WORK- WORK - AND AN AMBULANCE ACCIDENT

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While I am busy with 2 jobs and being Chief of a volunteer ambulance company, there are times when I just need to sit down and take a breath.

Countering my oppositions statements to membership that I'm supposed to be some "burnt out, crispy critter" (meaning some believe I cannot handle being Chief), takes energy that I'd prefer to use to better the corps. But I gotta do what I gotta do...

So there I am at work at 2AM or so Monday morning...Things at work were quiet but I had monitored my corps answering an ambulance call...A non-emergency bleeding lip on an infant. The crew of 3, driver, EMT and aide answered the alarm. Having a stable patient the ambulance headed out to the hospital with no lights or sirens, per the newest protocols for response. No emergency, no lights or sirens. A nice easy ride to the hospital until "BAM" our rig is struck head on by a an alleged drunk driver.

The baby in a car seat on the stretcher, mother and aunt along for the ride, on the bench seat. Upon the crash, everyone was thrown around. But even though injured, our EMT evacuated the ambulance (everyone was hurt somewhat) then going back to tend to the drunk driver who was entrapped in his car. When help arrived, relieved, she then collapsed with her own injuries.(found out later... she had 2 broken ribs) She's my hero.

Anyway...I'm at work with an associate listening to the driver of our ambulance calling for help and my associate says...go... get out there... and I'm gone.

The scene was, for me anyway, surreal... any volunteers worst scenario... an ambulance with patient on board gets into an accident. Bad news... But with the help of my assistant chief and a county EMS official and multiple neighboring departments, everyone, all 7 patients were transported. Knock on wood everyone except the drunk driver were treated at the hospital and released within hours.


A little dark, but you can see the car that hit our ambulance, head-on. Scary night! 

I was fine... until a friend, a local cop asked if I was ok... then I cried.