I WISH YOU KNEW

[irnsrgn]

This hit pretty close to me in more ways than one, and I thought I would share. irnsrgn

I wish you knew...............(written by one who does)

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 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 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 however, 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 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 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, we are, or what our job really means
to us...I wish you could though.

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 YOUR OWN LIFE. WHEN YOU SEE THEM COMING WITH LIGHTS FLASHING, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY, THEN PRAY FOR THEM!

[JerryCarroll]

irn--I would like to share the message too in a couple of our local papers. Are you the author? Can I submit it in your name or as something from Iforgeiron without someone wanting to break all my hammer handles? It's a great message!!

Happy New Year from the Carroll's

[Brian C.]

You got me Jr.. I know. All to well. And I wouldnt have missed a minute of it.

Thanks Chief

[irnsrgn]

Jerry, it was sent to me, no author is listed, so just put author unknown.

[Ten Hammers]

That is an accurate story Junior. Thanks

[Leah]

Jr.,

I read this to Steve, thank you for sharing this.

[sandpile]

JR. Ole Pard. That is right, every piece of it.

I have a boy working in the ER at the biggest hospital in San Angelo Tx.

A little closer to home. In 1976 our home burned, not completely because the train finally got off the crossing. I contributed pretty good to the volunteer fire dept. in our small town. These guys managed to save a lot of stuff for us. Things that you can not buy back. They appologised for the delay of the train. I told them no-problem, you got here faster than I thought was possible.

My appr. does not stop there. Five years ago I woke up at five in the morning, knowing I was having a different type of heart attack. I had had the crushing pain types, this sucker was going up my neck!! I had read in the medical books that this is how some Main(Widow Maker) Arota blockages start out.

SCOTT LEATHERWOOD the head of our EMT/INSTRUCTOR just happened to be on the Meat Wagon. This young man is at the top of his game. He and his helper JENNY KIBBY came ten miles out fetched me to the local Hospital. Buttoned up the hatches and got ready for what was coming. PA. SEAN GREENE and A local Doc., RANDY HERRING. All came in and started setting up for a tough fight. I knew enough to know that all the folks that had recieved recognition for their expertise were in the ER.GRIN Little did I know. This started ten miles from town--then 70 airmiles to Amarillo.

I coded twice on them and they finally got me stable enough to attempt a Life-Flight. I coded on the little guy in the blue jumpsuit. he radioed back to home that he had lost me. Then changed frequences to match AMARILLO ER. He Shot E&E to me and give me three shocks. I made it back long enough for them to land and get a stent in place. Because of his last transmission to Dalhart, I have taken quite a bit of teasing--thanks to the LORD.GRIN

Thanks to a well established game plan, a great gang of young men and women. The GOOD LORDS help and the luck of the Irish. I made it through for my family and especially a five year old Grandson.

My family and I have special place in our hearts for the folks that devote a very large amount of their life to helping others. They do this because there is a need for them and they are strong enough to stand the stress and the strain on their personal lives.

I just thank the LORD everytime I hear the sirens. I know who is on the different vehicles and know they have went away from home for a lot of their training. Hours and hours of practice in their different jobs of fire and rescue.

These folks cannot be comended enough.

I too am going to put this in the local paper. Thanks.

Chuck Bennett