a call came in recently. Two vehicles involved, entrapment, and one on fire.
After swimmin there through the adrenalin. I find that a heads up trucker had put out the fire. We made short work out of cuttin the recycled soda cans out from around a lil'ol'lady.
Considerin a compound fracture on her left thigh, and two between her right knee and ankle, she was holdin up real good.
When the Paramedics and EMTs went to transfer her onto the gurney they hit a snag though. Ever time they went to lift, she'd start yelling to stop. She was complaining that her feet were still trapped and she couldn't feel nuthin but that were still hot and burning.
They weren't, and the fire just heated up the firewall while her feet were pinned against it. It was just memory.
With the laws involved these days, the registered/certified caregivers can't even discuss extent of injuries with the injured party. And when she says stop, they're obliged.
Since I dropped out four months into 1st Responder training when we got to the legal ramifications part, I was left to play the role of the bad guy.
I told her,"Mam, I'm just a fireman, but you've got both legs broken. When they move you, it's going to hurt no matter how they do it. The longer it takes, the more the feeling is going to return and it's going to hurt worse. If you think you can tough it out for just a few seconds, you'll be safely in the ambulance and on your way to the hospital to get something for the pain."
She complied, and the medics did their thing. It hit a snag when nobody was in place to support her feet. Since I was dressed in full bunker gear I was acting as a shield for the jagged metal where we'd cut the door off and peeled the top back. That put me in position to lean in, with my heavy fireproof gloves rather than latex, and realigned her feet to her legs until they laid her down again.
Afterwards while sanitizing my gloves of 'body fluids' in a state of disassociation, I flashed back to times when in just such a state I'd been washing Huey floors.
Afterwards, I asked my Chief if I'd overstepped the safety of 'good samaritan' and tort protection. He had no complaints about that.
He was pissed that I'd filled his butt crack with glass when I punched out the back window though. He'd been sitting in the back seat, with his arms lifted above sholder high to manually stabilize her neck. When I warned them that I was punching the glass they'd covered her with a sheet, but he'd forgotten how high up a big man's crack can go.
He's a good EMT, but still has some to learn about being Chief. If he'd have taken on his rightful duty as Incident Commander and left patient care to subordinates...
We all done good though. Got good local press. And him shakin handfulls of glass out his britches legs and walkin funny was an excellent tension breaker for us after the meatWagon left.
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PTSD; VA inPatient
Some may find this informative and usefull. It's a personal account (by someone else) based on several years ago:
" ...your questions about a 28-day visit to the fruit farm.
I did a 90 day program at Topeka a long time ago.
Privileges change with the tenure of your stay. At first, it's like boot camp. Later, you will be given freedom to roam the grounds but you must sign out and state your destination...gym...library...etc.
I was locked down from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. After a short time I was allowed to leave the hospital grounds...eventually I got weekend passes.
I wore civilian clothes. We had a dead man's store. Many vets die at V.A. hospitals. Seems like loved ones want to buy them lots of new underwear, shoes, pants, shirts etc. before they croak. Most of this clothing...a lot of it new...was donated to the dead man's store. I used to go there and find stuff that would fit me (I was a street person before I went into the program and needed stuff!)
Visitation was always encouraged. Isolation was discouraged. You could not find a pla
ce to hide and lick your wounds. Someone was always in my face to cheer me up...pissed me off sometimes...but I wasn't allowed to drop out and isolate.
I don't know what you are up against...but you can find out their specific rules...what crafts and diversions are available etc.
I suggest that you turn your transmitter off and your receiver volumn way up. Soak up some smarts...don't supply all the answers (intellictualization and rationalization)...kick back at a safe place and be a sponge. I hope you will gain from the experience...but you and only you can let it happen.
At the worst...it will be good for you and you will come away a different person. They will strip you of a lot of self defense mechanisms and other bullshit you have clung to for many years. You'll feel vulnerable until you develop new stategies or reclaim the old disfunctional crap.
You are a gifted person...your intelligence and extraordinary imagery can serve you well or block input from others. The ball is in your court.
Suck'em up! Hang Tough! Then chill out...it'll be a good ride. "
" ...your questions about a 28-day visit to the fruit farm.
I did a 90 day program at Topeka a long time ago.
Privileges change with the tenure of your stay. At first, it's like boot camp. Later, you will be given freedom to roam the grounds but you must sign out and state your destination...gym...library...etc.
I was locked down from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. After a short time I was allowed to leave the hospital grounds...eventually I got weekend passes.
I wore civilian clothes. We had a dead man's store. Many vets die at V.A. hospitals. Seems like loved ones want to buy them lots of new underwear, shoes, pants, shirts etc. before they croak. Most of this clothing...a lot of it new...was donated to the dead man's store. I used to go there and find stuff that would fit me (I was a street person before I went into the program and needed stuff!)
Visitation was always encouraged. Isolation was discouraged. You could not find a pla
ce to hide and lick your wounds. Someone was always in my face to cheer me up...pissed me off sometimes...but I wasn't allowed to drop out and isolate.
I don't know what you are up against...but you can find out their specific rules...what crafts and diversions are available etc.
I suggest that you turn your transmitter off and your receiver volumn way up. Soak up some smarts...don't supply all the answers (intellictualization and rationalization)...kick back at a safe place and be a sponge. I hope you will gain from the experience...but you and only you can let it happen.
At the worst...it will be good for you and you will come away a different person. They will strip you of a lot of self defense mechanisms and other bullshit you have clung to for many years. You'll feel vulnerable until you develop new stategies or reclaim the old disfunctional crap.
You are a gifted person...your intelligence and extraordinary imagery can serve you well or block input from others. The ball is in your court.
Suck'em up! Hang Tough! Then chill out...it'll be a good ride. "
PTSD; introSpection
I didn't say this. It's a quote from a much greater man than myself. A man nominated for our country's highest recognition and award for valor. This ain't no wimp or whiner folks, he's the real deal!
I could've said it. I would've if I had the skills. I'm sorry I can't identify the author or the medium he used. It's a loyalty thing.
"Seems like I spend a lot of time wanting to be a victim. Lots of self-pity and a prevailing sense of not giving a shit about anything. I believe that I am getting some insight into the mechanics of self-defeating behavior. I know there are things that I should do...but I lapse into a lethargic state of not caring. There is a strong sense of unexplainable rebellion lurking in the dark corners of my mind. I am my worst enemy and a formidable one at that. Some inate, indomitable spirit keeps me humpin' toward the light. I know that I will make it out...I'm just pissed that I have to deal with it all the time."
I could've said it. I would've if I had the skills. I'm sorry I can't identify the author or the medium he used. It's a loyalty thing.
"Seems like I spend a lot of time wanting to be a victim. Lots of self-pity and a prevailing sense of not giving a shit about anything. I believe that I am getting some insight into the mechanics of self-defeating behavior. I know there are things that I should do...but I lapse into a lethargic state of not caring. There is a strong sense of unexplainable rebellion lurking in the dark corners of my mind. I am my worst enemy and a formidable one at that. Some inate, indomitable spirit keeps me humpin' toward the light. I know that I will make it out...I'm just pissed that I have to deal with it all the time."
