#bay area emt training

[californiaemttraining]

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[tomtenadia]

A Little Braver - Chapter 1

Here I am!

As i promised here is the first chapter of my new Rowaelin.

This one will be very different from Island Dream. It’s meant to have a slightly more challenging plot line and a smidge more angst in it. Also, i know very little about fire fighters and the airforce. I did research for both of them and for the firefighters I used some shows I follow as inspiration. Whereas for the airforce... it’s mostly research. I based the ranks system on the UK RAF.

THIS is Rowan’s jet (it actually exists. It’s called a Eurofighter Typhoon. I have seen it live at some airshow here in Scotland and it’s so damn sexy.), just imagine it in deep green for Terrasen. 

I have 12 chapters down but still no actual direction in mind yet. I have a few ideas I want to develop but the storyline is still hazy. 

And this is the SONG that gave the idea for the title.

Anyway, I’ll leave you to it

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Aelin is a firefighter for the Terrasen Fire Department (TFD) and one day her squadron get called to deal with a fire at the airbase of the Terrasen airforce (TAF). During the incident she meets icy Captain Whitethorn. They are thown together in a forced cooperation.  Slowly they will find their lives entwined beyond work. And both of them, with a tragic past at their backs... will have to be a little braver...

(Sorry i suck at introductions)

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“Again!” Shouted a blonde woman standing in front of a training tower on fire. Her long braid gently placed on her shoulder. Blue eyes like the clearest of days fixed on the inferno in front of her and a concentrated expression. 

“Brullo, help Luca and start again, perhaps this time without killing our victim.”

They had been at it for a while but it seemed like the newbie was struggling with training. Being a firefighter was not a job for everyone. Aelin knew Luca was still a probie and still learning the ropes but sometimes she felt as if the boy was not as tough as he tried to be. Luca had been with them for three months and he had become the mascot of the group. He was eighteen an eager and she was happy to support him as much as she could, but her job was also to make sure her people would walk out of a raging fire alive. She had already lost enough in the line of duty. 

She was about to call for a break when the dispatch siren went off.

“Everyone, time to go.” She turned to Luca “You stay at the station and cover dispatch or just study for your exam.” She winked at him and ran to the engine, donned her gear and climbed to her seat.

Being the Captain she took the passenger seat in the engine and joined Nox who was the driver.

“Were are we heading?”

“Airforce base.” Replied Nox while driving the engine to its destination with incredible skill.

“Did a pilot forgot to turn off one of their fancy planes?” Then she turned to Aedion, the man was her lieutenant and her second  “Are our EMTs with us?”

The man nodded “right behind us.”

The engine sped through traffic, siren blazing “what’s our ETA?” Asked Aelin.

“Five minutes, Cap.” Replied Nox.

Not long after they reached their destination and arrived at the main gates of the airbase which were shut. Aelin swore. She opened the door and jumped off the truck.

To meet her there was a tall man, his hair silver and the eyes of the deepest of green. She thought Aedion was tall. She was wrong. This man was a good twenty centimetre taller. 

“Fire department at your service, did one of men’s arse caught fire?”

The man glared at her. His face harsh.

Ok, wrong audience.

“We have a fire in hangar bay 2.”

“Good, now open these gates and let us through if you want us to work our magic.”

“This is a restricted area as you can imagine.” His tone flat and almost bored.

Aelin took a step toward him, not afraid “Listen, you either let us through with the engine and the ambulance or you start praying the gods for a fuckload of rain. Which will it be, sir?”

Aelin noticed a flash of anger pass through his eyes. He would have been the most gorgeous man she had ever seen if it wasn’t for his stick up his arse attitude.

The man in front of her made a gesture and a car appeared in front of the truck “Follow the car and do not wander. This is a restricted area.”

“Sure, I always wanted a picnic in an airbase.”

Aelin ignored him and gestured at the ambulance to follow them. She jumped back on the truck and noticed the silver haired arsehole getting in the car in front of them.

It did not take long to reach their destination and Aelin swore when she noticed the fire engulfing hangar bay 2.

“And that’s me hoping in a boring day. How silly of me.” Joked Aedion from his seat behind Aelin. 

Aelin jumped off the truck and started shouting orders then joined again the officer “Do you have all staff accounted for?”

The man shook his head “Two engineers are missing and we have a few injured as well.”

Aelin shouted for the EMTs and the two women appeared in front of her in an instant “there are few injured that need treatment. Go and call for backup if you need it.” The taller brunette nodded and they disappeared again. 

Aedion’s voice reached her over the radio “copy that, Aedion. There are still two civilians trapped inside.” She turned to see her squad at work and a pang of pride rushed through her. They were an amazing well oiled machine and all the gruelling training paid off in the end. 

She turned to look at the grumpy officer and noticed the man was like a statue. His eyes fixed on the raging fire in front of them.

“We’ll get them out.” She offered as a comfort but the man didn’t even notice her. 

“Any idea on how it started?”

He turned his head slightly and his icy stare focused on her “isn’t that your job, captain?” She did not like the tone she used to call her captain. She could hear a veil of mockery.

“Ansel, Ress,” she shouted while donning the rest of her fire suit “direct the jet there.” She pointed to the location that looked like the epicentre. Once her mask and oxygen tank were on, she grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran into the building to join the rest of the squad.

Rowan stared at the woman ran into the fire. The captain had struck him stupid when she had the guts to challenge him without any fear. He was so used to give orders without ever receiving a rebuttal that it totally threw him off that the woman had fought him that way. Soon after he had found himself staring while she directed her squad to take positions and start to tackle the fire. She was fierce, of that he had no doubts. And with the same fierceness she had ran into the hangar and joined her team.

He was too busy staring at her that he missed the instant in which the structure had started to collapse on the ground. It went down as if made of paper and he froze at the realisation that there were still people inside the building. Engineers and firefighters alike. And for a brief second he felt a pang of panic for a woman he did not know and who had a temper of fire.

“Captain!” His head whipped to the side at the subtle veil of panic in the dark-haired man, handling the jet of water on their truck. “Lieutenant, come in.” But no sound came over the radio “fuck.” The man intensified the jet of water. 

Rowan knew that level of panic. He had experienced it a few times in his career. The soul crashing fear of losing a member of his team, the fear gripping his heart until a response came over the radio. He knew that fear very well. 

It took ten minutes for the auxiliary vehicles of the airbase to reach the site. They were not proper fire engines. For that they had to use the firefighters. But they could help and they started spreading a sort of special agent that slowly stifled the fire.

Rowan sighed in relief when he noticed some figures appearing from the smoke. The captain amongst them. Her hair was now covered in soot and her face just as dirty. He relaxed completely when he spotted the captain carrying one of the engineers and another fire fighters carrying the second one. The firefighter deposited the victims gently on the ground and the two EMTs went to check for them. He saw her collapsing on the ground on her knees then she stood, almost regretting that moment of weakness and went back to the engine to give some more orders. A tall blonde man approached her and after discussing something he moved away and stood staring at the collapsed building and the fire now fully extinguished.

She coughed once and then turned noticing the presence at her back.

“You should ask one of your EMTs to have a look at you.” His tone flat and devoid of emotions.

“I am fine.” She admitted with defiance “I don’t need you to babysit me. Sir or whatever rank your insignia has.”

“Captain. Captain Whitethorn.” And his words had a far gentler tone that he expected and it surprised him.

She walked away from him and went to the rest of the team to make sure everyone was okay and then checked on the civilians that had been saved and finally returned to captain Whitethorn.

“The two engineers will be fine.” She coughed one more time “They inhaled a lot of smoke but they are now on their way to the hospital for a few more checks. There are a few other with minor burns but everyone has been treated and on their way to the hospital as well.”

“Thank you.”

“Once the embers cool down I want to have a look at the site. Something clearly went completely wrong in here which means that some of your safety systems or your basic procedures are not working.”

“Are you saying that we are slacking in terms of safety?” His tone became harsh once again.

Aelin again stood straight in front of him “I saw sprinkles, but there was no trace of water which means they did not activate as soon as the fire started as they are meant to. Which in a place with so much fuel and flames is a big infraction and can land you in a shit ton of problems. Whoever was in charge of safety fucked up big time, Captain.”

Whitethorn ran his hand through his hair. That was his CO’s job. Lorcan was the one meant to look after all those things. But Lorcan had inherited a situation that was a bit of a clusterfuck and he had been working hard to fix it since his promotion. 

“I will need to come back tomorrow to do an inspection of the site and I want to inspect all the other remaining buildings and make sure they are up to code. And I don’t care if this is a restricted zone,” she moved a step closer to him and Whitethorn stared in her deep blue eyes “You get me a pass into here for tomorrow with access to all areas. And if you don’t, I’ll go high enough that when I come back you will have to roll out the red carpet. Do you read me on this Captain?”

He nodded silently. A part of him was in awe. Who was this woman? She did not seem to be intimidated by rank or a pretty uniform. He was speechless. Even civilians often tended to offer a certain level of respect to him just because of his rank. She stood in front of him, chin high and defiant. 

“Yes ma’am,” he heard himself say with unexpected obedience.

“Good. I will see you tomorrow, Captain Whitethorn.” She turned on her heels and left him still planted in his spot and completely stunned.

Aelin joined her team again and once the scene was cleared up and all the gear tucked back in the truck they left the premises.

“I hope Luca had some sort of food ready, I am starving.” Added Aelin sitting back in her seat in the truck.

“The day you will say that you are not hungry it will be a day when doom will descend upon us.” Chimed in Aedion.

“Hey, I use a lot of energy.”

“Sure, having a stand off with Captain silver fox must have been exhausting.”

Aelin turned and stared at Ansel. The red haired woman was smirking.

“He was being a pompous arsehole who think he is a god just because he wears a uniform.”

“Yeah, one hot arsehole though. I mean did you even notice him?”

Aelin did not reply. She had actually noticed him but her first impression of him hadn’t changed. The man was impossibly gorgeous but he still needed a bit of manners.

Eventually the squad got back to the station and got off the truck abandoning their equipment for checks later. “Let’s all go and get some chow in.”Aelin shouted while removing her boots “Aedion make sure you and Ansel check the truck and take Luca with you he needs some training in what we do after a call out.”

The ambulance pulled over beside them a bit later and the two women joined the rest of the group.

“Lys, all okay with the victims?”

The taller woman nodded “dropped them off. No serious injuries though.” Then she opened the back of the ambulance car and grabbed a clipboard and handed it to Aelin “our supplies order for the hospital. I was going to give it to you before but then we got called out and I forgot.”

Aelin grabbed the document “I’ll get it done today. You and Elide go and join the guys for food.”

Lysandra walked over to Aedion and dropped him a kiss on his lips. The two had been dating for years now and the whole squadron had been taking bets on when Aedion would pop the question. 

Aelin eventually joined the rest of her team for their meal and Luca had overdone himself and prepared some amazing food. She was ravenous, however during her meal her head kept going over the call they had received at the airbase. There were a few things that bugged her and she was looking forward to her visit the next morning to check the scene again. The sprinklers had been her first clue. She just hoped Captain tight-pants would be more willing to help after he had a nice night of sleep. 

It was much later when Aedion found her in her office buried under layers of folders and papers on her desk.

He gently knocked at her door “Lys and I are going home. Are you staying late again?”

“Aedion, look at these documents.” she passed him a pile of sheet of paper “That is the last safety check they had a look at the signature of who passed it.”

“Fucking Havillard senior.” The man had been the fire chief and had finally retired a few months before and the event had created a sense of relief in every single firefighter in Orynth. The man had a bad reputation and a penchant for currying far too many favours with politicians “I am so glad Dorian finally took over. He is a much better fire chief. He has done more for the fire department in a few months than his father in years of his rule.”

“I want to check every single thing he signed off as to code. I don’t trust the bastard and if he passed things not operating correctly I am going to cause a shitstorm.”

“And do what, Aelin? The man is retired and back to his mansion in Adarlan. There is nothing you can do.” Aedion was always the rational one and sometimes Aelin hated him for that.

“His negligence could have killed hundreds of people.”

“I know, but all we can do now is to fix his wrongs and make sure that the airbase is up to code. And keep your friend the Captain safe.”

Aelin snorted “Why everyone thinks I have the hots for the Captain?”

“I have known you all my life and you totally are into him. I recognised the signs.”

“Well, my dear cousin, you are highly mistaken.”

Aelin and Aedion were cousins. The man had served in the army and when he retired she had told him that her fire house was looking for recruits and asked if he wanted a shot at being a fire fighter. Aedion accepted and went through training at the academy and in the end the skills he had gained in the military had proven amazing for his new role. 

“Don’t tell me you guys are taking bets on me.”

Aedion laughed “my revenge for starting the one about me and Lys.”

Aelin growled “Yours is bound to happen eventually.” She looked at him “me and his stiffness? Not a chance. He might be hot as hell but he has no sense of humour and probably cannot go to the toilet unless he gets permission from his CO.”

Aedion sighed “That’s military training. It gets drilled into you from day one. He is still active and it’s normal. I am retired and still have that instinct.”

Aelin laughed “No, you don’t do anything without Lys’ approval.”

He nodded “I love her but the woman is scary. And now that she had Elide as a partner she is getting craftier.”

Aelin smiled “Go home and relax you two. Just don’t make me an aunt yet.”

“Don’t stay too long okay?” The man waved at her and left. 

Aelin sat five more minutes then she heard the second team arrive on the premises she packed up her stuff and decided to go home. She walked down the corridor greeting the other team and had a catch up with the lieutenant and eventually she left the station. The weather had turned cold and winter was definitely in the air. Aelin sniffled the air, cosied up in her jacket and walked home. It took her much longer than usual to go home as she took a different route and stopped at the park. Not the best idea at night but she had enough knowledge of hand to hand combat that she would easily kick the arse of whoever tried to assault her. She stopped in her favourite spot and leaned against the rail to look at the ducks in the pond. Going back home was still hard. Since she had lost Sam she hated her empty house. Even after over a year. They were both firefighters. He was the captain at the west station. They had met during a call out and got along from the start. Then got along a bit more until things got serious and they moved in together. They had two years of happiness until he went out on a call with his squadron and thing went south. He and another firefighter lost their lives that night. It had been over a year now but her heart still ached and missed him.

She heard ambulance sirens in the background and her instinct was to look for a cause for it. 

She said goodbye to the ducks and eventually walked home.

The next morning Aelin had got to work so early that the second team was still on. She had shared breakfast with them and was glad to hear they had a quiet night with just a call.

She walked back to her office and went over one the documents one more time. As a courtesy she decided tray and phone Captain Whitethorn but then realised she did not have his number and doubted the airbase would advertise its number freely. Ach well, he knew they she was going. 

Once Aedion arrived she gave him instructions on what to do while she was away. She wanted a few more drills run and the truck scrubbed and equipment checked. She knew that when she was away they tended to have far too much fun “And if I come back and I discover you guys slacked off I am going to unleash Lysandra on you.”

“I will keep them in check.”

“You better.” And with that she left and drove away to the airbase. 

It took her a good half an hour to finally reach the main gate. She got out of the car and went to the guards posted at the entrance “Hi, I am a firefighter on the TFD. I am here to see Captain Whitethorn, he is waiting for me.”

“What is your name?”

“Captain Aelin Galathynius.”

The man walked away to check something with another guard and got back to her “You can go in. The Captain will meet you at the next check point.”

Aelin grunted. They did not have this many checks the day before. Although, with a building on fire they were probably quite eager to have them in as soon as possible.

She got back in the car and drove the short distance where another military man stopped her and she noticed the captain behind him. Still stiff and a face that deserved to be punched. 

He knocked on her passenger window and Aelin lowered the glass “good morning, Captain.”

“I will need to get in the car.”

Aelin rolled her eyes and unlocked the door for him.

“Follow the main road until you see the main building. Park there and we’ll get you all signed in.”

What was his problems? Didn’t they used greeting in the military?

Aelin drove in silence until she spotted the main building.

“Park over there.” She sensed the command in his voice.

She did as told and once done she grabbed all her stuff from the back of the car and followed him. He had exited the vehicle and started walking not bothering waiting for her.

She was going to kill him. 

Once inside the main building she found him waiting for her at the reception area with a clipboard in his hands “Fill this in.” Again, that tone of command and not a single please.

Aelin had a look and realised they were annoyingly thorough in term of security “Do you want my bra size as well?” She smiled at him “it’s a 38A, by the way.”

No reaction. She sighed and filled in all her details. Once she was done the captain took the clipboard and gave her her badge “Keep this on you at all times Miss Galathynius.”

“You can call me Aelin. I gave you my bra size, I guess we are on a name basis kind of relationship.” She grabbed the badge and wore it around her neck.

“Were do you want to start?”

Fine. No jokes and back to business “your office for starters.”

“I thought you wanted to see the fire scene.”

“Yes, but I need to ask a few questions first.” And she waved the big pile of documents in her hand.

He tensed and with a hand he gestured for her to follow him. 

They walked until they reached an office at the end of a corridor “This is my CO office. I discussed the situation with him and he believes it’s a matter that needs his presence as well.”

“The more the merrier” and flashed him a smile but she had no reaction from him.

They entered the room and Aelin froze. The man in front of her was huge. He stood to greet her and she thought she had never met anyone as tall as the man behind the desk.

“Sir, this is the Captain.”

“Miss Galathynius, isn’t it?”

“Captain, if you don’t mind. I earned my rank like all of you, even if I am a woman.”

“I am Air Commodore Lorcan Salvaterre.” She shook his hand and took a seat after he offered. Captain Whitethorn stood behind her, rigid and cold as his usual. Gods, the man needed to get laid. 

“I believe you had some concerns with regard to that accident from yesterday.”

“I do.” And she slammed the pile of documents on the desk. If they wanted to play tough, they had met their match “My first concern is that some of your safety checks are two years old. As you are aware Mr Salvaterre, considered the nature of your business and the level of dangerous materials present on site you are required by law an annual check.” She passed over a piece of paper with the current regulations “and again in your case there are aspects that need to be checked twice a year and you have not done so.” She sat back on the chair “Yesterday I noticed that the sprinkles had not activated during the fire. Again, your reports show that the last maintenance check was three years ago.” Another sheet landed on the man’s desk “A hangar that could, according to your plans, have up to a 100 personnel on site at the same time, only had one fire exit.”

“If you had a look at hangar bay two blueprints you could see why only one exit was added.”

Aelin unfolded the blueprints in challenge. They had no idea who they were dealing with “I can see that one side of the hangar share the door with the airstrip and I can see that this is a very bad idea for an evacuation spot. However,” and she pointed at the plan “this area here, as you can see is perfectly safe. It offer protection from a possible explosion of fire and it looks like it could accommodate at least half of the staff.” She closed the folder “I am going to be frank with you. It’s a miracle you are still allowed to operate. This are only the biggest infractions, I am sure that once I will inspect the site of the fire I will find more.”

She noticed Salvaterre flinch.

“I am also aware that it was the old fire chief who signed off the last inspections and that explains a lot. The man had been a thorn in my side for a very long time but his son is a far more capable chief.” She sat comfortably again “My concern here is for all the staff. Yesterday could have had a far worse outcome. I can see that at least your team has a good grasp on how safely evacuate and I am positive that once we add a second door it will be even more efficient.”

“Any big changes will have to get approved by the military.”

“Well, get that done. If you value your people you will grovel until you get what you need. You don’t seem the man to back down from a valid fight.” She leaned forward a bit, not breaking eye contact with him.

“What do you suggest?”

“I will make you a deal.” She offered “I am aware it might take some time to fix all the issues and bring the whole base up to code. I am giving you six months. Work with us, I am willing to help as a consultant. I had a chat with chief Havillard and he is okay with my plan and authorised me to cooperate with you.”

“I guess I can work with that.” Then he stared at Captain Whitethorn behind her “Captain Whitethorn will be you liaison. I am too busy, but he has my authorisation to help you with what you need.”

She turned to the man at her back and noticed at his panicked face “I am sure the Captain and I will have fun. We are best buddies already.” She flashed him a smile and the man flinched. Well, at least that was a reaction. 

“Perfect. Captain Galathynius I expect you will keep me updated on the progress.” And he offered her his business card “my email is at the bottom. It’s the best way to get in touch with me.”

“Thank you sir,”Aelin said pocketing the card. The man was just as cold as the captain but seemed a bit more willing to cooperate “Now if you’ll excuse me sir I have some work to do.”

The man nodded and Captain Whitethorn walked outside, probably already dreading the idea of working with her. She was not ecstatic either. 

They were walking toward the hangar when four men stopped them and Whitethorn stopped 

“I thought I told you to go over the last tactics we developed.” He really had no idea on how to talk to people.

“We just finished.” Said the older of the group.

“Hi gorgeous.” 

Aelin turned to the voice and saw a stunning blonde man staring at her “I am Flight Lieutenant Fenrys Moonbeam, m’lady. I hope our cold hearted captain is treating you nicely. We have been trying to teach him manners…”

Aelin laughed. So they had sense of humour. It was just Whitethorn.

“Lieutenant, why don’t you go and clean your jet until it shines like a mirror?”

Fenrys got closer to her “he is old and cranky.” Then he straightened up “call me if you need a fun guide during your time at the base, Captain.”

“Lieutenant!” Whitethorn barked with a tone that did not admit any more games. 

The older man grabbed Fenrys arm and pulled him away “let’s go pup. Don’t anger the man.”

“Bye guys.” Aelin waved as they walked away.

“They are my squadron.” Whitethorn finally spoke and she turned at him in surprise “The man who took Fenrys away is Gavriel and he is Wing Commander. He is basically my second. The other two were Vaughan and Connall and, well, Fenrys. They are all Flight Lieutenants.” He sighed “Fenrys is a good pilot but he is still young.”

“The only person with a sense of humour inside here and you shot him down that way?” She shook her head “Come on grampa, let’s go and do our job.”

Aelin walked away with a swagger and when she was not looking his lips bent in a fraction of a smile. The woman was a force of nature and for some reason he could not explain why he had spent the previous night wondering about the fierce woman who had not backed down and who face him fiercely. Not that he would ever admit to anyone, but  he found her madly attractive. 

She was now walking in front of him and was almost skipping and he had to try very hard not to chuckle at the scene.

“You are going the wrong way.” His tone cold again.

“Well, then get your arse in front of me and lead the way.” She stopped and waited for him to walk past her. While behind him she sneaked a peak at the man and she realised that Ansel had been right. Her gaze lingered on his backside and some very improper thoughts passed through her mind. Her gaze trailed up to his broad shoulders and lingered on his short silver hair and then dropped to the strong hands folded behind his back. Some very improper thought passed through her mind but she shook them off. He was a horrible man. She was not going down that road. Boundaries. 

“We are here.” His voice woke her up from her thoughts.

From her bag Aelin extracted two masks and a torch. She threw one of the masks to Mr cranky pants “put this on. There will be still fumes lingering and they are very toxic.”

Thankfully he accepted the mask without complaints. It looks like he was intelligent enough to understand the risks.

He unlocked the place and allowed Aelin to go in first. He trailed behind and let her work in silence. 

“What kind of jobs do you do in here?”

“Hangar two is were the jets needing heavy maintenance are moved to. Hangar one is the main one where all the jets ready for take off are kept.”

She moved around pointing the light in some specific areas “Am I correct in saying that the planes in here do not have any fuel and are not armed.”

She saw him nod “The fuel is removed as soon as they are moved in here. A small amount is added only when they need to be moved back to the main hangar. And yes, no weapon of any type is held here or in hangar one for all that matters. We have very tight procedure for ammunition and the missiles are loaded only an hour prior to take off and armed only after the jets have left the base.”

Aelin nodded, well, at least it seemed that on some areas they had their shit together.

She moved to what looked like the epicentre of the fire and crouched down and touched a strange puddle on the floor. She smelled it and cursed. That smelled like kerosene but a doubt was nagging her. The puddle looked big enough to be a leak.

“Do you keep track of the repairs done in each bay?”

“We do and I have the jobs recorded for yesterday in bay four.” Then his eyes reacted in shock “It looks like the jet in bay four had suffered a fuel tank leak and was scheduled for a repair or possibly a replacement.”

Aelin walked around the charred remains of the jet then she noticed a panel missing on the side “help me here Captain, what is this panel for?” And she flashed the light inside the livery.

“This is the access panel for the tank. It looks like they had started the works already.”

“I am allowed to make a guess Captain?”

“By all means.” He stood at her side.

“My theory is that while the tank was emptied fuel leaked out. Whoever did the job, did not realise it. Once the tank was empty he proceeded with the replacement job and used tools that might have caused a spark and ignited the fuel and caused the explosion. Am I getting closer?”

“I have a feeling ma’am that you are on the right track, alas.”

She crouched again and stared at the puddle “however, this is not how kerosene works… kerosene does not catches fire easily. It has a high flash point.” she muttered to herself then she turned to the man behind her “Captain, are you using a special type of fuel? Jets are usually powered by kerosene.”

He froze and she knew she had hit the jackpot.

He cleared his throat “we have been experimenting with other fuels and liquid oxygen.”

“Fuck,” muttered Aelin turning and standing “do you really need all that power?”

“As I said we have been experimenting. This plane was one of the new prototypes.” He confessed.

“How many of these monsters do you have?”

“I am not allowed to tell. This is as much as I have been authorised to say.”

“Damn it Captain.” She shouted.

“They are not on the premises and in a very remote location away from inhabited areas. This one was here for testing.” His face grew dark all of a sudden “I was meant to fly it.”

Aelin gasped “are you telling me that you were willing to strap yourself in this crazy thing and risk your life with something clearly not stable?”

He looked away “It’s my job after all.”

“Shit.” Aelin stood and walked away. Why was she even caring about him.

“Captain…”

But she brushed him off and kept inspecting the area “your fire extinguishers a too far away and it takes a person too much time to grab one. And you need more.” Then she turned to the Captain “I assume they at least know how to use it…” he nodded.

“Well, that’s a start but we will have refresher session. That never hurts and you guys will have to do it as well.”

He nodded.

“Fine. Take me to hangar bay one.”

“Follow me.” He just said and started walking still thinking about her reaction and was stunned that for a moment she had seemed to care.

The two walked in silence and Aelin followed him looking around the base and noticing things.

Once in the main hangar bay, Whitethorn opened the door and Aelin stood still at the sight. In front of her there were at least ten jets. All painted in the Terrasen green. They were a sight to behold.

“I am not sure I agree with their use but they look majestic.”

The captain nodded while he stood at her side, hands folded behind his back “come.”

He walked to one of the jets, said something to one of the engineers buzzing around it and it was just the two of them “This one is mine.”

Aelin traced her hand to the livery “Iceman?” She asked noticing the word painted just under the canopy.

“My call sign.”

Aelin chuckled “I guess it fits you perfectly.” Then she walked to the stepladder “Can I?” She asked. She was dying to sit in the cockpit. Just for a few minutes. She could not get distracted but she wanted to do it.

The Captain moved closer to her “be careful on the ladder.” She flashed him a smug smile and Whitethorn kept a watchful eye while she climbed turning his head when her backside was basically in his face. Once at the top she climbed over the edge and sat in the cockpit quite skilfully and now she looked down at him with a big grin. His heart jumped. When she smiled she was the most stunning creature he had seen. A brat, but still a gorgeous brat.

A moment later he had noticed she had taken his helmet and was now trying to wear it. He held back a chuckle and climbed the ladder “let me.” He was so close to her that he could smell her scent of lavender and jasmine. He helped her fastening the helmet properly then he turned to some of the dials on the dashboard.

“This is the altimeter” for some reason he leaned forward and started to explain her some of the dials in the cockpit “this is to check the speed and this one tells how many g’s we are pulling. That is—“ but he got interrupted.

“I know what that is Captain. How many g’s do you pull max?”

“9 in a vertical steep ascent, dogfights and in some turns as well. We never sustain it for too long because it’s dangerous.” He leaned on the livery “we wear special suits called G suits that help with the pressure and we undergo a crazy amount of training in the centrifuge and we also have to keep a strict exercise and health regime.”

That, she had noticed the previous day and on a couple of occasions she had imagined the amount of muscles under that uniform of his.

“Let’s get back to work.” She said, saving herself from the strange direction her thoughts had wondered. She stood and the Captain straightened and moved closer to her “be careful, climbing is much easier than coming down.” She turned and gave her back to him and felt a phantom of his hand on her back. He was not touching her but she could feel his hand lingering there, protecting her.

“Ok, one rung at a time.” His tone had changed as well and somehow the iciness had gone “Good, one more and you are there.”

Aelin climbed off the last rung and turned only to crash into his hard chest. She had not realised how close he was standing and when she looked up she met his eyes. They looked brighter and they had a strange light she could not place. As soon as she realised how close they were standing she backed away and for a very brief second she thought she noticed disappointment in his expression.

“Thank you for that Captain. Now I can brag that I sat in a fighter jet.”

He nodded but did not added anything. 

They finished inspecting the main hangar and Aelin looked puzzled “How is it possible that this hangar is all up to code and perfect. Such a discrepancy does not make sense.”

“Salvaterre took over from our old CO only six months ago.” He sighed “do you want the diplomatic answer or the actual truth?”

“What do you think?” Her answer was a bit harsher than she intended “Sorry, I did not mean it like that. The truth of course.”

“Our old CO was very much a friend with Havillard senior. And I think politics and money are the answer to your question.”

“I don’t fucking it believe it.” She almost shouted in frustration “so these bastards prefer to save some money and leave a hangar with very little safety?” She leaned against the plane and looked up to try and calm down for a moment “It’s disgusting.”

“We both got new COs who both seem to be more decent individual. Let’s leave the past where it is and fix things from now onwards.”

Aelin smiled at him “this might be one of the wisest thing you said since I met you.”

Whitethorn glared at her but she ignored him.

They spent another hour going around the base and Aelin completed her inspection. There were some issues but all things that could be easily fixed and she was relieved that although the base was not in its best of state it was definitely not as in bad condition as she thought after the disaster in the secondary hangar.

“Captain, that’s me all done. I would like you to come to the station tomorrow so we can discuss an action plan and put forward some ideas for your CO.”

“I can do that. Do you have a preferred time?”

“Would morning at 9am be okay for you or is it too early?”

“It’s fine.” 

“Amazing.” Aelin flashed him a very bright smile and then extracted a card from the pocket of her jacket “These are my contact details. If you have any question you can email me or phone me.” She pointed at the card “that is my direct phone number at work. The address of the fire station is on as well.”

The man accepted the card and placed in the trousers pockets of his uniform.

“Well, Captain Whitethorn, thank you for today. And I will see you tomorrow.” She extended her hand and the man took it.

He nodded and in silence he walked her back to the check point. Another nod and he turned on his heels with military precision and walked away.

Aelin stood to study the man for a moment. She found him fascinating. He was still an emotionless prick but there was something that got her attention. She hoped that working together would become easier in the long run otherwise it would be a very long and touch liaison mission.

Eventually she got back in the car and returned to work.

[builder051]

On the road again

Sorry this took so long to post.  I’m having immense difficulty with screen time right now, so writing and editing are both very slow (especially with this 6k-word fic).  It pretty much mirrors my recent time in hospital, so if you’re interested in what’s been going on with me lately, well, there you go.

Thank you to the amazing DD (@mohini-musing) for all the editing help.

Set in the Whoa Bessie ‘verse.  TWs for needles and hospitals.

_____

It starts when James falls to his knees beside the breakfast table clutching his head.  He’d gone to bed with a headache, but this is definitely an upgrade, and an impressive one at that.  Steve whips around from where he’s burning the fried eggs and automatically reaches for the rescue seizure meds. 

“Hang in there, Buck,” he intones.

“Mm,” James groans in response.  “No, I’m--”

“Hold on, I’ve got your meds,” Steve says.

“No, I’m ok,” James repeats.  “Just--”

“Bullshit.”

“Pain,” he grunts.  “So much pain.”

“Where?” Steve asks.  “Still your head?”  He abandons the spatula and drops to a squat at James’s side.

“Yeah,” James croaks.  “So bad.”

“This isn’t a seizure, is it?” Steve asks.

“No.”  James makes to shake his head, but his eyes flood with tears.  “I’m sorry,” he murmurs.

“What?”  Steve uses his thumb to wipe the moisture away.  “Don’t worry about it.  Well, I’ll worry about it.”

“No, don’t,” James tells him with a hitch in his voice.  “It just… really hurts.”

“Like, Excedrin hurts?” Steve asks.  “Or Imitrex?”

“Um,” James gulps.  “Neither.”

“What do you mean?”  Steve’s eyes go wide.  “Like, worse?”

James nods and bites his lip.  

“Jesus.”  Steve grits his teeth.  “What do you want me to do?”

“I don’t know.”

“You want to lie down, maybe?”  

Steve meant on the couch, but James gets clunkily down on his side on the kitchen floor.  

“That can’t be comfortable,” Steve comments.

“‘S not, really,” James replies.  He pulls his legs in toward his chest and cradles his arm around his head.  

“What do you want me to do?” Steve asks again.

“I-- Just--”  James stutters.

“Um.  Here.”  Steve stands and runs a dish cloth under the faucet.  He pauses to turn off the slightly smoking burner before returning to James’s side and laying the towel across his forehead.  “Better?” he asks, a bit stupidly.  He knows it can’t possibly make a dent in a headache this bad, but it doesn’t stop him from trying.

“Ugh.”  James grinds his teeth and lets out a strangled moan.  “It’s just… the worst headache…”  He gulps and nearly gags, but his stomach is empty and nothing comes up.

“Ok, um--” Steve gently pulls James into a sitting position, hanging his head between his knees.  “It’s gonna be alright.”

“Mmph.”  James gives a nauseous grunt. 

“Is it like a stabbing pain?  Or constricting?”  Steve asks, well aware that he has no power to diagnose.  

“I-- I don’t--”  James does gag this time.  A thin stream of bile dribbles down his chin and onto the floor.  

“Ok.”  Steve uses the towel to wipe him up.  Then he throws caution to the wind.  “Do you think you’re having an aneurysm?”

“Fuck,” James spits.  “I don’t know.”  He wipes his mouth on the back of his hand and gingerly maneuvers himself out of his own mess.  “How am I supposed to know?”

“Good point,” Steve says with a sigh.  “If you’re hurting that bad, though, we should go to the hospital.”

“Fucking go to bed,” James sputters.  

“I just,” Steve nervously chews one thumbnail.  “I just can’t let you do that.”

James starts to roll his eyes, then clutches his head in agony.  

“See, I don’t want you to lie down and not wake up,” Steve says quickly.

“Yeah, I--”  James gulps convulsively, sweat forming on his brow.  “Ok.  Fine.”

Steve leaves him on the kitchen floor for two minutes while he throws on jeans and digs up phones and wallets for both of them.  

“Alright,” Steve says, “Come on.”  It takes most of his strength and all of his grace to get James off the floor without winding up on his own ass.  There’s a stain of stomach acid on James’s thigh they both pretend not to see as Steve supports him out to the car.  

James leans his head back against the headrest immediately and closes his eyes.

“Not far,” Steve tells him. “Not far at all.”  The closest ER is just around the other side of the VA hospital where they both spend most of their days.  Steve has little idea who’s on during the dreaded weekend shifts; in fact, he barely knows the hospital aside from his own department and the staff in the cafeteria.  He trusts the hospital, though.  It’s highly rated for the area.  At least he thinks it is.  Though Steve may just be making that up to make himself feel better.  

The drive only takes a few minutes.  Steve parks in the staff lot, which is closer, hoping to all deities that nobody cares that it’s the wrong day for him to be using his permit.  He runs around the front of the car and opens James’s door, then throws the man’s arm over his shoulder and helps him toward the entrance to the Emergency Room.  

They dodge an ambulance pulling up to the bay and slide through the double doors.

“You need to be seen?” asks the gum chewing receptionist as soon as she lays eyes on them.  

“Yeah,” Steve says, gently clapping James on his stump.  

The girl directs him to a seat and asks his name and address, which Steve happily provides while James goes back to clutching his head.  

“And symptoms?”  The girl inquires.

Steve looks at James.  “Severe headache.”

“How would you rate your pain on a scale of one to ten?”

“Um.”  James swallows and lifts his chin.  “Nine?”

Steve assumes it’s only his past experience with hospitals and surgeries that keeps James from saying ten.  

The receptionists nods, unimpressed, and sends them into the waiting room.

They make it through vitals and registration without incident, though James’s blood pressure is high and his heart rate is through the roof.  He starts to gag again when the tech puts the thermometer under his tongue, but a well-timed swallow keeps everything in place.

“How’re you holding up?” Steve asks when they’re relegated back to the waiting room.

“Hmph,” is James’s curt reply.  

The folks in charge of triage seem to know their stuff, and it’s only a few minutes before James is called back again.  He eschews the proffered gown and lies gratefully on the paper-covered cot.  

“Aw, Buck,” Steve murmurs as James closes his eyes. 

“Ow,” James groans.

“Should I be quiet?”

“No.  Just, ow.”

Steve reaches for the light switch beside the door and flips it to the off position.  “Is that better?” he asks before sitting on a spindly chair in the corner of the room.

James makes a dull sound of assent.  

They get an entire minute of peace before an EMT comes bursting in, toting a huge gear bag and flipping the light back on.  

“What’ve we got here?” the man says loudly, tucking his long golden hair behind his ear.

Steve cringes, and he hears James’s teeth clench from across the room.

“Um,” Steve says slowly, blinking as if in morse code.  “Really bad headache.  Really bad.”

“Headache, eh?” the EMT repeats.  “First line of defense is always hydration.”  He pulls the duffle off his shoulder and removes a clear bag of fluids, then begins opening packages of tubing and needles.

Steve recognizes all the makings for an IV, and it seems James does too.  He groans and deflates, dropping his chin to his chest and pulling his arm in close.

“Geez,” Steve breathes, standing up to hold James’s hand.  He realizes a moment too late that he’s being the opposite of helpful, James having only half the average number of easily accessible veins.  “Look at me,” he says instead, going in to cup James’s chin.  “Look at me, Buck.”

James obliges the best he can.  He trains his eyes on Steve, and they slide out of focus before coming to rest somewhere in the region of Steve’s eyebrows.  “Ok,” James whispers.

He blinks dazedly when the EMT rolls up the sleeve of his shirt.  Steve’s glad James is wearing one of the tailored ones that only has the one sleeve, lest he give the whole of the staff the shock of their lives.

“Be gentle,” Steve says, probably unnecessarily.  “He’s in pain.”

“Of course, man,” the EMT replies, though not quietly.  He pushes James’s sleeve above the elbow and begins to feel for veins.  “This will be tight,” he warns before pulling the tourniquet around his bicep.

James gives a strangled hum in response.  Steve watches as his coarse arm hairs catch under the thick rubber band.  

“Gentle,” Steve mutters again, but the EMT is already prodding at the veins in the crook of James’s elbow.  

James practically growls at him, grinding his teeth and clenching his fist.

“That’s it, my man,” he has the audacity to say.  Then, “Shit, no.”  The EMT digs one-handedly in his bag and pulls out a thick pad of gauze and a length of coban.

Steve isn’t sure he wants to see the results of the shoddy handiwork, but he gets a glimpse of the already spreading bruise before James’s arm is bandaged up.

“What the hell?”  It’s all Steve can do to keep from telling him off further.

“Don’t worry,” says the EMT.  “There are plenty more veins.  Like… Here”  He rotates Jame’s arm and points to one midway between elbow and wrist.  “Or...Here.”  He points to the back of his hand.  

“Right.”  Steve fights the urge to roll his eyes.  “Can we just,” he starts, going for his kindest tone.  “A nurse, maybe?  Or a doctor?”  Even if this EMT wasn’t doing such a lackluster job, he’d still want James in the hands of the most highly trained medical trained professionals around.

“I got him,” the EMT says, tapping another vein.  “This is a good one.”

“OK,” Steve sighs.  He looks back to James and touches his stump shoulder, which he realizes is shaking.  “It’s ok, Buck.  It’ll be ok.”

“Mm.”  James barely nods.

“Little poke…”  the EMT murmurs.

It probably is just a little poke, but James’s entire body convulses in a flinch he does his best to control.  

“It’s ok,” Steve repeats again.  “Look at me, Buck, just look at me.  You’ll be ok.”

“Yup,” James replies with a groan, his eyes and lips wet.

“You alright?  You feel sick?”  Steve knows the questions are stupid, but he wants to know the answers nonetheless.

“I’m fine,” James breathes in a choked whisper.  “Don’t--” He stops to swallow.  “Don’t worry about it.”

“Aw, c’mere.”  Steve opens his arms, and James immediately leans in, placing his head against Steve’s chest.  Steve feels his shallow breathing and resists the urge to give him a comforting cuff on the shoulder.

“Ok, that’s that,” the EMT says authoritatively, tearing off a piece of tape and smoothing it over the plastic catheter in the back of James’s hand.  He loops the clear tubing and adds another strip for good measure.  “Nurse and NP should be in momentarily.  If you need anything in the meantime, I’ve been Aaron.”

“Lights back off, maybe?” Steve suggests.  He looks to James.  “It helps, right?”

“Hm,” James says into the front of Steve’s shirt.

“Sure thing.”  Aaron catches the light switch and steps out.  

There are a few minutes of blissful silence, during which Steve mulls over the EMT’s words.  He definitely referred to a nurse practitioner, not a doctor.  That removes any hope that he had of seeing doctor Hill, the wonderfully gentle MD who’d treated James the last couple of times he’d wound up in the ER.

“Hang in there, Bucky,” he says, two seconds before the door bounces off the wall with a crack loud enough to raise the dead.  

James burrows further into Steve’s chest, and Steve wraps his arms around him.  The light flips on again as a tall shadow enters the small exam room.  

“Fuck,” James mutters around a queasy gulp.

“I’m Brock,” says the shadow.  “Your NP this morning.  What brings you in?”  He sounds more like a hotel clerk with a bad attitude than a medical professional.

“Rumlow, wait!”  A nurse comes skidding into the room, his sneakers squeaking on the polished tile floor.  “This one’s a status migraine.”  The young man pushes his blonde hair out of his eyes and gives Steve an apologetic look.  “Hi.  I’m Pietro.”  He looks back to the NP and mouths, “Be gentle.”  

“Ok, ok.”  Brock lifts his hands innocently.  “So, your head hurts?”

James nods into Steve, so Steve gives the verbal “yes” for him.

“Alright.”  Brock sits loudly on a rolling stool as Pietro stations himself behind the computer.  “I’m going to ask you some questions,” he says in a bored voice.  “What’s your name?”

“James… Buchanan… Barnes.”  The pain is evident in James’s voice.

“Date of birth?”  Brock presses.

“March tenth--”  James swallows hard and falters on the year.

“Eh, close enough,” Steve decides.

Pietro seems to agree, giving a quick nod and an affirmative keyboard clack.

“Ok.”  Brock regains control of the conversation.  “Where are you this morning, James?”

“Um.”  James adjusts his position and furrows his brow.  “Here?”

Steve sighs.  ‘Oh no,’ he thinks.  The staff seem convinced this is just a bad migraine, but should James really be so confused.  Should he really be hurting so much?

“Here,” Brock repeats.  

Pietro types a note.

“Ok,” Brock says.  “And why are you here?”

“Uh.”  James takes a breath.  “2019?”

Steve shakes his head.  There’s only one excuse for this one.  “He doesn’t have his hearing aids--” he starts.

Brock holds up his hand.  “You’re sure this is a headache?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.  “You’re sure he’s not having a mental breakdown?”

“What?”  Steve nearly loses his grip on James.  Even Pietro seems to stop typing in surprise.

“This, you know,” Brock gestures with his pen.  “Episode.”  He puts a spin on the word that makes his opinion clear.

“No,” Steve says immediately.  “And trust me, I would know.”

“But he’s sick, he’s panicky, you bring him to the ER--”

“Yeah, because I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” Steve interrupts.  “Because I want to make sure he’s not having a fucking anyeurism!  But I’m a psychologist, and trust me, I know a mental breakdown when I see one.”

“Alright,” Brock huffs as he stands up.  “Fine.”  He takes a step toward the door.  “Order MRI for this one, then have Dr. Pierce read the results.  I’m recommending admission; I just haven’t yet decided which ward.”  He leaves the room, and the door clicks shut behind him.

It takes all of Steve’s strength not to give the NP a good cursing out.  Instead he refocuses on James, burying his nose in the waves of his hair.  

“I’m so sorry about him,” says Pietro, moving out from behind the computer.  “He’s not normally quite that rough around the edges…”  He trails off with a shrug.  

“Couldn’t imagine working with him on the daily,” Steve says honestly.

“Well, you get used to it.”  Pietro shrugs.  “As soon as he finishes with his MRI, we’ll set him up with some painkillers.  A good migraine cocktail, some magnesium, maybe, or some steroids--”  

He’s cut off when a transport technician arrives with a wheelchair.  The man’s nametag reads “Hogan.”  “Barnes for MRI?” he asks.

“Yup,” Pietro says.  He looks to Steve.  “Want me to help you transfer him?”

“That would be great, actually,” Steve replies.  He grips James’s hand, careful not to disturb the IV line, and shifts him toward the edge of the cot.  Pietro loops an arm around James’s waist and supports half his weight as Steve steers him upright.  

They make an ungainly three-point turn and settle James in the wheelchair.  He immediately lists sideways toward Steve.

“Ok, Buck,” Steve murmurs.  He cards his free hand through James’s hair and presses a quick kiss to his temple.  

“He’s real lucky to have you,” Pietro comments, hanging James’s IV bag on a pole above his head.  “If you don’t mind me saying.”

“Oh, of course not,” Steve says quickly, feeling himself go pink.

He begins to walk into the hall beside James’s wheelchair, but he’s stopped when the transport tech’s arm hits him in the chest.  

“You can’t come back that far,” Pietro explains apologetically.  “Sorry.”

“Oh.”  Steve tries to keep his voice measured.  “Ok, sure.”  He steps back toward the exam room and leans against the doorway.  

“I’m really sorry,” Pietro repeats.  “It’s just, policy and all--”

“It’s fine.”  Steve crosses his arms, hoping he doesn’t come across as confrontational.  “I’m just really worried about him.  It all, like, came on so fast, and…”  Moisture prickles unexpectedly at the corners of his eyes.  

“Hey, I get it, man.”  Pietro claps him on the shoulder.  “Working ER, we kinda see it all the time.  Not to trivialize it or anything, but, like, really bad, scary things happen every day, and most of them turn out to be ok.”

Steve gives a long, hard exhale.  “Thanks.”

“Anytime, bud.  You work here, right?”  Pietro points to the access badge sticking halfway out of Steve’s pocket.  

“Yeah.  Counseling,” Steve replies, quickly wiping his eyes with his thumb.

“Well, if I ever pull a normal shift, I’ll give you a secret handshake in the cafeteria.”  Pietro grins.

“Sure thing.”

“MRI takes, like, ten minures.  Maybe fifteen, tops.  Just wait here.  Holler if you need anything, and Happy’ll bring your boy back once he’s out of the giant magnet.”

“Happy?” Steve asks.

“Hogan, I mean,” PIetro corrects himself.  “We have all kinds of call signs around here.”

“Oh.  Well, thank you,” Steve says.  “You’ve been great.  Especially after what’s-his-name.”

“Rumlow?”  Pietro laughs.  “It’s spelled just like it sounds.  And my last name’s Maximoff, by the way.”

 “Ok…”

“Patient survey’s on the website.”  Pietro winks.

Steve laughs.  “Will do.” He gives him a wave as the nurse takes his leave.  

Steve reenters the small exam room and takes a seat on the rolling stool, then changes his mind and goes back to the chair in the corner instead.  He crosses his legs, then uncrosses them and drums his fingers on his knee.  It finally occurs to him to pull his phone from his pocket to pass the time, but Steve immediately feels guilty and puts it back.  He checks his watch and sees that 12 minutes have passed.  A thrill of panic rolls down his spine when he realizes James could be back literally any second, and a diagnosis could come any second after that.  

A clatter sounds in the hallway, and Steve leaps from his seat.  He reaches for James, who is leaning forward slightly in the wheelchair, his eyes downcast.  Steve notices that his pajama top has been changed for a hospital gown, and his medical alert necklace is tangled in the IV line around his wrist.

“Hey, Buck,” Steve whispers, trying not to overwhelm him.  “How’re you feeling?”

“Mm.”  James slowly lifts his head as the technician, Happy, pushes the wheelchair back into the exam room.  “Not so good.”

“I’m sorry,” Steve says.  He gently untangles the necklace from James’s wrist and re-fastens it around his neck.  “D’you want to lie down, or--?”

“Better stay put, if you ask me,” Happy says.  “Doc will be in with results in just a minute and then he’ll be moved to a room upstairs.”

“So they are admitting him?” Steve asks.  “Is that based on the scan, or just what that NP recommended?”

“Hey, I just drive the chair,” Happy replies, raising his hands palms up.  “But he’s pretty sick, and a little bird told me room 211 is going to have a new occupant pretty soon.”

“Second floor?” Steve confirms.  “Not psych ward, then.  And not ICU, either.”

“No, it’s not,” says a new voice.  A doctor with a white coat and ashy greying hair steps into the room as Happy vanishes down the hall.  “I’m Dr. Alexander Pierce.” He waves a handful of printouts.  “Here with actual results and orders, not prognostications and psychological philanderings.”  He wiggles his fingers to emulate silliness.

Steve feels too caught to be offended.  “My apologies, sir,” he says.  Then he nods toward the printed papers.  “What are the, uh, findings?”

“Nothing!”  Dr. Pierce announces.  He slaps one paper down on the cot and lines up another next to it.

James flinches at the sound.  Steve squeezes his shoulder.

“Pain isn’t due to anything structural.  Migraine activity behaves much like seizure activity, and I understand he does have a history of those.”

“Yes.”  Steve nods.

“So I’d like to admit him and try a course of IV meds while keeping him under observation.  The past traumatic brain injury makes things a little more complicated, and I want to be a bit more cautious, but it’s a headache disorder we’re treating, not a tumor or an aneurysm.”  Dr. Pierce offers a wan smile. 

Steve lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.  “Ok,” he says, looking at James.  “Ok?”

“Yes,” James whispers, barely moving his lips.  “I just-- anything--”

“Anything to feel better?”  Steve fills in the gaps.

James nods minimally, then gulps.  “Sorry,” he hisses.  

“Don’t worry.”  Steve rubs the back of James's neck.

Dr. Pierce is less impressed.  He yanks an emesis bag from a fixture on the wall and holds it out.  James shakily takes it, but lets the green plastic crinkle in his lap.

“Transport will take you up to the second floor,” Dr. Pierce says.  “I’ve already put orders in for some medications.”

“Wow,” Steve comments.  “That’s fast.”

“Saturday morning is a good time to visit us at the hospital, if there is such a thing,”   Dr. Pierce smiles.  He nods to Happy and says “Take ‘em on up.”

Room 211 is arranged the same as the exam room downstairs, though with a bed in the center instead of a cot.  There’s a computer in one corner, a chair in another, and a small rolling table pressed up against the wall.

James is decidedly green around the gills again by the time he’s offloaded into the bed.  “Steve?” he asks in a choked whisper, barely containing a gag.  

“Here.”  Steve opens the emesis bag and holds it open for James.  A long string of saliva drips into it, but nothing else seems to want to come.

“It’s alright, Buck.”  Steve gives him a gentle pat on the back.

“Feeling pretty crummy, there?” asks a kind female voice.  A woman in pink scrubs enters the room, closely followed by a nervous-looking young man holding a clipboard.  “I’m May,” she says.  “I’m your nurse today.  And this is Peter, my student.”

“Hi.” Steve waves with his free hand.  “I’m Steve.  He’s James.”  

They attach a pulse oximeter to James’s finger and heart monitor leads to his chest, then Peter begins to scribble down a note as May clacks away on the computer.  “Looks like we have orders for intravenous cocktail of painkillers, anti inflammatories, and a mild sedative to start with.  That plus oxygen therapy can sometimes break a migraine.”

The words themselves hardly make an impact on Steve.  May begins to list off drug names to Peter, and the kid leaves the room to fetch them.

“How’re you holding up?” May asks.

“Huh?”  Steve snaps out of his daze.  “He’s--”

“No, I mean how are you feeling?”

“Oh.”  Steve scratches the back of his head.  “I’m ok.  Worried.  Relieved, but still worried.  I haven’t seen him this bad off since he had the first seizure…”  The corners of his eyes begin to prickle again, and he quickly brings his hand around to cover his mouth.

“Hey, it’s gonna be ok.”  May gives his arm a motherly squeeze.  “Pain is hard to watch, but easy to manage once you give it some time.”

“Hm.”  Steve slowly nods.  “Good point.”

“Now, what can I get you?  Maybe some soup?” the nurse suggests.  “You should both eat something.”

“Oh, I’m fine.”  Steve gestures to himself.  “And--”  He gestures to the the emesis bag in his hand.

“You shouldn’t worry on an empty stomach.  And he needs something to properly throw up.”  May grins.  “I’m joking, of course.”

“Oh.”  Steve finds himself fighting a laugh.

“Go ahead,” says May.  “That was meant to be funny”

Peter returns with several syringes and an oxygen cannula.  He sets up the O2 first, gently inserting the prongs of the cannula into James’s nose.  James shifts to allow the tubing to be tightened beneath his chin, then he curls like a cat with his stump arm buried in Steve’s lap.  Steve knows the oxygen is far from magic, but it seems James’s labored breathing immediately eases a bit.

“Now for meds,” May says.  She tells Peter the order in which the drugs should be injected into the IV line.  “Dilute them with a little saline so they don’t burn on the way in.”

“Do they burn?” Steve asks in concern.

“Nuh.”  James shrugs.  “At this point,” he pants.  “Don’ really care.”

“Aw, Buck,” Steve says, gently petting James’s hair.  

“That’s it for now,” May says.  “I’ll bring you guys some food in a few minutes.”

True to her word, she does return with two bowls of soup on a tray.  “Now, I didn’t cook it, so take it up with Nutrition if it’s the wrong flavor or something.  I think it’s supposed to be corn chowder.”

“Thank you,” Steve says, maneuvering the rolling table over to the bed.  “So much.”

“Don’t mention it.  Just looking out for you.”  May takes her leave.

Steve carefully peels the top off one of the bowls.  Steam rises from it, giving off a bland savory smell.  “You first?” he asks James.

“Nope,” James protests.  “This one’s all you.”

Steve shrugs and dips in a spoon.  He brings it to his lips and sips slowly.  “Huh,” he murmurs, then takes another spoonful.

“How is it?” James asks.  “Or do I even want to know?”

“It kind of tastes like...water,” Steve decides.  “Or, like...like nothing.”

“Gross.”  James gives a shallow cough.

“What, you don’t want to try it?”

“Not unless you want it back all over the front of your shirt.”

“Fair enough,” Steve laughs.

A man in an apron and hairnet comes to get the bowls after a while.  James settles into the mattress on his side, his head on the pillow and his fingers threaded through one of Steve’s belt loops.  Steve lies carefully beside him, taking up as little space as possible as he watches fluid slowly drip into the IV line on the back of Jamse’s hand.

“How’re you feeling?” he asks softly.

“Honestly?” James flicks his eyes upward to get a good look at Steve’s face, then winces.  “Kinda the same.”

“Hm.”  Steve presses his lips together.  He’d hoped for the best, though he knows treating migraines is part science and part magical mystery, like throwing knives at a spinning roulette wheel.  He reaches over James’s back and finds the remote with the nurse’s call button.  He presses it and waits a moment before May and Peter appear.

“Tell them what you just told me,” Steve says, giving James a prompting nod.

James sighs.  “Still don’t feel good,” he mutters.

“Oh, sweetie,” May simpers.  “I’ll talk with the hospitalist and see what else we can give you.  Dr. Danvers is on today, and she should be in for rounds in not too long.  Your neurologist will be along later as well.”

James nods, then winces again and swallows painfully.

“You didn’t eat, did you, babe?”  May puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head.  

“Can I get you a basin or something?” Peter asks, seeming eager to be helpful.

James says “no” at the same time that Steve says “yes.”

“You don’t have to use it.” Peter gives a nervous smile.  “In fact, we hope you don’t.”

“Go grab one,” says May.  “I’ll grab Dr. Danvers.”

No sooner has Peter deposited the unwanted basin on the table than a tall woman with short caramel colored hair arrives.  

“Dr. Carol Danvers,” she introduces herself.  “I hear first line of defense hasn’t worked out so well.”  

Steve shakes his head.  “No, we’re still not feeling great.”  He gives James a meaningful look.

“My head is fucking exploding,” he murmurs.

“I understand.”  Dr. Danvers perches on the edge of the recliner in the corner of the room.  “Unfortunately there isn’t a reliable cure-all for a severe headache like this.  I have a couple more tricks to throw at it, and hopefully neuro will have a few more.”

“Ok,” Steve says.  “What kind of odds are we talking here, doc?  I just, you know, I just hate seeing him like this.”

“Honestly,” Dr. Danvers starts, “I couldn’t begin to tell you.”  She presses her lips together.  “The cocktail of painkillers and vitamins I want to try has a pretty good reputation of success against a status migraine, but it isn’t foolproof.  Nothing really is.”

“Yeah,” Steve sighs.  “So I’m learning.  Thanks for being honest with us.”

“Sure thing.  How do you feel about it, James?”

James swallows hard.  “I’ll try anything,” he croaks.

Dr. Danvers offers a sad smile.  “We’ll get you better.  If not this round, then the next.”  

She stands and leaves the room.

Barely a moment later, May and Peter are back with fresh bags of IV fluids.

“Some more saline,” May explains.  “Then painkillers”.  She slowly injects the line.

James closes his eyes.

Peter holds up the next syringe.  “Now for magnesium.  Um, this one can burn a little.”

“Whatever,” James mutters.

“Ok.”  Peter smiles and shrugs, then begins to inject the clear fluid. 

Within five seconds, James is gritting his teeth.  His face goes a shade of fire engine red, and beads of sweat gather at his temples.  

“Buck?”  Steve asks, snaking his arm around his shoulders.  James’s skin burns through the hospital gown as if he’s spiked an instantaneous fever.  “Is this normal?” Steve demands.

“Yes, unfortunately,” Peter answers.  “It only lasts a few minutes.”

“Jesus,” Steve says under his breath.  He isn’t sure whether to pull James close or to refrain from touching him at all.

“Mm,” James groans, swiping at the perspiration running down his cheek.  

“I got it, Buck,” Steve says.  He stills James’s hand and uses his own shirttail to catch the drip.

“Next is a steroid,” says May, continuing to fuss with the IV.  “Hopefully this will break the headache, but it can have a couple side effects.  Can make you feel a little puffy, a little hungry.  Nothing dangerous, but it can be pretty annoying once you get to feeling better.”

“Then we’ll deal with it then,” James says quietly.  Steve imagines he can’t care less about side effects at the moment.  He can’t either.

“That’s a good attitude you’ve got,” May comments.  “Alrighty, that should knock you flat for a good couple hours.  We’ll evaluate how you’re doing when you wake up, and hopefully neuro will be making rounds by then.”

“Ok.”  Steve looks from James’s face to to May’s.  “I guess that sounds good.”

“Call me if you need anything, Sweetie.”  She grins at him, then she and Peter take their leave.

Steve lets out his breath again.  James is still warm to the touch, but his expression is much more serene.  His hair is damp with sweat and sticking to his face.  Steve combs his fingers through it and murmurs sweet nothings until he feels sleepy himself.  He curls around James as much as he can on the narrow bed, shuts his eyes, and drifts into a light sleep.

He wakes when James starts dry heaving again.  Steve scrambles to grab the basin off the table and shove it under James’s chin, but it’s completely unnecessary.  

“It’s alright.”  he slips his hand behind James’s back and gives it a light tap.  “Just get it up, if you’ve got it.”

“Nah,” James says, spitting out a string of mucous and wiping his mouth on his shoulder.  “‘M hungry, though.”

Steve laughs and presses the call button.  He expects Peter and May to return again, but instead it’s a young black woman with long braids who comes toting the cup of pudding.  She hands over the dish and spoon, then sits cross-legged on the end of the bed.  

“Hi, Dr…”  Steve squints at her name tag.  

“Call me Shuri,” the woman says.  “I don’t use my last name.  No one can pronounce it.  And I don’t use ‘doctor,’ either, but I’m your neurologist today.”

“Good to meet you,” Steve says.

James raises his spoon in salute.

“So,” Sure says, getting right down to business, “You’ve had two migraine cocktails.  How are you feeling?”

“Still like hell,” James mumbles, his mouth full of pudding.

He looks like hell, too, Steve thinks, with circles under his eyes and a gaunt, greyish tinge to his skin.  

“The brain is a mysterious thing,” Shuri explains.  “You have a TBI, so I know you understand some of this already.  Injury happens, then recovery.  But with the brain, it isn’t like healing a broken bone.  And when the injury isn’t even an impact, it’s spontaneous electrical activity…”  She shakes her head.  “It’s like fighting invisible enemies.”

James sighs and hands Steve his empty bowl.  “You make it sound like a sci-fi movie or something,” he jokes.

Steve is glad to see him in a good mood, but he doesn’t like the way lines of pain appear around James’s eyes.  Shuri seems to notice too.

“Here, why don’t you lie down,” she suggests, getting to her feet.  “I’d like to try you on a new combination of medications.  Some will be added to your regular daily regimen of anticonvulsants, and those will be a permanent fixture.  Some others will be administered intravenously over a 72 hour period while you're here at the hospital.  They take nearly the whole period to begin working, but I’ve seen good success.”  Shuri smiles.  “Does that sound ok to you?”

“So…”  James’s brow wrinkles as he does the math.  “That’s three days in here?”

“Yes,” Shuri says.  “Fortunately.  Or unfortunately, however you choose to look at it.  It can feel like a long time, but it’s fairly quick in the world of intractable migraines.  We’ll be sure to send you home with plenty of preventables.  Injectable Imitrex, that kind of thing.  To keep you ahead of the curve.”

“Ok,” James says, his voice going flat.  The look in his eyes is hopeful, yet exhausted.  

Steve nods and looks to Shuri again.  “Alright,” she says.  “I know this is complicated, but I like to keep my patients well-informed.  You’ll continue to get your regular meds morning, midday, and night, with the addition of another anticonvulsant, plus oral painkillers as needed.  Then you’ll get an antiemetic and an analgesic in your IV every six hours for the next three days.  We’ll continue your oxygen therapy as well.”  Shuri points to the cannula under James’s nose.  “And we’ll keep the option for a mild opioid open should you need something that works a little stronger and faster.  She looks between Steve and James.  “Is that clear as mud?”

“Clear enough,” Steve says, pleased with the way she’s broken it all down for them.

“Yes,” agrees James, nodding slightly and wincing.

“Don’t strain yourself,” Shuri says.  “I’ll put in the orders and see about setting up that first dose.”  She nods to them and leaves the room.

Once they’re on their own again, James turns to Steve, cautiously rolling onto his side.  “So.  Three days in this place.”

“Yup,” says Steve.  “Want me to run by home and get your toothbrush?  Maybe some pajamas for you?”

“That would be great, actually,” says James, a little blearily.  “But what do you mean, run by?  Wouldn’t it be easier to come back and see me after work on Monday?”

“Buck.”  Steve shakes his head emphatically.  “If you think I’m leaving you here by yourself, you’re nuts.  You know what, Sam has a spare key.  He can pack up some essentials and bring them over.”

James blinks a few times.  “Really?”

“Of course.”  Steve kisses his cheek.  “To the end of the line, remember?  Always to the end of the line.”

[jacobjonesjj]

Reported Racism & more in the Hillsborough/Tampa Fl department

In essence based on the articles below it seems like the the Fire and Emergency response department in Hillsborough/Tampa, fl, - (if you Google and you’ll find many other racial Fire & Emergency response incidents through out Florida, and other states, including nooses being used to threaten fire fighters of color).

Based on these news articles, which everyone seems to ignore, it seems like we have with our tax dollars and conformance outsource the Fire and Emergency Response to the KKK and call them Heroes.  Like the Netflix true story “When they see us”,  when they see us dying,  good luck on treatment if you are black or any other minority.  If you work for them and are black based on some of these articles they discriminate &or hang nooses.  In fact See below for yourself:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/Hillsborough-suspends-four-paramedics-in-treatment-of-stroke-victim-30-who-later-died_170253710

https://newsone.com/3819034/paramedics-mother-death-hillsborough-county-florida/

https://www.theroot.com/mother-says-medics-denied-her-daughter-an-ambulance-rid-1827917551

https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180729/mother-of-dead-woman-says-tampa-medics-told-her-she-could-not-afford-ambulance

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/us/black-woman-ambulance-cost-florida.html

https://bipartisanreport.com/2018/07/27/racist-paramedics-let-black-woman-die-the-reason-is-about-to-start-a-riot-video/

https://www.diversityinc.com/black-mother-dies-because-hillsborough-county-fire-rescue-assumed-she-couldnt-afford-the-ambulance-ride/

http://www.blacknews.com/news/crystle-galloway-black-mother-dies-after-paramedics-refuse-save-her-life/

https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3675494/posts

https://www.wfla.com/national/firefighters-in-trouble-after-using-body-for-training-exercise/1475421182 https://nypost.com/2018/07/29/mom-says-daughter-died-after-medics-assumed-she-couldnt-afford-ambulance/

https://blackdoctor.org/523159/woman-dies-after-medics-assume-she-cant-afford-ambulance/

https://www.romper.com/p/new-mom-dies-after-medics-reportedly-assume-she-couldnt-afford-the-ambulance-9914658

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/mother-says-hillsborough-county-fire-medics-took-the-best-part-of-me-referring-to-daughter

http://www.tampabay.com/investigations/2018/02/21/overdoses-duis-stolen-drugs-floridas-third-biggest-fire-rescue-department-has-a-problem/

https://people.com/human-interest/woman-dies-days-after-giving-birth-as-medics-assumed-she-cant-afford-ambulance-ride-mom-claims/

https://www.wistv.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://hellobeautiful.com/3009347/mother-claims-daughter-died-because-paramedics-assumed-she-couldnt-afford-ambulance-bill/

https://www.newser.com/story/262735/medics-assumed-dying-woman-couldnt-afford-ambulance-mom.html

https://www.wafb.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://www.kplctv.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

http://admin.theblackloop.com/young-mother-dies-just-days-giving-birth-medics-refused-help/

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/07/31/crystle-galloway-death-florida-paramedics-racism-profiling/

https://www.wlox.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/07/27/woman-dies-days-after-giving-birth-after-medics-allegedly-assumed-she-cant-afford-ambulance-ride/

https://hillsboroughpress.com/103783/florida-woman-taking-t-mobile-to-court-for-failing-to-block-calls-from-scammer/

https://blacknessuncensored.blogspot.com/2018/07/hillsborough-fl-suspends-four.html

https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/national-shortage-of-paramedics-and-emts-being-in-the-bay-area/1810985374

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/full-investigation-to-be-launched-into-hillsborough-co-medics-accused-of-mishandling-patient

https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/florida-paramedic-fired-disciplined-for-failing-treat-new-mom-who-later-died/WUAn7JCNEkKeeCkK31cfwO/

https://www.mic.com/articles/190515/crystle-galloway-died-after-four-paramedics-denied-her-help-now-her-family-wants-them-fired

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crystle-galloway-florida-paramedics-accused-of-failing-to-check-vitals-racism/

https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/tampa-firefighter-fired-after-filing-harassment-suit/2272213

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45009078

https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2019/04/04/firefighter-arrested-in-tampa-prostitution-sting

https://www.10tv.com/article/florida-paramedics-accused-racism-and-failing-check-womans-vitals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kus6abgec7Y

https://texags.com/forums/16/topics/2965257

https://news.iheart.com/featured/chris-michaels/content/2018-07-31-paramedics-accused-of-racism-in-florida-wow-watch/

https://thegrio.com/2018/07/27/paramedics-under-fire-for-telling-mother-she-couldnt-afford-ambulance-bill-for-daughter-who-later-died/

http://pettyamericaglobal.com/blog/article/-are-paramedics-being-racist-florida-

https://eblnews.com/video/paramedics-accused-racism-and-failing-check-womans-vitals-468259

Wait, there’s more:

Tax Payer Abuse:

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/hillsborough-firefighters-union-repays-taxpayers/120123924

Drugs in the department, putting civilians at risk:

http://www.tampabay.com/investigations/2018/02/21/overdoses-duis-stolen-drugs-floridas-third-biggest-fire-rescue-department-has-a-problem/

And I’ll quote what the paper said:  “Hillsborough County has a documented history of drug issues — and alcohol abuse — among first responders. A Tampa Bay Times investigation found 47 drug- and alcohol-related incidents involving county fire rescue employees since 2010.”

Leadership Fraud:

Wait there is more (if this is what the commanders do, can imagine what those reporting to them can get away with:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/hillsborough-fire-rescue-investigates-whether-commanders-falsified-their/2327412

Obstruction leading to death:

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/car-collides-with-hillsborough-fire-truck-sparking-traffic-delay-on-i-4-at-branch-forbes-road

Unreliable 911 information systems: (they did not even know what the impact was at the time, and no contingency):

http://www.tampabay.com/hillsborough/human-error-broke-hillsborough-911-system-made-fixing-it-harder-reports-say-20190413/

Discrimination and harassment of female fire fighters:

https://arada.org/former-tampa-firefighter-awarded-damages-discrimination/

Disrespecting and Practicing on the Dead:/Deceased

https://www.wfla.com/national/firefighters-in-trouble-after-using-body-for-training-exercise/1475421182

But profiling minorities and allowing them to die is beyond sad and extremely wrong.

[californiaemttraining]

https://californiaemt.com/

We provide Emergency Medical Services Training for various EMS programs. EMS related courses.

The organization was founded in 2003 by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as well as Early Childhood Educators. Our aim is to improve the awareness of safety and health through comprehensive education. We provide a variety of training programs that include emt course san Francisco as well as in-person and online CPR and First Aid as well as Bloodborne Pathogens certification to the general public.

[star-trekkin-across-theuniverse]

Vital Signs, Pt14

Word Count: 1228 Tags: @supermoonpanda @rayleyanns @sistasarah-sallysaidso @to-pick-ourselves-up-7 and @outside-the-government, @jimfromsales, @donnaintx, @enterprisewriting

I was glad for all the additional fitness training I’d been doing over the past months. My colleagues were struggling to climb over the rubble to get out of the ambulance bay. I hauled up gear to the top, and then hauled up my team. And then we hauled up the other two teams. The nurse who’d served in Afghanistan was the only other person who didn’t struggle while scrabbling up the debris.

“How are you so in shape, Lex?” Erica gasped from beside me.

“I run 10k a day, amongst other things. Are you going to be okay?” I looked her right in the eye.

“Oh hells, yes. Once I’m not climbing a broken building, I’ll be fine,” she nodded. We slid down the side of the rubble and regrouped on the ground. Looking out onto the street was astonishing. There was rubble and smashed cars everywhere, and where there wasn’t rubble and smashed cars, there were people screaming and running. We quickly decided what direction to go and ran toward the worst of the fighting.

“Write the time and vital signs on the patient’s arm before you send them down to the ambulances. It will help the EMTs to triage.” I handed a sharpie to each of the nurses on my team. We set about treating everyone we came across. There were a lot of cuts and abrasions, but as far out from the fighting as we still were, not much worse. I expected that to change as we made our way up the street. We systematically moved through the battle zone, and sure enough, the injuries started getting worse. A car to the far left of us suddenly burst into flames and became airborne. I looked up. As we’d been moving toward the fighting, the fighting had also been moving toward us. I saw Romanoff fly past on one of the alien craft.

“Heads up! It’s getting dangerous!” I hollered at my team. We regrouped and looked further up the street. There were people everywhere still, and some of them weren’t moving quickly, or weren’t moving at all.

“We’ve got to keep going!” One of the nurses yelled. I nodded.

“Just keep an eye on what’s happening above us!” I agreed. The other nurse suddenly tackled me, and a blue bolt shot across where I’d been standing. From the ground, I could see alien troops heading toward us.

“RUN!” I screamed. I grabbed my bag and we headed to the nearest building and scrambled inside. A red and gold blur flew by, blasting at the aliens, and then waved into the building. Stark had obviously seen us and was trying to help. We headed back out and continued treating people and directing them back toward the hospital. My radio crackled to life.

“Lex! We’ve got a guy pinned under a car about 100 feet back from where you are!” Erica called. I looked back and saw her waving frantically at us. We ran toward her. Between the 6 of us, we managed to rock the car enough to pull the guy out. Fortunately, his leg was only broken and not crushed. We collected our things to leave Erica and her team to it, and as I stood up from grabbing my kit bag, I took the stock of one of the alien weapons to the face. How they had snuck up on us was beyond me.

I dropped my bag, and took a fighting stance. The alien was obviously not interested in shooting me, but certainly wanted a fight. It figured. I was so entirely screwed. Always sucking at hand-to-hand was one thing, but missing practices while I was finishing med school meant I was worse than I’d ever been. The alien charged me. I deked to the side and it shot past me. It turned and came at me again, and I tried to throw it over my shoulder like Romanoff had taught me. I wound up on my back with its hands around my neck. And then it slumped on top of me, dead. I struggled out from under it and saw Romanoff shaking her head.

“It’s a good thing you’re a good doctor, Richmond!” She yelled as she dashed away. I regrouped with my team, and we moved forward, gaining and losing ground as we found people. As we got to the area where the fighting was centred, we encountered some police officer.

“I’m sorry, the guy with the shield says we aren’t letting anyone past this point.” An older cop held his hand up. I squinted and in the distance could see Steve fighting. I nodded.

“We’re medical, sir. Are there any injured up there?” I asked. He shrugged.

“No idea.”

“You have to let us past then. We’ll keep to the perimeters as much as possible, but if there’s people in there that are hurt, you have to let us past.” I flashed my SHIELD ID. He turned away and spoke into his radio. A moment later he turned back.

“You can go in, but you’re on your own.” He waved us past the barricade of cars. We dashed across the line, and headed to the edge of the nearest building. From where we stood, we could see across most of the worst fighting. I stopped, completely mesmerized by the effortless way that Steve fought. It was inspired. I was snapped out of my reverie by a holler from one of the nurses.

“Holy shit! There’s a kid in that car!” She shrieked, pointing at a cab that was upside down about 40 feet away. I took stock of the situation. The ground around the cab was wet, and there was some sort of heat coming off the ground, causing the cab to look blurry. Gas.

“We’ve gotta get to that kid before the car blows!” I yelled, and ran toward it. I pulled my pocketknife out as I slid to the rear door of the car. I wrenched it open, and cut the seatbelt. The child, a girl no more than 5 years old, fell into my arms, sobbing. I passed her to the nurse beside me.

“Where’s her mom? Take her back, I’m going to look.” I turned back to the car, and saw an unconscious woman slumped across the roof of the car. I climbed into the car and grabbed her arms. I started pulling, and the other nurse reached in and tugged too. With huge effort, we pulled her clear as a pair of firefighters approached. One of them picked up the woman like she weighed nothing and he and the nurse ran to where we’d left our supplies. I pushed myself to my feet to follow.

You know how, in movies, when shit blows up, the people nearby look exactly like they are being pulled away from the explosion by their belt loops? That’s kind of what it feels like too. I pulled free from the cab and started to follow my team, but I stopped and turned around when I heard something that sounded like another child, crying. It wasn’t. It was the engine of the cab igniting the gas around it. I heard the boom, and felt myself fly backward away from the explosion. The heat was incredible, and the sound was deafening. And then, I felt nothing, and my world went black.

[pherryt]

(I'm sending this for a friend of mine) Dean suffers from epilepsy and one morning in his way out of the house he forgets to take his meds. By the time Cas realizes he is running to the Starbucks he knows dean goes to every morning, but it's too late. Thankfully, Cas's twin brother works there and saves the day. happy DCJ ending?

DING DINGDING! This is prompt number 30!!!! 😃

Okay, sothere was a delay because I had to look some stuff up about Epilepsy. I – like prettymuch most people, I think – only knew the basics: It’s a seizure, you can beborn with it and it can be triggered by stuff.

So when I readup on it a little and found it could be caused by head traumas too…this storytook a natural turn towards one of the other series of ficlets I’d alreadystarted – the DCJ Accident story (god, every time I think that one is done,something more comes along!) 

Hope you like this addition to it 😃 (note, I tried to lookup some stuff about the medications – if you should have someone take theirmissed dosed after an episode or not and all I came up with is not DURING theepisode which…duh…so I have no idea if that’s right or not)

1501 words

_____________ DCJ - Accident Part 5!!!

Adjusting tolife after the accident had been a little difficult. Dean was stubborn as amule and Cas and Jimmy still felt guilty as hell. No matter how often Deaninsisted that the accident wasn’t their fault, they still harbored the thoughtsthat if they hadn’t fought, hadn’t yelled, Dean would never have been out thereto have the accident to begin with.

And when –during recovery – it was discovered that Dean’s head trauma had had somelasting effects…let’s just say that all ofthem were freaking out to various degrees.

Dean wasupset because Bobby wouldn’t let him work in the bays anymore, deeming it toodangerous for Dean even if he stuck to the small shit, and too dangerous foreveryone else including Dean if hedidn’t. Stuck on the counter at the garage was not how Dean had seen his lifegoing. He liked working with hishands, god-damn it.

To addinsult to injury, he’d been forbidden from driving too for the foreseeablefuture. Which, to be fair, wasn’t nearly as appealing with his Baby currentlylying trashed behind Singers Salvage, but now he couldn’t even release histensions by fixing her up or goingfor a drive.

On the twinsends, they were just plain scared. Scared for Dean. The first time he’d had aseizure had been eye opening for them that this wasn’t over. That the accident couldstill take him away from them if he had a seizure at the wrong time, in thewrong place.

Not tomention how helpless they’d felt when he’d collapsed in front of them with onlyhalf remembered first aid training to help them through it.

So now thetwins took it upon themselves to set up Dean’s medications and hound after himday after day to make sure he didn’t miss a dose. Things were even starting tolook up. He hadn’t had a seizure in over a month and the doctors had assuredDean that if he stabilized, he could be allowed to drive again.

Bobby wasanother matter. But things were improving. The twins both breathed a sigh ofrelief.

That morningstarted like any other. Jimmy got up first for his early shift. He grumbled andgroaned about it, but dragged himself out of bed eventually. 2 hours later,Dean was the next to get up. Cas burrowed into the blankets Dean draped overhim, suddenly cold without two living space heaters beside him, and dozed.

As usual,Dean came back into the room before he left to gently shake Cas more awake. “Upbabe, you said you have a deadline today, and if I don’t wake you up now, you’llsleep the whole day away.”

“Nnnn…Deaaaan…”Cas pouted sleepily.

“C’mon,sleepyhead,” Dean coaxed with a kiss. Cas hummed happily into it, sighing in disappointmentwhen it ended. “I’m only doing a half day today, so I’ll see you in a fewhours, okay?”

Withanother, last kiss, Dean left their apartment to make the walk down to Singers.Cas hoped the Doc gave the okay for Dean to drive soon. The weather was good enoughnow for making that walk – it wasgood for Dean, and he enjoyed it – but come winter, it would be hell.

He shuffledinto the kitchen and went about making coffee – which in this house and beingthe last awake generally meant just hitting the brew button and waiting becauseeither Dean or Jimmy had left it ready for him, his favorite mug already sat besideit.

This wasgood, because without coffee, Cas didn’t really function very well.

Which wasprobably why it took him so long to realize what he was actually seeing on thecounter. Dean’s mug, untouched beside his.

Dean’s meds.

They’dgotten him one of those weekly dose containers and one of the brothers wouldset it up at the end of every week. Here it was midweek – and only Monday hadbeen opened. Cas picked it up for a closer look, popping both Tuesday andWednesday open.

They werefull.

Dammit –they’d all agreed that the best place to leave pill container was by the coffeemachine because they were all addicts and needed their coffee to function.There was no way to miss it there. So why…? What had changed that Dean forgothis meds?

Cas’s eyeswidened.

Jimmy’sshift change.

With acurse, Cas dove into the bedroom and yanked on the first pair of jeans andshirt he saw – luckily he and Jimmy were the same size and Dean was only alittle bigger so it didn’t really matter -  grabbed his keys and his wallet and ran forthe door. He shoved on his sneakers, not caring he was barefoot in them, thenpaused and ran back for Dean’s pills and his phone before running out the door,barely remembering to lock it.

On his wayto the car, he tried calling Jimmy first – but of course, he was working andunable to answer. He called Dean next, but when it went to voicemail, Cas’sheart leapt into his throat and he tossed the phone to the seat and started thecar.

He made itto Starbucks in record time and parked, running inside and skidding to a stopas he saw the knot of people hovering around something.

Oh god…

Castiel shovedhis way through the small crowd to find exactly what he feared. Dean on thefloor, a Styrofoam cup of coffee spilled around him as he convulsed. Tables andchairs had been shoved away, and Jimmy was trying to keep everyone back. Cas’shand came up cover his mouth as he made a strangled sound.

He ranthrough everything in his head – after Dean’s first seizure, he and Jimmy hadmade sure to learn everything possible just in case. It was heartbreakinglysimple and almost nothing they could actually do but what Jimmy was alreadydoing. He’d cleared the area, he was pillowing Dean’s head in his lap and hadalready unbuttoned Dean’s collars.

People from thecrowd were trying to offer unsolicited advice – all of which would bedetrimental to Dean. Restraining him, putting something in his mouth – these things,while you would think they would help – would actually do Dean more harm thangood. They couldn’t even give him his medicine until the seizure was overbecause he was more likely to choke that way.

Finally,Dean stopped moving. The crowd gasped in a mixture of horror and relief – not knowingfor certain if it was over or if it was over.Cas launched himself forward as soon as Jimmy gave him the all clear, Dean’spill case dropping from his hands as he reached out shakily to check for apulse.

Just as hefound it, Dean’s eyes fluttered open and the crowd cheered. He looked up at thetwins dazedly, “Guys? What’s goin’ on?”

“Dean, you…you…youidiot,” Cas choked out. Now that it was over, he had tears running down hisface.

“Uh…what’d Ido now?” Dean blinked, confused.

Cas couldn’ttalk anymore so Jimmy reached down to pick up the pills and hold them up beforeDean’s eyes. “Dude, we talked about this. Your meds are important. What if thishad happened while you were walking here, or while at Bobby’s? Not everyoneknows what to do when someone has a seizure – “

“What not to do might be more accurate,” Casmanaged.

Dean blinkedat the case without registering it for a moment before he finally got asheepish look on his face, “Oh. I guess I was too excited to come down here toget my coffee from you before work that I just…forgot. I’m sorry, I didn’t meanto scare you either of you.”

“Just, don’tdo it again, okay?” they asked him simultaneously.

Dean agreedjust as the EMT’s got there. After an extensive checking over of his vitals,and questions asked of both him and the twins, they pronounced him fine andadvised him not to forget his medications any more.

And to get amedical bracelet.

Deangrumbled but the twins thought it would be a good idea.

Needless tosay, after that bit of adventure, none of them were much in the mood or stateof mind to work. Dean wound up calling out of work (and Bobby didn’t argue),and Jimmy skipped out on the rest of his shift (his manager nearly shoving himout the door, for that matter) and the three of them went home and just curledaround each other in their giant bed, taking comfort in each other.

After theymade sure Dean took his meds, of course.

[baymedicambulance]

Bay Medic provides Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances for emergency and non-emergency patients.

Our safe and prompt ambulance service runs 24x7 throughout the Bay area. We have two highly trained State and nationally certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to take care of the patient. contact us - http://www.baymedic.com/

[stephenmccull]

Fighting COVID And Police Brutality, Medical Teams Take To Streets To Treat Protesters

DENVER — Amid clouds of choking tear gas, booming flash-bang grenades and other other “riot control agents,” volunteer medics plunged into street protests over the past weeks to help the injured — sometimes rushing to the front lines as soon as their hospital shifts ended.

Known as “street medics,” these unorthodox teams of nursing students, veterinarians, doctors, trauma surgeons, security guards, ski patrollers, nurses, wilderness EMTs and off-the-clock ambulance workers poured water — not milk — into the eyes of tear-gassed protesters. They stanched bleeding wounds and plucked disoriented teenagers from clouds of gas, entering dangerous corners where on-duty emergency health responders may fear to go.

Many are medical professionals who see parallels between the front lines of COVID-19, where they confront stark racial imbalances among those stricken by the coronavirus, and what they see as racialized police brutality.

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So donning cloth masks to protect against the virus — plus helmets, makeshift shields and other gear to guard against rubber bullets, projectiles and tear gas — the volunteer medics organized themselves into a web of first responders to care for people on the streets. They showed up early, set up first-aid stations, established transportation networks and covered their arms, helmets and backpacks with crosses made of red duct tape, to signify that they were medics. Some stayed late into the night past curfews until every protester had left.

Iris Butler, a 21-year-old certified nursing assistant who works in a nursing home, decided to offer her skills after seeing a man injured by a rubber bullet on her first night at the Denver protests. She showed up as a medic every night thereafter. She didn’t see it as a choice.

“I am working full time and basically being at the protest after getting straight off of work,” said Butler, who is black. That’s tiring, she added, but so is being a black woman in America.

Iris Butler (left), a certified nursing assistant, stands with two other street medics she worked with during a protest on June 1, in Denver. She says she met the two, who declined to give their names, a few days earlier while tending to injured protesters.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

After going out as a medic on her own, she soon met other volunteers. Together they used text-message chains to organize their efforts. One night, she responded to a man who had been shot with a rubber bullet in the chest; she said his torso had turned blue and purple from the impact. She also provided aid after a shooting near the protest left someone in critical condition.

“It’s hard, but bills need to be paid and justice needs to be served,” she said.

The street medic movement traces its roots, in part, to the 1960s protests, as well as the American Indian Movement and the Black Panther Party. Denver Action Medic Network offers a 20-hour training course that prepares them to treat patients in conflicts with police and large crowds; a four-hour session is offered to medical professionals as “bridge” training.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Denver Action Medic Network has added new training guidelines: Don’t go to protests if sick or in contact with those who are infected; wear a mask; give people lots of space and use hand sanitizer. Jordan Garcia, a 39-year-old medic for over 20 years who works with the network of veteran street medics, said they also warn medics about the increased risk of transmission due to protesters coughing from tear gas, and urge them to get tested for the virus after the protests.

The number of volunteer medics swelled after George Floyd’s May 25 killing in Minneapolis. In Denver alone, at least 40 people reached out to the Denver Action Medic Network for training.

On June 3, Dr. Rupa Marya, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco and the co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition, which runs street medic training in the Bay Area, hosted a national webinar attended by over 3,000 medical professionals to provide the bridge training to be a street medic. In her online bio, Marya describes the coalition as “an organization of over 450 health workers committed to structural change” in addressing health problems.

“When we see suffering, that’s where we go,” Marya said. “And right now that suffering is happening on the streets.”

A table is filled with supplies for injured protesters at an apartment complex that became the central command for Denver’s street medics on June 1.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

In the recent Denver protests, street medics responded to major head, face and eye injuries among protesters from what are sometimes described as “kinetic impact projectiles” or “less-than-lethal” bullets shot at protesters, along with tear-gas and flash-bang stun grenade canisters that either hit them or exploded in their faces.

Garcia, who by day works for an immigrant rights nonprofit, said that these weapons are not designed to be shot directly at people.

“We’re seeing police use these less-lethal weapons in lethal ways, and that is pretty upsetting,” Garcia said about the recent protests.

Denver police Chief Paul Pazen promised to make changes, including banning chokeholds and requiring SWAT teams to turn on their body cameras. Last week, a federal judge also issued a temporary injunction to stop Denver police from using tear gas and other less-than-lethal weapons in response to a class action lawsuit, in which a medic stated he was shot multiple times by police with pepper balls while treating patients. (Last week in North Carolina police were recorded destroying medic stations.)

Denver street medic Kevin Connell, a 30-year-old emergency room nurse, said he was hit with pepper balls in the back of his medic vest — which was clearly marked by red crosses — while treating a patient. He showed up to the Denver protests every night he did not have to work, he said, wearing a Kevlar medic vest, protective goggles and a homemade gas mask fashioned from a water bottle. As a member of the Denver Action Medic Network, Connell also served at the Standing Rock protests in North Dakota in a dispute over the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Aj Mossman prepares to go out as a street medic at a protest in Denver on June 1. Mossman, a Denver EMT studying for nursing school, was shocked to be tear-gassed and struck in the back of the leg with a flash grenade while treating a protester on May 30.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

“I mean, as bad as it sounds, it was only tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets that were being fired on us,” Connell said of his recent experience in Denver. “When I was at Standing Rock, they were using high-powered water hoses even when it was, like, freezing cold. … So I think the police here had a little bit more restraint.”

Still, first-time street medic Aj Mossman, a 31-year-old Denver emergency medical technician studying for nursing school, was shocked to be tear-gassed and struck in the back of the leg with a flash grenade while treating a protester on May 30. Mossman still has a large leg bruise.

The following night, Mossman, who uses the pronoun they, brought more protective gear, but said they are still having difficulty processing what felt like a war zone.

“I thought I understood what my black friends went through. I thought I understood what the black community went through,” said Mossman, who is white. “But I had absolutely no idea how violent the police were and how little they cared about who they hurt.”

For Butler, serving as a medic with others from various walks of life was inspiring. “They’re also out there to protect black and brown bodies. And that’s amazing,” she said. “That’s just a beautiful sight.”

Fighting COVID And Police Brutality, Medical Teams Take To Streets To Treat Protesters published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

[gordonwilliamsweb]

Fighting COVID And Police Brutality, Medical Teams Take To Streets To Treat Protesters

DENVER — Amid clouds of choking tear gas, booming flash-bang grenades and other other “riot control agents,” volunteer medics plunged into street protests over the past weeks to help the injured — sometimes rushing to the front lines as soon as their hospital shifts ended.

Known as “street medics,” these unorthodox teams of nursing students, veterinarians, doctors, trauma surgeons, security guards, ski patrollers, nurses, wilderness EMTs and off-the-clock ambulance workers poured water — not milk — into the eyes of tear-gassed protesters. They stanched bleeding wounds and plucked disoriented teenagers from clouds of gas, entering dangerous corners where on-duty emergency health responders may fear to go.

Many are medical professionals who see parallels between the front lines of COVID-19, where they confront stark racial imbalances among those stricken by the coronavirus, and what they see as racialized police brutality.

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Subscribe to KHN’s free Morning Briefing.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

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So donning cloth masks to protect against the virus — plus helmets, makeshift shields and other gear to guard against rubber bullets, projectiles and tear gas — the volunteer medics organized themselves into a web of first responders to care for people on the streets. They showed up early, set up first-aid stations, established transportation networks and covered their arms, helmets and backpacks with crosses made of red duct tape, to signify that they were medics. Some stayed late into the night past curfews until every protester had left.

Iris Butler, a 21-year-old certified nursing assistant who works in a nursing home, decided to offer her skills after seeing a man injured by a rubber bullet on her first night at the Denver protests. She showed up as a medic every night thereafter. She didn’t see it as a choice.

“I am working full time and basically being at the protest after getting straight off of work,” said Butler, who is black. That’s tiring, she added, but so is being a black woman in America.

Iris Butler (left), a certified nursing assistant, stands with two other street medics she worked with during a protest on June 1, in Denver. She says she met the two, who declined to give their names, a few days earlier while tending to injured protesters.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

After going out as a medic on her own, she soon met other volunteers. Together they used text-message chains to organize their efforts. One night, she responded to a man who had been shot with a rubber bullet in the chest; she said his torso had turned blue and purple from the impact. She also provided aid after a shooting near the protest left someone in critical condition.

“It’s hard, but bills need to be paid and justice needs to be served,” she said.

The street medic movement traces its roots, in part, to the 1960s protests, as well as the American Indian Movement and the Black Panther Party. Denver Action Medic Network offers a 20-hour training course that prepares them to treat patients in conflicts with police and large crowds; a four-hour session is offered to medical professionals as “bridge” training.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Denver Action Medic Network has added new training guidelines: Don’t go to protests if sick or in contact with those who are infected; wear a mask; give people lots of space and use hand sanitizer. Jordan Garcia, a 39-year-old medic for over 20 years who works with the network of veteran street medics, said they also warn medics about the increased risk of transmission due to protesters coughing from tear gas, and urge them to get tested for the virus after the protests.

The number of volunteer medics swelled after George Floyd’s May 25 killing in Minneapolis. In Denver alone, at least 40 people reached out to the Denver Action Medic Network for training.

On June 3, Dr. Rupa Marya, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco and the co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition, which runs street medic training in the Bay Area, hosted a national webinar attended by over 3,000 medical professionals to provide the bridge training to be a street medic. In her online bio, Marya describes the coalition as “an organization of over 450 health workers committed to structural change” in addressing health problems.

“When we see suffering, that’s where we go,” Marya said. “And right now that suffering is happening on the streets.”

A table is filled with supplies for injured protesters at an apartment complex that became the central command for Denver’s street medics on June 1.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

In the recent Denver protests, street medics responded to major head, face and eye injuries among protesters from what are sometimes described as “kinetic impact projectiles” or “less-than-lethal” bullets shot at protesters, along with tear-gas and flash-bang stun grenade canisters that either hit them or exploded in their faces.

Garcia, who by day works for an immigrant rights nonprofit, said that these weapons are not designed to be shot directly at people.

“We’re seeing police use these less-lethal weapons in lethal ways, and that is pretty upsetting,” Garcia said about the recent protests.

Denver police Chief Paul Pazen promised to make changes, including banning chokeholds and requiring SWAT teams to turn on their body cameras. Last week, a federal judge also issued a temporary injunction to stop Denver police from using tear gas and other less-than-lethal weapons in response to a class action lawsuit, in which a medic stated he was shot multiple times by police with pepper balls while treating patients. (Last week in North Carolina police were recorded destroying medic stations.)

Denver street medic Kevin Connell, a 30-year-old emergency room nurse, said he was hit with pepper balls in the back of his medic vest — which was clearly marked by red crosses — while treating a patient. He showed up to the Denver protests every night he did not have to work, he said, wearing a Kevlar medic vest, protective goggles and a homemade gas mask fashioned from a water bottle. As a member of the Denver Action Medic Network, Connell also served at the Standing Rock protests in North Dakota in a dispute over the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Aj Mossman prepares to go out as a street medic at a protest in Denver on June 1. Mossman, a Denver EMT studying for nursing school, was shocked to be tear-gassed and struck in the back of the leg with a flash grenade while treating a protester on May 30.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

“I mean, as bad as it sounds, it was only tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets that were being fired on us,” Connell said of his recent experience in Denver. “When I was at Standing Rock, they were using high-powered water hoses even when it was, like, freezing cold. … So I think the police here had a little bit more restraint.”

Still, first-time street medic Aj Mossman, a 31-year-old Denver emergency medical technician studying for nursing school, was shocked to be tear-gassed and struck in the back of the leg with a flash grenade while treating a protester on May 30. Mossman still has a large leg bruise.

The following night, Mossman, who uses the pronoun they, brought more protective gear, but said they are still having difficulty processing what felt like a war zone.

“I thought I understood what my black friends went through. I thought I understood what the black community went through,” said Mossman, who is white. “But I had absolutely no idea how violent the police were and how little they cared about who they hurt.”

For Butler, serving as a medic with others from various walks of life was inspiring. “They’re also out there to protect black and brown bodies. And that’s amazing,” she said. “That’s just a beautiful sight.”

Fighting COVID And Police Brutality, Medical Teams Take To Streets To Treat Protesters published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

[dinafbrownil]

Fighting COVID And Police Brutality, Medical Teams Take To Streets To Treat Protesters

DENVER — Amid clouds of choking tear gas, booming flash-bang grenades and other other “riot control agents,” volunteer medics plunged into street protests over the past weeks to help the injured — sometimes rushing to the front lines as soon as their hospital shifts ended.

Known as “street medics,” these unorthodox teams of nursing students, veterinarians, doctors, trauma surgeons, security guards, ski patrollers, nurses, wilderness EMTs and off-the-clock ambulance workers poured water — not milk — into the eyes of tear-gassed protesters. They stanched bleeding wounds and plucked disoriented teenagers from clouds of gas, entering dangerous corners where on-duty emergency health responders may fear to go.

Many are medical professionals who see parallels between the front lines of COVID-19, where they confront stark racial imbalances among those stricken by the coronavirus, and what they see as racialized police brutality.

Email Sign-Up

Subscribe to KHN’s free Morning Briefing.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

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So donning cloth masks to protect against the virus — plus helmets, makeshift shields and other gear to guard against rubber bullets, projectiles and tear gas — the volunteer medics organized themselves into a web of first responders to care for people on the streets. They showed up early, set up first-aid stations, established transportation networks and covered their arms, helmets and backpacks with crosses made of red duct tape, to signify that they were medics. Some stayed late into the night past curfews until every protester had left.

Iris Butler, a 21-year-old certified nursing assistant who works in a nursing home, decided to offer her skills after seeing a man injured by a rubber bullet on her first night at the Denver protests. She showed up as a medic every night thereafter. She didn’t see it as a choice.

“I am working full time and basically being at the protest after getting straight off of work,” said Butler, who is black. That’s tiring, she added, but so is being a black woman in America.

Iris Butler (left), a certified nursing assistant, stands with two other street medics she worked with during a protest on June 1, in Denver. She says she met the two, who declined to give their names, a few days earlier while tending to injured protesters.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

After going out as a medic on her own, she soon met other volunteers. Together they used text-message chains to organize their efforts. One night, she responded to a man who had been shot with a rubber bullet in the chest; she said his torso had turned blue and purple from the impact. She also provided aid after a shooting near the protest left someone in critical condition.

“It’s hard, but bills need to be paid and justice needs to be served,” she said.

The street medic movement traces its roots, in part, to the 1960s protests, as well as the American Indian Movement and the Black Panther Party. Denver Action Medic Network offers a 20-hour training course that prepares them to treat patients in conflicts with police and large crowds; a four-hour session is offered to medical professionals as “bridge” training.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Denver Action Medic Network has added new training guidelines: Don’t go to protests if sick or in contact with those who are infected; wear a mask; give people lots of space and use hand sanitizer. Jordan Garcia, a 39-year-old medic for over 20 years who works with the network of veteran street medics, said they also warn medics about the increased risk of transmission due to protesters coughing from tear gas, and urge them to get tested for the virus after the protests.

The number of volunteer medics swelled after George Floyd’s May 25 killing in Minneapolis. In Denver alone, at least 40 people reached out to the Denver Action Medic Network for training.

On June 3, Dr. Rupa Marya, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco and the co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition, which runs street medic training in the Bay Area, hosted a national webinar attended by over 3,000 medical professionals to provide the bridge training to be a street medic. In her online bio, Marya describes the coalition as “an organization of over 450 health workers committed to structural change” in addressing health problems.

“When we see suffering, that’s where we go,” Marya said. “And right now that suffering is happening on the streets.”

A table is filled with supplies for injured protesters at an apartment complex that became the central command for Denver’s street medics on June 1.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

In the recent Denver protests, street medics responded to major head, face and eye injuries among protesters from what are sometimes described as “kinetic impact projectiles” or “less-than-lethal” bullets shot at protesters, along with tear-gas and flash-bang stun grenade canisters that either hit them or exploded in their faces.

Garcia, who by day works for an immigrant rights nonprofit, said that these weapons are not designed to be shot directly at people.

“We’re seeing police use these less-lethal weapons in lethal ways, and that is pretty upsetting,” Garcia said about the recent protests.

Denver police Chief Paul Pazen promised to make changes, including banning chokeholds and requiring SWAT teams to turn on their body cameras. Last week, a federal judge also issued a temporary injunction to stop Denver police from using tear gas and other less-than-lethal weapons in response to a class action lawsuit, in which a medic stated he was shot multiple times by police with pepper balls while treating patients. (Last week in North Carolina police were recorded destroying medic stations.)

Denver street medic Kevin Connell, a 30-year-old emergency room nurse, said he was hit with pepper balls in the back of his medic vest — which was clearly marked by red crosses — while treating a patient. He showed up to the Denver protests every night he did not have to work, he said, wearing a Kevlar medic vest, protective goggles and a homemade gas mask fashioned from a water bottle. As a member of the Denver Action Medic Network, Connell also served at the Standing Rock protests in North Dakota in a dispute over the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Aj Mossman prepares to go out as a street medic at a protest in Denver on June 1. Mossman, a Denver EMT studying for nursing school, was shocked to be tear-gassed and struck in the back of the leg with a flash grenade while treating a protester on May 30.(LJ Dawson for KHN)

“I mean, as bad as it sounds, it was only tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets that were being fired on us,” Connell said of his recent experience in Denver. “When I was at Standing Rock, they were using high-powered water hoses even when it was, like, freezing cold. … So I think the police here had a little bit more restraint.”

Still, first-time street medic Aj Mossman, a 31-year-old Denver emergency medical technician studying for nursing school, was shocked to be tear-gassed and struck in the back of the leg with a flash grenade while treating a protester on May 30. Mossman still has a large leg bruise.

The following night, Mossman, who uses the pronoun they, brought more protective gear, but said they are still having difficulty processing what felt like a war zone.

“I thought I understood what my black friends went through. I thought I understood what the black community went through,” said Mossman, who is white. “But I had absolutely no idea how violent the police were and how little they cared about who they hurt.”

For Butler, serving as a medic with others from various walks of life was inspiring. “They’re also out there to protect black and brown bodies. And that’s amazing,” she said. “That’s just a beautiful sight.”

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/volunteer-street-medics-treat-protesters-fight-covid-and-police-brutality/

[jacobjonesjj]

Reported Racism & more in the Hillsborough/Tampa Fl department

In  essence based on the articles below it seems like the the Fire and   Emergency response department in Hillsborough/Tampa, fl, - (if you   Google and you’ll find many other racial Fire & Emergency response   incidents through out Florida, and other states, including nooses being used to threaten fire fighters of color).

Based on these news articles, which everyone seems to ignore, it seems like we have with our  tax dollars and conformance outsource the Fire and Emergency Response  to the KKK and call them Heroes.  Like the Netflix true story “When they  see us”,  when they see us dying,  good luck on treatment if you are  black or any other minority.  If you work for them and are black based  on some of these articles they discriminate &or hang nooses.  In  fact See below for yourself:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/Hillsborough-suspends-four-paramedics-in-treatment-of-stroke-victim-30-who-later-died_170253710

https://newsone.com/3819034/paramedics-mother-death-hillsborough-county-florida/

https://www.theroot.com/mother-says-medics-denied-her-daughter-an-ambulance-rid-1827917551

https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180729/mother-of-dead-woman-says-tampa-medics-told-her-she-could-not-afford-ambulance

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/us/black-woman-ambulance-cost-florida.html

https://bipartisanreport.com/2018/07/27/racist-paramedics-let-black-woman-die-the-reason-is-about-to-start-a-riot-video/

https://www.diversityinc.com/black-mother-dies-because-hillsborough-county-fire-rescue-assumed-she-couldnt-afford-the-ambulance-ride/

http://www.blacknews.com/news/crystle-galloway-black-mother-dies-after-paramedics-refuse-save-her-life/

https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3675494/posts

https://www.wfla.com/national/firefighters-in-trouble-after-using-body-for-training-exercise/1475421182 https://nypost.com/2018/07/29/mom-says-daughter-died-after-medics-assumed-she-couldnt-afford-ambulance/

https://blackdoctor.org/523159/woman-dies-after-medics-assume-she-cant-afford-ambulance/

https://www.romper.com/p/new-mom-dies-after-medics-reportedly-assume-she-couldnt-afford-the-ambulance-9914658

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/mother-says-hillsborough-county-fire-medics-took-the-best-part-of-me-referring-to-daughter

http://www.tampabay.com/investigations/2018/02/21/overdoses-duis-stolen-drugs-floridas-third-biggest-fire-rescue-department-has-a-problem/

https://people.com/human-interest/woman-dies-days-after-giving-birth-as-medics-assumed-she-cant-afford-ambulance-ride-mom-claims/

https://www.wistv.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://hellobeautiful.com/3009347/mother-claims-daughter-died-because-paramedics-assumed-she-couldnt-afford-ambulance-bill/

https://www.newser.com/story/262735/medics-assumed-dying-woman-couldnt-afford-ambulance-mom.html

https://www.wafb.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://www.kplctv.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

http://admin.theblackloop.com/young-mother-dies-just-days-giving-birth-medics-refused-help/

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/07/31/crystle-galloway-death-florida-paramedics-racism-profiling/

https://www.wlox.com/2018/09/27/emt-fired-others-suspended-failing-follow-protocol-death-new-mother/

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/07/27/woman-dies-days-after-giving-birth-after-medics-allegedly-assumed-she-cant-afford-ambulance-ride/

https://hillsboroughpress.com/103783/florida-woman-taking-t-mobile-to-court-for-failing-to-block-calls-from-scammer/

https://blacknessuncensored.blogspot.com/2018/07/hillsborough-fl-suspends-four.html

https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/national-shortage-of-paramedics-and-emts-being-in-the-bay-area/1810985374

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/full-investigation-to-be-launched-into-hillsborough-co-medics-accused-of-mishandling-patient

https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/florida-paramedic-fired-disciplined-for-failing-treat-new-mom-who-later-died/WUAn7JCNEkKeeCkK31cfwO/

https://www.mic.com/articles/190515/crystle-galloway-died-after-four-paramedics-denied-her-help-now-her-family-wants-them-fired

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crystle-galloway-florida-paramedics-accused-of-failing-to-check-vitals-racism/

https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/tampa-firefighter-fired-after-filing-harassment-suit/2272213

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45009078

https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2019/04/04/firefighter-arrested-in-tampa-prostitution-sting

https://www.10tv.com/article/florida-paramedics-accused-racism-and-failing-check-womans-vitals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kus6abgec7Y

https://texags.com/forums/16/topics/2965257

https://news.iheart.com/featured/chris-michaels/content/2018-07-31-paramedics-accused-of-racism-in-florida-wow-watch/

https://thegrio.com/2018/07/27/paramedics-under-fire-for-telling-mother-she-couldnt-afford-ambulance-bill-for-daughter-who-later-died/

http://pettyamericaglobal.com/blog/article/-are-paramedics-being-racist-florida-

https://eblnews.com/video/paramedics-accused-racism-and-failing-check-womans-vitals-468259

Wait, there’s more:

Tax Payer Abuse:

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/hillsborough-firefighters-union-repays-taxpayers/120123924

Drugs in the department, putting civilians at risk:

http://www.tampabay.com/investigations/2018/02/21/overdoses-duis-stolen-drugs-floridas-third-biggest-fire-rescue-department-has-a-problem/

And  I’ll quote what the paper said:  “Hillsborough County has a documented  history of drug issues — and alcohol abuse — among first responders. A  Tampa Bay Times investigation found 47 drug- and alcohol-related   incidents involving county fire rescue employees since 2010.”

Leadership Fraud:

Wait there is more (if this is what the commanders do, can imagine what those reporting to them can get away with:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/hillsborough-fire-rescue-investigates-whether-commanders-falsified-their/2327412

Obstruction leading to death:

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/car-collides-with-hillsborough-fire-truck-sparking-traffic-delay-on-i-4-at-branch-forbes-road

Unreliable 911 information systems: (they did not even know what the impact was at the time, and no contingency):

http://www.tampabay.com/hillsborough/human-error-broke-hillsborough-911-system-made-fixing-it-harder-reports-say-20190413/

Discrimination and harassment of female fire fighters:

https://arada.org/former-tampa-firefighter-awarded-damages-discrimination/

Disrespecting and Practicing on the Dead:/Deceased

https://www.wfla.com/national/firefighters-in-trouble-after-using-body-for-training-exercise/1475421182

But profiling minorities and allowing them to die is beyond sad and extremely wrong.

[cutsliceddiced]

New top story from Time: From Donating to Volunteering: Here’s How to Support Black Lives Matter, Protesters and Equality Initiatives

As the nation reels from the police killing of George Floyd and reckons with institutional racism, many are left wondering: what can they do?

Tens of thousands of people have already shown up to protests across the country—in both big cities and rural towns—to demand racial justice and sweeping changes, from police reforms like mandatory body cameras and implicit-bias training, to defunding the institution and allocating city or state budget funds to community groups.

If you want to show up for the cause but are not able to protest in the streets, there are many ways to engage, from educating yourself to volunteering, spreading awareness and donating money.

Support programs that support racial justice and equality

You can donate to Black Lives Matter, which was founded in 2013 after the neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Trayvon Martin was acquitted.

You can also consider organizations committed to ending mass incarceration and extreme sentencing, like the Equal Justice Initiative, which provides legal representation to people who have been wrongly convicted, unfairly sentenced or abused in state jails and prisons. Some groups, like the National Council For Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, are particularly focused on helping female inmates and ex-convicts.

Those who want to make a long-term grassroots impact can donate to local mutual aid funds, like the COVID-19 Mutual Aid Network – Los Angeles, The Metro Atlanta Mutual Aid Fund or East of the River Mutual Aid Fund. Mutual aid funds work to address homelessness and systemic inequalities by offering all sorts of community assistance, from providing food to financial help to people in need. Many right now are focusing on helping those struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately infected and killed those in the black community, by providing materials like masks and hygiene kits.

Donate to help protestors

Bail funds have had a particularly busy two weeks as thousands of protesters have been detained across the U.S. These funds are typically collectives driven by volunteers working to raise money to free people incarcerated on bail, as well as to advocate for systemic bail reform.

In the aftermath of Floyd’s death, many bail funds, like the Minnesota Freedom Fund, have been inundated with donations and are now suggesting that donors redirect their money to other bail funds and organizations in need. But many say they still need help.

You can choose to donate to a bail fund in your city or state; the National Bail Fund Network lists a number of bail funds by state.

You can give money to national bail organizations, like National Bail Out and The Bail Project, or other groups focusing on helping specific communities, like the Black Trans Protesters Emergency Fund or the LGBTQ Fund.

ActBlue—a nonprofit that facilitates small-dollar donations online, often to progressive groups—has organized a way for people to split donations between up to more than 70 groups at once, including community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers.

Help black families who have lost loved ones in killings

You can directly help grieving black families whose loved ones have been unjustly killed by giving to fundraisers set up to help cover the costs of funeral and legal expenses, grief counseling and often to set up educational or memorial grants in honor of those who have been killed.

Philonise Floyd has set up a memorial fund for his brother, George Floyd. You can donate to Floyd’s family through this GoFundMe.

Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed while running in a residential area in South Georgia on Feb. 23. Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, were charged with murder and aggravated assault in Arbery’s death after video footage of the incident circulated on social media and sparked national outrage. You can donate to Arbery’s family through this GoFundMe.

The uproar over Floyd’s killings has raised concerns about why black women and girls may still be an afterthought amid widespread outrage over police killings. Breonna Taylor, an EMT who aspired to be a nurse, was sleeping when a police officer shot and killed her in March. You can donate to Taylor’s family through this GoFundMe.

David McAtee was known for offering free meals to police officers in Louisville. He was fatally shot as the police and National Guard responded to protesters. The Louisville police chief was fired earlier this month after the mayor learned police officers involved in the shooting had not activated their body cameras during the incident. (Authorities had said law enforcement was returning McAtee’s gunfire.) You can donate to McAtee’s family through this GoFundMe.

Support black-owned businesses

Supporting black-owned businesses, especially now, could be crucial to helping them stay operational during the pandemic.

Black-owned businesses often have trouble securing loans and had issues accessing federal aid programs designed to alleviate the economic burden for small businesses struggling to stay afloat amid stay-at-home orders. A national online survey of 500 African-American and Latinx-owned small businesses conducted by the Global Strategy Group released May 13—after the second round of funding for the program was allocated—found that just 12% received the full assistance they requested, with two-thirds reporting that they did not receive any.

VICE has a guide on how to find black-owned restaurants by state. New York Magazine has a list of not just food companies but also beauty, clothing and fitness brands among others. If you live in the Bay Area, the SFist has a comprehensive guide on how to find black-owned businesses to support. Eater has guides on black-owned restaurants in various cities, from Nashville to New York City.

Volunteer

If you can’t protest or donate and want to help, you can also donate your time or energy.

To help protesters, you could provide childcare and/or meals for those attending rallies. Or sew masks to protect protesters, like one woman in Texas did.

Consider if your skills or profession enables you to provide specialized skills to those in need. If you are involved with a restaurant or faith group with access to a large kitchen, you could consider providing food at a larger scale. For inspiration, they can look to Sikhs, who know how to feed crowds in a protest or a pandemic. In a Queens gurdwara—the place of worship for Sikhs—a group of about 30 cooks has served more than 145,000 free meals in just 10 weeks, the New York Times reports.

If you’re a health care professional, you could help as a medic on the streets for protesters who are hurt by rubber bullets or tear gas—or share resources with those who are helping on the ground. If you know how to speak a language other than English, you can translate important documents and news about protests. If you’re a lawyer, consider offering pro-bono services.

You can also become a legal observer and help document police action during protests. The National Lawyers Guild provides training; you can check with your local chapter for more information.

Donating isn’t the only way to help bail funds. You can volunteer your time and expertise, too.

If you’re thinking of a more long-term commitment, consider mentoring or tutoring at-risk youth. And think about how to create lasting contributions however you’re helping, whether that means setting up recurring donations, diversifying the media and literature you consume, as well supporting black-owned businesses.

Educate yourself and have difficult conversations

Lasting change won’t happen without actively deconstructing our beliefs about race. As many activists have pointed out, in order to make social and economic change in a society rife with institutional racism, it’s not enough to not be racist, but rather people need to be actively anti-racist. For many people learning how to be a helpful ally, the best place to start is educating themselves and listening.

TIME has curated lists on books to read and movies to watch to teach yourself about racism and protest history. Suggested literature includes the Ta-Nehisi Coates memoir Between the World and Me as well as a children’s version of Ibram X. Kendi’s bestseller How to Be an Antiracist, called Anti-Racist Baby (to be published June 16.)

Documentaries are a good place to start, too: 13th by Ava DuVernay, walks through the origins of the mass incarceration of black men, stretching all the way back to the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865. (13th is available on Netflix.) Whose Streets dives into the Black Lives Matter uprisings in Ferguson. (Whose Streets is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google, Vudu)

Online resources, like this Google Doc on anti-racism resources for white people and this syllabus on “becoming an active ally to the black community” also point to informative materials to read and watch.

For non-black people, having sometimes uncomfortable conversations about racial justice, police violence, and anti-blackness with your own families and communities—even if English isn’t their first language—can be helpful. Letters for Black Lives have compiled a letter translated into two dozen languages that can be a helpful framework to start that conversation with your own family.

via https://cutslicedanddiced.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/how-to-prevent-food-from-going-to-waste

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PulsePoint App Helps Save Life of Cardiac Arrest Victim in Sunnyvale

New Post has been published on https://vizrelease.com/press-release/2407278/

PulsePoint App Helps Save Life of Cardiac Arrest Victim in Sunnyvale

On Wednesday, March 25, 2015, lifelong Sunnyvale resident Walter Huber was sitting down to dinner when he received an alert through PulsePoint, a 9-1-1 connected mobile app designed to alert CPR-trained citizens of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) emergencies in their vicinity. This app alert helped save a man’s life.

PulsePoint app w/device border (Photo: Business Wire)

The PulsePoint app displayed a map showing Huber, 21, the location of the emergency, which was based on 9-1-1 call information. Using this map, Huber made his way to the reported SCA patient’s location-a soccer field just steps from his home-where he found a man unconscious and surrounded by his teammates. Just minutes earlier the man had collapsed, unresponsive and without a pulse, prompting his teammates to call 9-1-1. Huber, who is CPR trained, immediately assessed the patient and began hands-only CPR. He provided chest compressions until a Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Officer arrived in a patrol car equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The AED delivered a life-saving shock, effectively bringing Farid Rashti, 63, back to life.

“When someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating without any warning so time is critical,” said Dr. Chad Rammohan, M.D., medical director of Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Chest Pain Center at El Camino Hospital and a Palo Alto Medical Foundation physician. “It’s the ‘electrical shock’ from the AED that helps to restore the person’s heartbeat and it’s the mechanical pumping from CPR that helps the SCA victim to recover some blood flow to vital organs such as the brain, heart and the rest of the body.”

A family history of heart disease coupled with a 2004 heart attack resulting in quadruple bypass surgery, has led Rashti, a Campbell, Calif. resident, to live a healthy lifestyle. However, while playing soccer on March 25, he was hit by the ball on the left side of his chest. He felt a sharp pain, unlike during his earlier heart attack. He switched to goalie where he could catch his breath when, he recalls “suddenly everything started to go black and that is the last thing I remember.” Rashti had suffered a SCA. The only way for a person to survive a SCA is to immediately receive 1) CPR, 2) an electrical shock from an AED, and 3) transport to the closest hospital emergency room.

“Thankfully the PulsePoint app alerted me to someone in need, only steps away, so I could put my training to good use and, as it turns out, help save a life,” said Huber, a Mission College student. “The fact that you could potentially save a life with this app confirms how important it is for everyone to learn CPR and download PulsePoint.”

“I’m so grateful that I was in public, surrounded by people,” said Rashti from his home where he’s been recovering. “Without my friends calling 9-1-1, the PulsePoint responder starting CPR and the patrol officer shocking me back to life with an AED, I would not be alive today.”

Santa Clara County, in which the City of Sunnyvale is located, was one of the first counties in the nation to fully integrate this technology with its 9-1-1 system. The collaboration and allocated resources from the Santa Clara County fire departments, the PulsePoint Foundation, El Camino Hospital and tech company Workday, brought this lifesaving technology to Santa Clara County citizens. The coordinated effort by Santa Clara County, Rashti’s teammates, the PulsePoint-notified citizen responder and the care provided by the emergency room at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center helped save Rashti’s life.

“Every element in this chain of survival was enhanced by quick action and cutting edge technology. All Sunnyvale public safety officers are trained as police officers, firefighters and EMTs so they arrive on scene and immediately bring life-saving support with an AED and first aid equipment,” said Steve Drewniany, Deputy Chief of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. “It was the quick action by Farid’s friends and Walter that set the entire response in motion. You couldn’t ask for a better example of how technology like PulsePoint and AEDs can save lives, which is why we’re making full use of them here in Sunnyvale.”

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the City of Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety is one of the largest fully-integrated Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) public entities in the United States serving a City of over 147,000 residents. All of the Department’s Officers arefully qualified cross-trained Police Officers, Firefighters and EMT-Basic professionals. Public Safety Officers fulfill these roles in their daily duties, ensuring the highest levels of efficiency and competency for the Sunnyvale community.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 424,000 deaths each year, more than 1,000 deaths per day. The American Heart Association estimates that effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. However, less than half of cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR and even fewer receive a potentially lifesaving therapeutic shock from a public access AED. Improving bystander CPR rates and access to AEDs is critical to chain of survival, which requires: (1) early recognition of the emergency and phoning 9-1-1 for EMS, (2) early bystander CPR, (3) early delivery of a shock via a defibrillator if indicated and (4) early advanced life support and post-resuscitation care delivered by healthcare providers.

Different than a heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest is caused when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and the heart stops working properly. For every minute that passes without a SCA victim receiving resuscitation, the chances of that person surviving decrease 10 percent. After 10 minutes the chances of survival are minimal.

[gracespilkerr]

How To Become A Firefighter In Wisconsin

When it comes to learning how to become a firefighter in Wisconsin, there are two possible routes that most people will take. Some will want to work in the rural, agricultural areas of their homes to protect their own communities.

Others will want to head into Milwaukee or other big cities for a more varied career. Whichever path you take, you need the right approach. So, how can you become a firefighter in Wisconsin?

How to Become a Firefighter in Wisconsin

Must be 18 or older

A valid driver’s license and proof of residency

Physically fit

High school education or higher

Training now required at all levels

The minimum qualifications here are straight forward but the rules have become tighter for volunteer firefighters. In this guide, I want to talk more about that, the different responsibilities in the state, the training opportunities and some of the bigger departments.

Firefighting in Wisconsin

The first thing that I want to talk about is the new rule about OSHA standards in the state. Each state can decide whether or not to uphold these firefighting standards at a state level.

Those that don’t tend to do so to help volunteer firefighters stay in their roles without too much red tape. This was the case in Wisconsin for a long time. However, the state has recently changed this so that all fire departments must now meet the minimum training standard.

There are some mixed opinions on whether this will help or hinder the job prospects and the work rate of some of the fire departments in the state. There are some issues here with volunteer departments.

In the past, anyone could sign up and enjoy quite a flexible working environment. They could learn at their pace and not have to worry about meeting standards in the same way as those in other states.

This meant that small rural departments could attract more people and concentrate on providing a great service. The fear is that this new rule will put off those that have other commitments and can’t learn as quickly or have access to training.

So, if you do want to be a firefighter here, you have to make sure you have the time to dedicate to your studies to make the grade. The plus side is that all departments should now be sure to provide the very best service they can to their residents.

This lack of clear regulations has led to a focus on the character of firefighters as desirable qualities.

Until now, the requirements to become a volunteer firefighter in Wisconsin were a little more relaxed and based more on the person than their skills.

A good example of this comes from the requirements in Madison. Here they talk about a recruit’s abilities to work within a team with good communication skills, integrity, problem-solving skills and compassion towards others.

Crew members need to be motivated to serve as well as to learn and keep up with their responsibilities. This also means a drive to stick with a good physical training regime. Overall, a good moral character and strong work ethic are the most essential traits. Skills with apparatus and firefighting strategies can be learned – personality traits can’t.

Wisconsin does have a good reputation when it comes to the diversity of its firefighters.

Fire Academies in Wisconsin

Whoever you are, it is clear that all Wisconsin firefighters now need the best possible training to succeed in this state. There are two different routes that you can take here.

You could train with a fire department training division on the job or you can get an education in a fire academy at one of the many technical colleges in the state.

Milwaukee: Milwaukee Area Technical College

Wisconsin Rapids: Mid-State Technical College

Madison: Madison Area Technical College

Green Bay: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Eau Claire: Chippewa Valley Technical College

Cleveland: Lakeshore Technical College

Oshkosh: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Rhinelander: Nicolet Area Technical College

Appleton: Fox Valley Technical College

Janesville: Blackhawk Technical College

The first program that I want to highlight here is the one at the Oshkosh campus of the University of Wisconsin. This institution is unique because it offers subjects and degree options that you won’t get in most smaller colleges.

There are two programs here: FERM and FEAM. FERM is their fire and emergency response program and FEAM is their fire and emergency administration and management program.

The latter is the only one in the state and is a four-year bachelor’s degree course. The aim to provide skills with the qualifications to move into those administration and management roles in the fire service.

Students here could be the future leaders of the state fire service shaping its approaches for years to come. Learn more here.

Another choice for new students is to take the shorter route to success and try a two-year associate degree course.

These programs offer enough certification to get students into the fire service with a well-rounded education. There is also the chance to transfer credits onto a longer degree course.

This Fire Protection Technician program looks at the behavior and suppression of fire and how to protect citizens in different situations. A perk of learning here is the range of on-site training facilities for hands-on experience. You can find out more about the campus and program here.

Major Fire Departments in Wisconsin

The following is a list of major fire departments in Wisconsin.  While it isn’t comprehensive it’s a great place to start if you’re interested in learning more about how to become a firefighter in Wisconsin.

How to Become a Milwaukee, WI Firefighter

Must be 18 or older

A valid driver’s license and proof of residency

Physically fit

High school education or higher

Training now required at all levels

We have to start with Milwaukee because it is the largest city in the state. There are 1000 crew members here that work out of 30 stations across the city and surrounding area.

The majority of crew members are paramedics too so EMT and paramedic training is essential here. The department has a range of divisions to help it deal with all of the different needs of the city. This includes 14 paramedic units, heavy rescue teams and a trident fireboat.

Another benefit of working for the fire service in Milwaukee is that they have their own Fire Cadet program to catch the best recruits while they are young. The program is designed to teach teenagers what it takes to work as a firefighter in the city.

It is hard work and the instructors don’t go easy on them because it is essential that they understand the different roles and responsibilities early on. The course takes 100 weeks and includes college-level classes and assignments.

They also have to work a 40-hour week for hands-on experience. By the end, candidates should be able to take their Firefighter 1 certificate exam and have extensive knowledge about the profession.

Many will take this forward onto their careers once they are old enough to join. You can learn more about this program here.

How to Become a Madison, WI Firefighter

Must be 18 or older

A valid driver’s license and proof of residency

Physically fit

High school education or higher

Training now required at all levels

Finally, after singing the praises of Madison so much before, I want to talk about their department and its facilities.

There are 14 stations here that house 420 crew members and deal with around 30,000 calls per year. They offer services in fire suppression, prevention, EMS and rescue for the local population, tourists and all the university students in the area. You can find out more about their opportunities here.

Job Prospects for Firefighters in Wisconsin

As of 2018, Wisconsin has the third-highest concentration of jobs and location quotients. A quotient of 1.49 and 3.32 jobs per 1000 people.

Looking at high employment rates by metropolitan area, the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin was the largest with 13,090 staff and 2.82 jobs per 1000 people.

By non-metropolitan area, South Central Wisconsin was 2nd highest with 1,120 and 5.34 per 1000 jobs. The Northeastern area wasn’t far behind at 1010 jobs and 4.99 per 1000 jobs.

In 2018, the state employed 9,450 firefighters with an annual mean wage of $40,310. At the moment, the average pay in Milwaukee is a little higher at $44,490, with regular yearly rises up to $74,045.

There are pros and cons to keep in mind when learning how to become a firefighter in Wisconsin. There are a lot of opportunities for people of different minorities and age groups to learn about the profession and join a department.

But, the regulations are getting tighter and preparing for all the tests and firefighter interviews is more essential than ever for the best possible chance at getting hired.

Make sure that you are committed to this journey and work hard for your community. If you do that, you can enjoy a fulfilling career as a firefighter in Wisconsin.

The post How To Become A Firefighter In Wisconsin appeared first on FirefighterNOW.

from FirefighterNOW https://firefighternow.com/how-to-become-a-firefighter-in-wisconsin/

From https://catherinelee4.blogspot.com/2019/11/how-to-become-firefighter-in-wisconsin.html

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