"Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61...Car accident," I heard over the intercom. Hurrying over to the truck I mistakenly went to the co-pilot seat where I used to sit. Now I have to watch my spot be taken by the new guy, Patterson. Ugh, anger doesn't even start my feelings right now. As much as it is on my mind I have to prepare myself for this incident that we are going to. Anything could happen and I can't be the person to lead us through what is coming.
As the squad pulled up to the scene, I could see two cars heavily damaged, one on its side and the other's front end completely demolished. Stepping out of the truck we assessed the two vehicles. "Got four victims in this car, two are children in the back, they're awake and conscious." I reported to Patterson and then he reported it to Chili and Brett who were still en route. I moved towards the back of car to check on the children. Cries of fear and desperation could be heard from the backseat. A girl maybe 8 years old was sitting in a booster seat next to, what I assumed, her brother still in a car seat. "Mommy...daddy...MOM...DAD!" the girl screamed. "Hey, hey, we're checking on your mom and dad, you just gotta stay calm, okay? My names Kelly, what's your name?" "Emma," the girl said trembling in fear. "Okay Emma, does anything hurt?" She nodded and said, "my leg." "Okay, I'm gonna get you out of here, I just need you to stay still." She nodded confirming what Kelly said. "Casey how are the parents?" Casey looked over while checking the father's pulse, he shook his head. I walked to the passenger side and checked the woman's pulse, nothing. Damn it. Letting out a heavy sigh, I cleared my mind of what these kids are gonna realize in a while. Both their lives are changed forever in a matter of one second.
"Emma, I'm gonna try to open the door and get you and your brother out." She nodded as Capp and I tried to pry to door open with the halligan. Nothing budged. "Get the spreaders." I ordered and Capp turned around to retrieve them. "Emma, this machine is gonna help get you out, but it's gonna make a lot of loud noise. I need you to stay calm." "Okay," she nodded while sniffling. I jammed the spreaders into the door and slowly opened the spreaders. The metal squealed and bent making Emma scream in terror. "Emma it's okay, we're almost done." A couple seconds later the door popped off and I was able to get Emma out of there. "Lieutenant Casey is going to take good care of your brother, and I am going to take you to the ambulance." I told Emma while she looked at me straight in the eyes. Grabbing her I could see that she had a cut on her leg, nothing life threatening. She held onto my jacket so tight, seeming like she didn't want to let go. Setting her down on the gurney, Brett looked over her leg and put a piece of gauze and tape around it. I started walking away when Emma asked, "Are my mom and dad okay?" "Emma...Emma," I said trying to calm her down, I could tell that she already knew what was coming. "I'm so sorry, is there anybody we can call to meet you at the hospital?" She started crying and shook her head. I grabbed her hand assuringly and said, "keep fighting Emma, I know this is tough, and it will take a long time to recover from this. But stay positive through this, you never know what life will bring you." She looked up with her teared up blue eyes while Chili and Brett loaded her into the back of the ambo.
I stood there in the middle of the road, as if I was paralyzed from what just happened. In the blink of an eye this girl and her brother lost their parents, and I can't do anything to help them. A hand grabbed my shoulder, taking me out of my trance. "You okay?" Casey asked. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said reassuring him. He nodded and went back to cleaning up the scene. I stayed in place as I saw the ambo turn the corner way down the street, still thinking of her.