*I am not a first responder and I do not work in the medical field. This story is strictly for entertainment purposes and I don't guarantee the scenes will be realistically or accurately portrayed in terms of technicalities. I have no claim to characters from the television show Emergency! While in most instances I try to be true to the spirit of the show, I reserve the right to take liberties as to character development, "known history" of the characters etc., because my stories are for my own entertainment. I hope you, as readers will enjoy it too. I would welcome and very much appreciate a review from each reader. I take constructive criticism well and love the opportunity to improve my writing. If you must, leave it anonymously, although I would much prefer to be able to thank you for your comments and suggestions. Anonymous reviews are better than none at all. Thanks for checking it out. ENJOY!!
When Times Are ToughChapter one
"Good Morning," he said to his partner as he walked into the locker room. "How was your day off?"
"Oh, Hi Roy. My day off was great! I had the best day off imaginable," answered the tall paramedic with too long of hair.
"Oh? What made it so great?" piped another fireman, Chet Kelly as he reached his locker.
Johnny chuckled. "You weren't there!" he quipped.
Roy smiled. Johnny and Chet loved to get a rise out of each other. They were always bickering and giving each other a hard time. Nobody else seemed to mind. For the most part, it kept them amused, if nothing else.
"Ha ha, Gage. Very funny!" responded Chet, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
As Roy started to change into his uniform he redirected Johnny. "So, what did make it so great?" he asked.
"Well," started Johnny. "Remember that cute nurse at Rampart, Sharon?"
"Yeah, what about her?" Roy encouraged Johnny to continue, as he buttoned up his shirt.
"Well, I have been trying to get her to go out with me for weeks…" Johnny continued.
"I know!" Roy said continuing to change.
Johnny ignored Roy's comment and kept talking. "Every time I talk to her and ask her out, she starts hemming around, and before I can get an answer out of her, we get a call, right?" He continued.
"Sounds about right." Answered Roy.
"At least, that's his version of the story," threw in Marco, who had begun to change into his uniform as well. The other men, including Mike Stoker, the engineer, laughed.
Johnny continued to ignore the ribbing the other guys were giving him. He was used to it. In fact, if they hadn't been ribbing him, he would have thought they were mad at him or something. It's just what went on in a fire station. The men who worked together became brothers.
"Anyway," he said. "I thought, how am I going to get her to give me an answer? So I decided to stop by on my way home after our last shift. I asked Dixie if it wasn't too busy if she'd mind if I borrowed Sharon and took her for a cup of coffee. Well, Dixie said she thought that would be fine so I went up to her and asked if she'd mind taking her coffee break with me. She started to protest that she was on duty but Dixie came to my rescue and told her to take a short break, so she did."
"Hey fellas, roll call in two minutes," shouted a voice from the office.
"Right, Cap," Mike hollered back.
"That's it Gage? You coerced her into having coffee with you and that made it the best day off ever? Poor girl."
"Shut up, Chet!" snapped Johnny. "She had coffee with me and I asked her out and she agreed."
"Good for you, Johnny," said Marco. "Come on. We don't want to keep Captain Stanley waiting."
The men, looking sharp in their uniforms, lined up in the apparatus room as their captain took roll and gave out assignments for the day. "Mike, Marco? You two head out to the hose tower. Gage, linens. Chet…"
"Yeah, I know Cap. Latrines," interrupted Kelly.
"Right! DeSoto, catch up the logs and its your turn for chow. What's for supper?"
"Chinese take-out, I hope," Marco answered. Roy rolled his eyes, the other men laughed. They loved to give Roy a bad time about his cooking. He wasn't really a bad cook. His food was at least edible. But, it didn't compare to Mike Stoker's spaghetti, Cap's clam chowder or Marco's Tacos.
"You order take out if you want to, but you'll be missing a real treat," Roy responded.
"What is it, Roy?" Asked Mike.
"If I told you, then you'd know."
Hank Stanley shook his head with a slight smirk on his face. He knew the paramedic would not poison them and he knew Roy could be sensitive when it came to his cooking. "All right, men. Get going. The sooner we get started, the sooner we'll be finished."
The men split up to their assignments. Roy and Johnny went and inventoried the supplies on the squad, checked the EKG calibration with the base station at Rampart and made sure everything was as it should be with the squad. Then they went to help Mike and Marco with the hoses. The previous shift had changed out a lot of hose the morning before and now they had to put all the dry hoses away.
The morning was pretty slow for the crew and soon they were all sitting around the day room having coffee and ribbing each other whenever the opportunity presented itself. "Hey Johnny?" said Roy. Why don't we head out and get what I need for supper."
"Sure, Roy. Why not?" said Johnny as the two got up to leave. As soon as Roy's hand touched the driver's door, the Klaxons sounded. Roy turned around and copied down the information as the dispatcher spoke.
"Squad 51, Motor vehicle accident, unknown injuries, intersection of Fifth Avenue and Anita Boulevard. Time out 10:47."
"Squad 51 responding, L.A. KMG-365", Roy answered into the mike. He slid in behind the wheel of the squad, handed Johnny the paper he had written the address on and pulled out of the station, putting his helmet on as he drove.
The two paramedics were all business on the way to a call. The only conversation would be about the call itself or how best to get there. It was always that way. The men had a job to do and that was foremost on their minds. Roy just hoped it didn't involve children. Those calls were among the worst. Being a father himself, he could never help but wonder, what if was his child?
As the squad approached the scene, Roy could see it was going to be a bad one. There was a station wagon that looked more like a compact after the accident. It had rear-ended a delivery truck at what must have been full speed, judging by the wreckage.
Johnny and Roy jumped out of the squad and sprang into action. Roy ran to check on the driver of the station wagon while Johnny headed for the truck. Loud music was coming from the station wagon. Roy reached past the unconscious driver and shut the radio off. Then he began to assess the situation.
When Johnny reached the truck he could see that the driver was still seated, but he was alert and didn't appear to be too seriously injured at first glance. "Sir, are you hurt any where?" Johnny asked.
"Man, I don't think anything's broken or anything, but my neck sure hurts a helluva lot," answered the man.
"Well, don't move. What's your name?"
"George. George Adams"
"Well, George, my name is John Gage. I'm a paramedic with the County Fire Department. I'm gonna check you out and we'll see about getting you outta here." Just then, Vince Howard, a police officer, came over to Johnny.
"What do you think, John?" he asked.
"I think he'll be okay, but I'm gonna check him out. What about the other vehicle? What's Roy got over there?"
"Apparently, a driver and a passenger. The driver is Code F," (deceased) said Vince. "He's working on the passenger, a young girl." I called in for an ambulance and the engine company should be here any minute."
"Well, you better make that two ambulances. When the engine company gets here, have them bring me a c-collar and a back board." In the background Johnny could hear the sirens and the sound of the engine slowing down as E-51 rolled on to the scene and pulled to a stop.
"Will do."
"Thanks Vince." Johnny turned back to his patient. "Okay, now. I'm gonna feel your neck and back and check for any spinal damage before we move you. Now don't try to help me, let me do all the work. You just let me know if anything hurts, okay?"
"Yeah, okay," said George in obvious pain. While Johnny checked him out, Captain Stanley and Marco jogged over to him with the backboard and C-collar."
"John…" said the Captain, handing John the collar.
"Thanks Cap," said John. "I don't see any signs of spinal damage, it's probably just a case of whiplash, but let's get him on the back board just in case. I'll have this collar on and be ready to pull him out of here in just a sec."
"Sure thing, John. Lopez and I will help in any way we can."
Meanwhile, Roy was with the young girl. Her tiny body was just crumpled on the ground looking lifeless when he had found her. The paramedic's stomach got queasy. It always did when a child was seriously hurt. He was afraid she might be dead. He felt her pulse. At least she had one. He guessed her to be about 5, maybe 6 years old. She was unconscious and for that Roy was grateful. It wasn't good, but at least she wasn't feeling the pain yet. She had a large laceration on her forehead over her right eye, to which Roy immediately applied pressure. Her face was badly bruised and swollen. She had lost a lot of blood from the head injury. Roy knew she was shocky and he would have to start an IV soon. With Johnny tied up with another victim and the engine company not to him yet, he decided to borrow a willing bystander to give him a hand. He had to contact Rampart, and fast. "Hey you," he said, pointing to a nearby young man in his twenties while looking him in the eye. "You think you could give me a hand?" The young man hightailed it right over and kneeled down beside the girl.
"What can I do?" he asked.
"What's your name?" asked Roy.
"Aaron," he answered.
"Well Aaron, I'd appreciate it if you would hold this bandage to her head and apply pressure while I contact the hospital. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yeah, sure," answered Aaron. Roy opened up the bio-phone, attached the antenna and called the hospital.
"Rampart, Squad 51. How do you read?"
A strong and confident voice on the other end answered. "Loud and clear 51. Go ahead."
"Rampart, we have a motor vehicle accident. It looks like 3 victims, one code F. Second victim is an approximately 5 year-old female, with a head injury. She is unconscious but breathing on her own. She has a large laceration on her forehead above her right eye. She has lost a lot of blood." Condition of third victim is unknown at this time."
"10-4, 51. Have you controlled the bleeding?"
"That's affirmative, Rampart."
What are the vitals on victim 2?" asked Dr. Kelly Bracket.
"Stand by for vitals, Rampart," Roy answered. "How are you doing?" he asked Aaron as he looked back at him while starting to attach the blood pressure cuff to the limp child in front of him.
"I'm okay…" Aaron said. "Is she gonna be okay?" he asked, obviously very concerned.
"Well, we're gonna do all we can for her and get her to a hospital," answered Roy, reassuringly. "They'll take good care of her." Roy got quiet while he read the blood pressure, counted the child's pulse and respirations. Then he got back on the bio-phone as he heard Engine 51 pull up to the scene. "Rampart. Victim two's vitals are as follows: BP 95 over 60, pulse 95 and weak, respirations shallow and labored. We have not located a parent for authorization to treat, Rampart."
"10-4, 51. It can't wait. Start IV, Ringers Lactate. Is she on 0-2 yet?" asked Dr. Bracket.
"Affirmative, Rampart. We just started 0-2."
"Any other injuries?"
"Affirmative. Patient may well have a broken right arm and I'm checking for other injuries as we speak. It feels like she may have a couple of broken ribs on the right side as well. Will start IV, Ringers Lactate. Also Rampart, ambulance has just arrived on scene."
"10-4 51, keep me posted."
"10-4 Rampart." Roy started the IV in his small patient. He was truly worried she might not make it. Before he finished getting the IV going, Johnny hurried over. He had left his Captain and Marco Lopez to stay with the truck driver who had just been moved onto a backboard. The ambulance attendants would have him loaded and ready to go soon.
"I can take it from here," he said to the young man helping Roy. "Thanks." Aaron didn't respond verbally, but he got up and out of the paramedic's way. Johnny checked on the bleeding from the laceration and it had pretty much stopped. He got out his penlight and checked her pupils. "Roy, right pupil is dilated and non-reactive. Left pupil is normal."
"Okay," he answered. "How's the truck driver?" He was checking the girl's Babinsky reflex. Roy was disappointed, but not surprised to find it was positive. He felt overwhelmingly sick at that moment.
"Oh, he's gonna be fine. Cap and Marco are with him. Just whiplash, looks like." Johnny stepped around to the bio-phone. "I'll touch base with Rampart. Looks like we've done about all we can do aside from the collar and backboard and a splint for that arm. Let's get her ready to transport." Roy nodded.
Johnny picked up the bio-phone. "Rampart, Squad 51. Victim two has a positive Babinsky. Her left pupil is normal, right is dilated and non-reactive. Also we are splinting the right arm. We are preparing her for transport."
"10-4, 51. Make it fast. What about the third victim?"
"Victim three is a male. 40 years old. Probable whiplash. No other apparent injuries. He is about ready to transport, Rampart."
Upon arriving at the scene a few minutes earlier, Chet Kelly had taken one look at the little girl and knew it was bad. He had run back to the squad to get the splints for Roy. He took out the appropriate one and handed it to him. "Thanks, Chet," said Roy taking it from him.
"What about the driver?" asked Chet. Roy shook his head, sadly. Kelly lowered his head in sad acknowledgement.
A few minutes later, both patients had been loaded into ambulances. Johnny climbed in to ride with his patient in one ambulance and Roy climbed in behind the little girl after loading his equipment into the other. Chet closed the doors and gave two taps, signaling the driver that they were ready to go. He told his Captain, "I'll take the squad in."
"Right," answered Captain Stanley.
A short time later, both ambulances had arrived at Rampart General. Roy was relieved to be there, hoping they could do more than he had been able to for the little girl. He felt almost helpless and he hated it. Once the hospital staff had taken over, Roy, Johnny and Chet stepped into the lounge to wash up and have a cup of coffee.
"Man, that was rough!" Chet said.
"Sure was," answered Johnny. Roy didn't say anything. When the other two men looked his way, he seemed to be far off from his present surroundings.
"Roy?" Johnny was concerned about his friend. Roy didn't hear him and didn't answer. Johnny put his hand on his shoulder and again said, "Roy? You okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry. It's just that I can't stop thinking about that little girl. What…."
"If it was your little girl?" Johnny interrupted, finishing Roy's sentence for him. Roy just looked at him. "Roy, you can't go there. It wasn't Katie. She's safely at home with JoAnn. You keep dwelling on thoughts like that and this job will kill you."
"Yeah, Junior. You're right," was all he said back. It didn't change anything. He still couldn't think about things any differently. He also couldn't stop thinking about the girls' mother. From the looks of it she lost a teenaged son and now would be facing losing her young daughter as well. And it appeared to be all because the teenaged driver was more concerned about the radio than what was going on around him on the road. There had been no skid marks at the scene. He probably had not even noticed that the truck in front of him was stopped. The impact had thrown his little sister through the windshield. Neither had been wearing a seatbelt either. The whole thing could have been easily prevented; a fact that was not lost on any of the firemen that day.
With heavy hearts, the three firemen filed out of the lounge to put themselves back in service. Passing the base station, Roy made eye contact with Dixie, the Nurse in charge. "Dix, any word yet?"
Dixie lowered her head. "Doesn't look good Roy. I'll call you."
"Thanks," he answered and the three men walked out without another word. When they got in the squad, Johnny called in as available.