'When Tragedy Strikes'

SHIFT 23...Rick's ReFlections of his 32 years career in the Fire Service...

Of the great variety of calls that we respond to in the Fire Department, none is perhaps more terrifying than a collapse. Whether it is above or below ground, trying to determine if the incident is safe to proceed into is often a very tough call. Such was the case on July 31, 1997 as Iron Workers were working on the construction of the seven story structure. I still remember the tap out, “fire department, you are responding on a collapse of the parking structure adjacent to the terminal.” Usually dispatch would state the particular vehicles that would respond and give further instructions, but I imagine that they figured that the entire station would be responding and that ‘collapse’ would be more than sufficient. That particular day I happened to be on one of our ARFF vehicles and was able to get within walking distance of the incident. The Rescue and the Engine responded around front and myself and one other member walked from the back side of the terminal. Upon arrival we attempted to determine if there were other workers or bystanders that might be in the way of danger and if the structure had any appearance of further collapse. We were able to move some ‘non-essential’ people back, but with three men down, and unknown if others, it was difficult to even begin to request the ‘Iron Workers’ to stop assisting and looking for fellow brothers. So assist their fallen brothers they did in a most honorable way. In the end, the metal gave the appearance of a child’s toy Lincoln Logs in which three men had lost their lives. It would be exactly a month later that two of our firefighters would retire, something that they had previously planned. Now they would have this scene play through their minds as one of their last memories of a long and distinguished career. 

- Praying...for the families of Sandy Hook -

On a side note: This particular post had been written days before posting it today the 14^th of December. As I write about ‘when tragedy strikes’ our county has experienced in the past three days men with rifles creating heinous acts of destruction. My prayers go out…as they had in 1997 for the men and their families of the parking structure, now for the families of Clackamas, Oregon and Newtown, Connecticut. It is one thing for a natural disaster or an unfortunate accident; it is another when man brings so much pain…so very much pain. Our empathy goes out to you Clackamas and to you Newtown.

In leading music this Sunday morning I am planning to sing Casting Crowns version of ‘Joyful, Joyful’. We come from so many walks of life, different beliefs. And though I will respect wherever you’re at, I continue to place my hope, my trust in Christ…in His love, His reconciliation, His redemption. Lord, “teach us how to love each other”.

Thank you Pella, Iowa for offering your beautiful rendition...this is the beauty of school...this is the beauty of children...the way it should be.

Surviving Cardiac Arrest...

 SHIFT 24...Rick's ReFlections of his 32 years career in the Fire Service...

Stand by for medical…Rescue 82, Engine 80 respond to a CH1, man down with CPR in progress at the ramp to Concourse ‘A’. There are many times that we reach a patient and have plenty of time to think, to observe, to plan and take action. Then there are other times…taking action is the only thing that matters, and fast is the only way. The ‘cardiac arrest’ patient is unquestionably one to expedite on. Arriving on this patient, CPR was in fact in progress. Also, one of our Lieutenants was in the area doing inspections, so he had run to his vehicle and grabbed his AED (automatic external defibrillator). We just so happen to both arrive at the same time so I took his ‘fun’ from him. A fact that he’s never let me forget. Anyway…I begin directing our crews to continue CPR, one begins using the Bag valve mask, another sets up the intubation equipment, another begins to search for an IV and I have the monitor.

 

This cardiac arrest or ‘code’ as we call them was running smoothly, but we just never seem to convert the patient into a normal or even different rhythm for that matter. In fact nearly 15 to 20 minutes had gone by and we continue administering our ACLS meds, CPR, shocking his V-Fib, when all of a sudden the patient’s rhythm does change. With any change back in those days we were to confirm if there was a pulse or not. With nearly 20 minutes of down time, I was sure that our 60+ year old patient was in a ‘psuedo’ or PEA rhythm. I was quite surprised when Ken, who was performing CPR, says: “he’s got a pulse”. I couldn’t believe it, so I checked for myself. The dude had not only had a pulse, but it was pounding. We package the patient and off to the ER he goes. My second great surprise came the next shift at briefing when they start talking about our ‘code’ from the previous shift. “Hey”, one of the guys says, “did you hear about our code”? “No, I said”. “They say he went home yesterday”.

 

The above scenario is rarely the case. Cardiac Arrest victims even today still have a dismal 5% survivability, especially when someone’s been down for greater than 5 minutes, and 15 minutes…almost unheard of. It is always great to hear about a good outcome for a patient. Of course it’s great for him or her, but also a definite morale booster for us. I sometimes wonder what an individual, such as this patient, did with his or her ‘new lease’ on life. It would be a fun conversation over coffee to listen to them tell their story of how things might have changed. Unfortunately (with HIPPA) we seldom even hear about a patient’s outcome let alone what difference a good outcome might have made.

 

 

Downtime...Ping Pong & Poop Deck

SHIFT 25...Rick's ReFlections of his 32 years career in the Fire Service...

Downtime at the Fire House takes many forms. Today’s blog I’ll peak into two. Though not played the past ten years as it was from the 70’s through the 90’s, Ping Pong has given a many good escapes. Games were never as much fun as with Duane or Big Al. Actually, now that I think about it, Little Al was pretty good himself and Mitch was always a competitor. The video at the bottom shows what some games would look like. Now, I know what you’re thinking…if you guys were this good…hello Olympics! And you’re right! Still we had many good and athletic games. I would often be the guy in the background of the video at a more than 5 to 10 feet from the table’s edge. What I didn’t have in finesse, I did have at reaching the little white ball and getting it back onto the table. 

 

Another fine ‘down time’ happening was the ‘Poop Deck’. As with Ping Pong it has lost much of its tradition. The change is due more than anything else to the ‘electronic’ era. Texting, cell phones, X-Box and computer games have taken away the time telling stories (many of them lies, repeated over and over) on the ole Poop Deck. Even so we still find an occasion to slowly gather out on the patio, aka Poop Deck. There is always laughter, remembering days gone by, playing guitars, planning for the day at the golf course or for some lighting up a cigar. Not so much into that last one, but a thing of camaraderie none-the-less.

Bear Hug...Leaves Lasting Impression

 SHIFT 26...Rick's ReFlections of his 32 years career in the Fire Service...

Delta MD11

It’s our monthly In-Service circa 1997 when we are tapped out (that’s not UFC, rather dispatched) to a BE3 (behavioral problem) at Delta 10 for an incoming flight. Tagging along is our Physician Advisor who was teaching the In-Service. While awaiting the aircrafts arrival we are told that a man on board the flight is having emotional problems over the death of his mother and they are unable to get him off the floor. Typically they will not land a plane without everyone buckled into their seats, but lack of fuel will make you do extraordinary things.  

Now the plane has landed, the other passengers have deplaned…and we board sure enough finding ‘Mr. Lee’ prone to the floor. After several minutes of discussion we are able to convince Mr. Lee to stand and walk off the MD11 aircraft. So now the story…Mr. Lee’s mom did die…three years ago. He traveled from Japan to New York to attend a funeral of a close friend. Now upon his return he is distraught over his friend, but is being reminded of the loss of his mother as well. Mr. Lee is a stocky 5’7” man of Korean birth, but has lived the majority of his life in Japan. Apparently there is a great amount of prejudice between the two and Mr. Lee has always lived with this psychological baggage. 

While attending to Mr. Lee, my partner is confirming with Delta if Mr. Lee will be able to continue his flight. Delta no sooner gives their blessing when Mr. Lee, who had been quite calm for the past 15 minutes, stands up grabs me in a ‘bear hug’, locking my arms to my side and lifts me off the ground. Note that we’ve been on scene with this patient for about an hour by this time and I have the sense that he’s pretty much gentle person who is just having ‘one of those moments’. Well, the drama of the moment definitely intensified. Police who were on scene from the start immediately ask me if I’m alright, to which I claim that I’m good for the time being. I’ve always thought that they should have called paging and announced over the PA… “Would the Korean gentleman, lifting the Paramedic off the ground please place him back onto the floor, you’re going to miss your flight”. Unfortunately miss his flight was now a given. 

The rest of the story…Mr. Lee did eventually place me back onto the floor, he did calm down and we were able to get him safely and quietly into the back of the ambulance. Before the doors shut he could be seen and heard shouting…USA, number one; Korea, number two; Japan, number three…Don’t know whatever happened to Mr. Lee. I imagine he got home. I hope he got further help. I know that he left me with a lasting impression…and I’m not talking just about a bear hug.