So since my probationary tests are done, and I'm pretty much done with probation, it's time to start going back to my volunteer fire house! I went over there today to try and get myself back in the flow of volunteering. I found out that they've revoked my membership there, since I haven't showed up in such a long time. But I'm sure I can get that worked out. Anyway, I got there and saw Emery (he's still the same) and some of the career guys that I knew from before. It was a cool little reunion.
I had planned on riding the ambulance with some of the guys I was more familiar with if they were there, but there was a new career guy on the ambulance along with another career guy that I knew but not that well. So I hopped on the engine (the engine is more fun anyway. ;) ). We went to an apartment/condo complex on Metzerott road to do a building inspection. I think they inspect that building once a year, and I just happened to be there last year when they did the inspection. Coincidence??? Probably.
After getting back to the station, we got a call for one of the dorms at the University of Maryland. It was to investigate an odor of smoke in one of the elevator rooms. The fire alarm had gone off in the dorm and all of the students were outside. I remember being a student and having to evacuate several times when the fire alarm went off. It was pretty sweet to be on the other side of the situation today. We got there, took the elevator to the 8th floor and went up to the elevator room. Sure enough, one of the elevator motors was smoking a bit, but that was about it. No fire or immediate danger. The elevator repair guys came and took over, so our job was over.
Later, we went out to get some lunch and Popeyes. While we were there, we got a call for someone who had stumbled into our fire station after being stabbed. We raced back to the station and found the guy lying there, being attended to by a medic unit, the county police and a few guys who had stayed behind at the station. The guy had a HUGE open wound on his upper right arm...you could see into his arm, all the way down to the bone. He was obviously in pain and screaming that he couldn't breath. He also had a stab wound on his right side, near his stomach. We got him on the cot and into the medic unit. The captain told Emery to go down to MedStar hospital in DC where they were taking him, so he could pick up our career guys who were riding along in the medic unit. Emery wasn't technically allowed to do that, but hey, in some emergency situations, you gotta do what you gotta do. I rode along with him and helped navigate. It was great!
We got to the hospital and I went in to let the career guys know we were here. When I got there, I couldn't believe what I saw. The doctors had the guy spread out on an operating table. Apparently, he had stopped breathing when they got him on the table, so one doctor opened up a hole in the side of his chest and was massaging his heart, trying to get blood to pump. They also intubated him and were basically breathing for him. The hole in his chest was huge and I could see the guy's heart and lungs moving! I don't think I would see this kind of thing in Glen Echo if I was there for 10 years. However, that's just your typical day down in good ol' Langley Park.
We picked up the career guys and headed back to the station. Man, I can't wait to get back in the swing of things there!
On a different note, two of my picks in the NCAA men's basketball tournament are already out. It's so hard to pick winners in this thing; literally everyone has a shot!! Hopefully GW will go all the way...I have a feeling this is their year!
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