The Best Gifts Come in Small Packages

As I watched my family opening their gifts on Christmas day, it got me thinking about the suspense of the unknown.  Often times, we may have a pretty good idea what is inside the brightly decorated gift boxes.  After all, we all made our lists, shared our wishes, and answered the over-asked question “What do you want for Christmas?”

If that doesn’t work, we immediately call upon our other senses to help us guess what is inside the package.  How big is the box?  How much does it weigh?  Does it rattle or shift?  Who is it from?  Are they generous or stingy?  Why do we have this fascination of finding out what is in the package before unwrapping it? 

Then, as I usually do, I compared that little part of life to the emergency services.  In many ways, we do the same thing every time we are dispatched to a call.  We do a mental reconnaissance, based on the information we get from dispatch.  We consider the words of the dispatcher carefully.  The word “possible” always raises doubt, while “multiple calls received”, or “across from…” raise the pucker factor a notch or two.  We also consider the time of day, the neighborhood, the specific location, and the pitch of the dispatchers’ voice; much like we consider the size and shape of the “gift”.

Occasionally, the info is very clear; as easy as guessing a football that is “shrink-wrapped in foil paper.  Other times, the information is vague, like a shirt box from Grandma.  The truth, however, is that we never really know what we are getting until we arrive at the scene, or “unwrap the gift! 

We can easily make the comparison between the “big one” under the tree and the “big one” we get dispatched to.  But how do we define a “valuable” call?  With gifts, it is not always the dollar amount that makes a gift valuable.  We must consider sentimental value, personal need, sacrifice by the gift-giver, timing, and thoughtfulness when we “value” a gift.  But with emergency calls, things are a bit different. 

Obviously, calls that result in saving a life are the most valuable of all, and we can certainly stick a feather in our hats if we do an exceptional job saving property.  But sometimes, the most rewarding calls are the most innocent ones… like an engagement ring in a shoebox full of packing peanuts. 

One that comes to mind was a “possible structure fire” call I ran on Christmas night.  Dispatch received only one call from the resident, reporting a “pop” and a smell of something hot from the microwave. You kind of knew right away that this was going to be like getting a pair of tube socks from your aunt, but manners dictate that you smile and say thank you either way. As expected, it was quickly determined to be a malfunction in the appliance, and no fire.  The units packed up their gear and cleared the scene, thankful for the “socks”, unaware that there was a diamond to be found in the toe. 

The resident was a sixty-something widow, who lived alone, and was clearly feeling lonely on this holiday evening.  The panic and excitement clearly added to this poor woman’s stress.  As I collected the necessary information for the fire report, I took an extra 15 minutes to listen to her story.  She was frightened, lonely, and sad.  But by giving her my time and attention, I relieved her tension, soothed her anxiety, and had her looking forward to the new microwave she would soon have.  While driving back to the station, I had a warm fuzzy feeling.  I am not sure if this sensation was from giving or receiving.  All I know is that this gift cost me nothing and meant the world to her.

Merry Christmas Margaret! 

Happy Holidays, Brothers and Sisters

'Twas the night before Christmas, and everything was still.

A night without sirens would sure be a thrill.

The station was quiet, the TV was off,

Just an occasional fart or sniffle or cough.

The night shift was nestled all snug in their beds,

With the CPAP manifold strapped to their heads.

The chief wore his boxers that matched his red cap.

At least it wasn't his jammies with the rear access flap,

When out of the speakers toned up such a clatter,

They sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

The lights flickered on with a blinding white flash,

As they staggered to the engine room in a blurry-eyed dash.

The glow of the lamp near the dalmation’s litter

Lit their sleepy little eyes that sparkled like glitter ,

They were all still too young to be running the calls,

Eight wee little, squeaky little, squirmy fur balls,

The Chief was so cheery, so lively and slick,

He ran to the kennel and grabbed them up quick.

It was time for these puppies to build up their fame,

He scooped up those cuties, and dispatched them by name;

"Now Freckles; now Dotty; now Ashes and Spotty!

On Cinder; on Inky; on Bootsie and Blotty!

Now get in the buggy, it’s time for your first call!

Now bounce along, bounce along, bounce along all!"

As they rounded the corner they widened there eyes,

When they spotted the header, shooting up in the sky,

So up to the house fire the engines they flew,

The ladder, the rescue and the puppy dogs, too.

And then, all the truckies, went up on the roof

The “saw man”, the “axe man” and that squirrelly little goof.

They opened the vent hole, and were headed back down,

When out came the probie, looking just like a clown.

He was dressed in his turnouts, from his head to his foot,

And his gear finally tarnished with ashes and soot;

The wet, grimy hose he had flung on his back,

Means maybe the vets will stop giving him flack

His eyes -- how they twinkled, his dimples -- how merry!

You could tell right away that he just “broke his cherry”!

The puppies looked on, just enjoying the show,

The chief let them out to make some yellow snow;

The bitter cold air made them chatter their teeth,

As the smoke it encircled the block like a wreath;

The crews tired muscles were feeling like jelly,

And they dream about getting some food in their belly.

When out came the neighbors with cookies and milk,

And coffee and cocoa brewed up smooth as silk.

A package of meat snacks made the puppy tails wag,

In just a few minutes they emptied the bag.

So, please, as you celebrate this holiday season,

Give thought to the heroes that are the big reason

That you are alive and your house is intact,

And the crooks are in jail for illegal acts;

So, to all my brothers and sisters who serve,

I extend all the thanks and praise you deserve.

May your pagers stay quiet, and your call load light.

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

All I Want For Christmas

The Christmas holiday is right around the corner.  Along with the joy of the season comes the tension of tragedy that is likely to occur.  Every emergency responder remembers that one call that rots at their gut, not only because of the circumstances, but because the time of the year makes it extraordinarily memorable. 

As a kid, I remember my father’s haunting was a double fatal house fire, while the parents were away and the kids were left in the care of a babysitter.  He never really talked about the emotions that plagued him and his colleagues.  Perhaps he thought I was too young. As the years wore on, and the stories continued, I began to understand the impact that call had on all the people who responded that tragic night.

The EMS veterans certainly have memories of the cardiac arrest call at a holiday dinner party, or the dreadful “unresponsive person” calls on Christmas morning that end up with a call for a coroner.  Surely, every cop remembers taking mommy or daddy away from crying kids during the holiday season, as well.  Bless them all for dealing so closely with the humanity of the holiday.   

One of my first bad memories was a crash with entrapment a week after Christmas.  Imagine my horror when I discovered the girl we were extricating was a friend of mine.  I think of her every year around this time when I hear a crash along that road, or whenever I see one of her friends during the holidays.  We really don’t talk about her any more, and I wonder if they remember her the way I do…battered and struggling for her life.  No matter how hard I try to remember her smiling face and her endless giggle, I can’t shake the image of her on that cold icy highway.

It seems like every year, there is some memorable fire in the days leading up to Christmas; fires that route people from their homes or apartments, destroying gifts, and memories and replacing them with nightmares that will last for decades.  In 32 years, I have seen more scorched Christmas decorations, and burned up Christmas trees than I care to see.  

So PLEASE, everybody, blow out your candles, check those old holiday lights, don’t overload your circuits, watch what you are cooking, be careful with your fireplace ashes, keep your tree watered daily.  Furthermore, celebrate wisely, and don’t drive if you have been drinking.  Keep your head cool, even if you don’t get the gift you wanted from Santa. 

All I want for Christmas is for every law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMS provider to have a pleasant, quiet holiday.  I am hoping Christmas 2011 is the season that is remembered for having nothing notable happen.  A little snow would be nice, as well.