Law Enforcement,rescue,emt,firefig hters & Dispatchers

[jrae]

LAW ENFORCEMENT,RESCUE,EMT,FIREFIG HTERS & DISPATCHERS

GOD BLESS ALL OF US OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!


What I wish people knew about EMS, Firefighters, Dispatchers, & Law Enforcement.

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 husband's horror at 6 in the morning as I check his wife of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring her back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting her husband and family to know everything possible was done to try to save her 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 2x4 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 have the sleepless nights, remembering the faces of the children you've seen, that were killed and/or maimed resulting from traffic crashes. How many shredded or crushed innocent children's bodies have you had to look at?

Have you ever had to wash the odor of charred or decomposed human flesh, from your clothing? Do you think you could forget that smell? We can't.

I wish you had to intercede, after some trailer park dope decided to smash a fish tank across his wife's head, because she didn't buy enough beer for him to drink. Look at the faces of the poor children, that had to be the witnesses. Take that into your dreams.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine or unit 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 however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!"

A few hours later, some annoyed and overstressed driver, is cursing and spitting, because he's getting a traffic citation, for failing to yield the right of way, or playing his 5000 watt music, too loud. Does he care that you're trying to sleep, 150 feet away from the street he drives on?

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 is her parent's reaction going to be when they open 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 here 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 someone's 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 you 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, we are, or what our job really
means to us... I wish you could though.

Keep sending this on.. Appreciate and Support the local EMS Workers, 911 Dispatchers, Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers in your area.

One day they'll probably be saving your property or own life. When you see them coming with lights flashing, move out of the way quickly, then pray for them!

[Piggybank Cop]

I wish they could give a shit about something other than themselves; but it won't happen.

[Terminator]

Nice post

[armygrnt502]

Nice post

Indeed...Nice Post.

[jmur5074]

Not just a good post....a VERY good post.

[BEK]

I wish they knew how hard it is to take a crap when your working, you have a ton of junk to take off, then you have to find a place to put your firearm so no one takes you out on the crapper.... they didnt tell me this at the acadamy...oh and nice post

[TXCharlie]

At least 4 of our firefighters are licensed peace officers, which is interesting... one is the SWAT medic. The lines are bluring

[Operator13]

jrae
Officer First Class



+1

[dadyswat]

Good Post!!

[Buttercup]

That's a great post.

[BigDawg]

Very nice post.........Thank you.

[tapout]

I wish they knew how hard it is to take a crap when your working, you have a ton of junk to take off, then you have to find a place to put your firearm so no one takes you out on the crapper.... they didnt tell me this at the acadamy...oh and nice post

lol...indeed

i couldnt imagine being a female, and having to that every time i took a leak

[E-man]

Great post Jrae, Thanks....

[chris2001]

Damn you jenn. Why must your posts make so much sense. Good post. Oh and smack brad for me please .

[depusm12]

Excellent post. It's very true too.