Pat Ivey - EMT: Beyond the Lights and Sirens

I am grateful for my associations with the following emergency services personnel: the fire and rescue organizations of Orange County, Spotsylvania County, Culpeper County, and the city of Fredericksburg; the ER staffs of Mary Washington Hospital, Culpeper Memorial Hospital, and the hospitals of the University of Virginia and the Medical College of Virginia; Emergency Physicians Dr. Sam Heard, Dr. Thomas Flaherty, and Dr. Warren Parmelee; and Dr. Robert Kravetz and Dr. M. David Schenck, teachers, friends.

A number of individuals gave me support in a variety of ways and to them I offer my thanks: Mrs. Ruth Wise, for sharing with me memories of her husband, Julian Stanley Wise; Richard Dillard, author and professor of English at Hollins College, VA, for his professional advice; for the inspiration he gives to us all, Fredericksburg Rescue Squad volunteer Sam Perry, who continues to serve his community after almost fifty years; Debbie Christie and Margaret Powers, for the gift of their friendship; Joe Broderick, for his continuous moral support; my parents, Edna and Al Follmar, for teaching me that giving is better than taking; and Richard Curtis and Rob Cohen of Richard Curtis Literary Associates, for believing in my book.

And I remember with appreciation my creative writing professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: the late Manly Wade Wellman who reaffirmed my belief in the power of words and the magic of writing.

Finally, I want to thank the members of the Lake of the Woods Volunteer Rescue Squad, without whom this book could never have been written.

Present and past members of the Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad who appear in the book:

Purvis Beanum

John Beery

Bill Belt

Pia Boot Van der Heiden

Jay Broderick

Joe Broderick

Mara Bueng

Phyllis Burbank

Howie Crain

Linda Dickerson

Millie Droste

Norm Ensrud

Dick Ferguson

Woody Fox

Kathy Gates

Bob Grim

Joyce Grim

Harry Haas

John Harkness

Pat Ivey

Mac Johnson

Sally Kelley

Betty Law

Ed Law

Suzanne Lawrence

Jack Lemay

Kathi Lemay

Paul Lewis

Jean Lodge

Bob Luckett

Joseph Maiden

Bud Morley

Joanie OBrien

Buzzy OToole

Al Potter

Lou Potter

Marcus Wallace

Bill Werber

Carmie Witzke

Ken Witzke

Cliff Wolff

With few exceptions, rescue squad volunteers are identified by their real names. Patients names and distinguishing characteristics have been changed.

Chronology and circumstances have been rearranged in some instances. Dialogue, while not always verbatim, is true to the character of the speaker and the nature of the episode. Descriptions of all emergency cases involving the Lake of the Woods Volunteer Rescue Squad are drawn directly from actual calls.

His hands lay still by his sides, palms up, his small fingers curled slightly. I knelt beside him and placed my hand gently on his chest and felt his struggle for each breath. His eyes were half closed, his lids fixed, his pupils sluggish. Cerebrospinal fluid, watery and clear, drained from his nose and right ear. I didnt know his name then and so when I leaned closer to him, so close I could feel his sweet breath on my face, I simply called him, Baby. But there was no response.

I glanced at the overturned and shattered car, then turned my attention back to him. There was no blood to wipe away. There were no lacerations to bandage, no broken bones to splint, but when I moved my fingers through his blonde hair I felt the deep depression in his skull.

Lonnie had intended to go to the store before her children awoke. Paula was five now and Jesse was three, and she felt she could occasionally leave them alone while they slept since it was only a fifteen minute trip to the store and back.

She enjoyed taking them with her when there was a little extra money, when she could buy them Starbursts or a fudge bar or one of the toys which hung by the registercheckout temptations, she called themSilly Putty or ball and jacks. But today her husband had left her only enough for the milk. She knew Jesse would probably make a scene and shed have to spank him and then theyd both be angry for the better part of the morning. Thats why she wanted to go alone.

She changed from her gown into jeans and sweatshirt and was running a comb through her dark curly hair when she heard them laughing. She dropped her comb on her dresser and crossed the narrow hallway to their room. When she opened the door their laughter abruptly stopped, and she saw the movement under the covers.

Do you have that puppy in bed with you? she asked them. Her velvety Virginia accent padded her words and stretched them out so each word nudged the next.

The children exchanged a sober glance. Yes, maam, Paula answered.

Get him out, Lonnie said. And go back to sleep.

I dont want to go back to sleep, Jesse objected, dropping the beagle pup on the floor. Im hungry. The puppy darted under the bed.

Im hungry too, said Paula.

Well, Lonnie sighed, weve got to go get some milk first.

Jesse slid off the bed onto the floor and the puppy was there to meet him. Can I get something? he asked, scooping the beagle up into his arms.

Not today, honey, she told him. Put the dog down so you can get dressed.

I cant get anything? he whined.

She pulled his pajama top over his head, then smoothed his tousled hair. Jesse, theres only enough for the milk.

Then can I take Rascal with me?

Can we, Mama? Paula asked.

She looked at their upturned faces.

All right, she said. Well all go to the store.

It was 8:00 when they took their places in the car. Jesse sat next to the window with the puppy on his lap, Paula in the middle beside their mother. The car was old. There were no seatbelts.

Keep Rascal over there, Jesse, Lonnie said as she backed out of the driveway. Dont let go of him.

Jean Lodge, Joe Broderick, and I were on rescue squad duty that day. By 8:00 wed been on for 2 hours of our twelve-hour shift. So far, it had been a quiet morning. No calls. I took my pager from its charger and clipped it onto my belt, then finished the last of the breakfast dishes.

I opened the freezer door and studied my selection, trying to decide what to have for dinner. Both Dave and Matt had football practice after school and wouldnt be home until late. Jennifer would get off the bus at her friends house and Id pick her up at six when my duty ended. David would be home by 6:30. We often ate in shifts, especially during football season. I decided on meat loaf and took out two pounds of hamburger.

At her home, Jean switched on her TV, waiting for 9:00 and Donahue, then took out her stationery to write a quick note to her grandson in Florida.

Joe had been at his hardware store since seven, gathering information from the stores computer for the upcoming inventory.

I closed the freezer door. Jean uncapped her pen. Joe jotted down the stock numbers of storm doors.

The tones went off.