions.  We were pretty much told that if we fail they don't care, if we screw up, they don't care.  If we didn't follow directions and didn’t do what we're told, then it's our problem.  Which is absolutely true.  I think there were guys in there whom had a rude awakening.  I think there is a misconception that they'd be able to coast through the training and become buddies with our instructors and everything would be great. 

They don't want to be our buddies, they want to know without any doubt, that we know what we're doing.  After all, someday we may just be working alongside them in the field and they need to know that we know what we're doing.  I think some people in the class got a little spooked, but I'm fired up and can't wait.  I'm sure I'll make mistakes, but I know I'll learned from them and move on stronger and smarter.  Being a father of four, being an example is my life and that won't change in the academy or my career.

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It was the first time I made it on scene. I had tried for weeks but each time I missed the truck or we were recalled. This time everything lined up, we got called out for additional manpower.  I was heading down the final stretch to the fire house.  I pulled into the station, the whistle is blowing and the 1st due truck is leaving. I ran to get my gear and jumped on the first thing with flashing lights. Then I realized I had no idea what we were responding to, I was in such a hurry all I heard was "station 26-2 respond" and took off.

I asked the lieutenant and it was an activated fire alarm. When we arrived, I could see the neighbors looking out their windows and standing in their doorways. I looked at the house. There was a little old lady in her doorway panicking because she had two fire engines in her front yard and firemen piling out. She never called 911, so she assumed a neighbor saw smoke. Since I was a junior member, I hung by the trucks while the rest of the crew went to investigate. Turned out she was vacuuming her basement and the dust set off the alarm. She must have turned off the vacuum and heard the alarm, went upstairs and saw the trucks out front. Her son came running over as soon as he saw the commotion. We explained there was no fire and we would ventilate the basement for her. Well it was my time to shine.  I grabbed the fan and we blew out a couple decades worth of dust.  Then I packed everything back in the trucks and we headed back to the station.