First on the Scene

This happened on the way to a book signing.

 

First On The Scene

 

We were on schedule and for a trip across four counties, that was not too bad. Following the GPS made it easy to get to our next book signing. I knew the area well enough, but not well enough to know where every book store is located. Soccer fields I can find with my eyes closed, hospitals I can (and have in the past) find in my sleep!

 

About twenty minutes before the book signing was to begin, I saw the accident. Two patients were on the ground after a collision with a car. A car pulled from a side street and struck the motorcycle, knocking both riders to the ground. My wife asked if I was going to stop. Seeing the child in the road, I knew my answer.

 

After telling our girls to sit tight, I parked the car to protect the scene and immediately went to the aid of the injured child. Treat the youngest patient with the greatest chance of survival. I play that line in my head repeatedly. It is a choice a medic has to make when they have more than one patient and only one set of hands.

 

Bystanders were calling the accident in and to my relief, there were others with medical training right there to help. On duty medics arrived in less than five minutes, we gave them report and helped load the patients into the ambulance.

 

Now, here is the rest of the story. I have had back surgery and therefore I am not supposed to be able to do what I did that day, ever. Supposedly, my back will not allow me to hold inline cervical spine immobilization, bend as much as I did or lift as much as I did that day. Was a guardian angel looking over that child and her father working through me? Or, am I getting the sign that maybe the doctors were wrong about my disability rating? 

 

All I know is today, I got to do what I was trained to do, and I felt like I was supposed to be there, doing what I do best. I gave aid and comfort to a total stranger when they needed help the most. That is my job as a Paramedic, as a father and as a citizen of this country.

Reviews

[Rilind Dragoshi]

I feel this story truly captures many things including the value of doingtthe work 1 knows, helping others, and even the mechanisms our bodies have to act very quickly and accurately when we know we are needed. It's very inspiring. i could feel the impact of your experience as well. Welldone aand hopefully it encourages others to do what they can, not just what others say they can.