by California Casualty | Firefighters |
With 58 injured survivors and 12 fatalities, the Paramedics who responded to the Aurora theatre on July 20, 2012 were dealt a chaotic scene. The professional job in front of them was immense, to say nothing of how they must have been feeling on a personal level.
(Photo: Karl Gehring/The Denver Post )
To get some perspective on what an event such as this is like for a Paramedic, I headed to our Top Fire & EMT Blog: Rescuing Providence. Rescuing Providence is run by Captain Morse, is a Rescue Captain in Providence.
On his site site, Captain Morse has posted his thoughts and responses to Aurora, speaking as an EMT. I’ve included a few particularly poignant excerpts here, but head to Rescuing Providence to read the text in full.
When sorting through the bodies, and separating the living from the dead, then prioritizing those who survived, and those who probably will not, focus is key. Having a job to do, one that years of training and experience has prepared you for makes the images and sounds manageable, work to be done, wounds to heal, lives to save.
Moments such as those in Aurora, Colorado will never happened to the vast majority of people. These are isolated incidents, pockets of madness that crept up on some other people. But those people do exist, and they are no different from you or I, had no warning, have no answers and will live the rest of their lives flashing back to those pivotal moments.
Now that the shooting is over, and the healing begins, people will look to the police, medics, nurses, doctors and firefighters who responded to the scene for direction. How we act, and how we cope, and how we get on with our lives is of vital importance to those poor souls drowning in an ocean of grief.
There is always more work to do.
To read Captain Morse’s post in full, click here.
Our sincere Thanks to Captain Morse for allowing us to reproduce parts of his post in this blog posting.
by California Casualty | Nurses |
Transporting the injured from the scene in Aurora was just the first step.
From there, they were received by the caring arms of the Nurses and medical staff in various Denver hospitals.
That early morning, survivors began the long and hard journey towards recovery.
And standing beside them are Nurses. Nurses who see first-hand the physical pain of survivors and the emotional pain of survivors, their families and their friends.
Nurses, too, must process their own grief as they struggle to understand this tragedy and support those whose survival is now in their hands.
Eric Young, Jr., a second baseman and outfielder for the Colorado Rockies who recently visited survivors in the hospital, said it best:
To hear more about tragic events such as Aurora from a Nursing perspective, I headed to Nurse Keith Carlson’s Nursing blog Digital Doorway.
Nurse Keith has written a beautiful post entitled “Of Tragedy, Heroism and Recovery.” While you’ll have to click on the link to see all of his thoughts and reflections, I thought I’d highlight some of his strongest statements here.
When events like this occur in our midst, we frequently do not consider the impact that it has on the first responders who initially respond to such traumatic events, as well as the hospital staff, surgeons and nurses who deal with the (often prolonged and painful) aftermath.
Since I’m a nurse who coaches and advises nurses on self care, burnout prevention and overall health and wellness, I’d like to take a moment to consider how nurses and their healthcare colleagues themselves react to such traumatic events, especially when standing on the front lines.
In the case of the Aurora massacre, one can only imagine what might be going through the minds of the nurses and other staff members of the hospitals on the receiving end of the racing ambulances. Were their friends and neighbors among the dead or injured? Would a colleague be one of the critical patients rushed from the scene in need of life-saving assistance? How would it feel to see a favorite teacher or local barista bloodied and fighting for her life as the sirens announced their arrival through the emergency department doors?
The ripple of trauma is wide in a scenario such as Aurora, and we hope that the paramedics, nurses, surgeons and others who treated—and are still treating—the injured are taking care of themselves even as they care for those in need of their professional skills and expertise.
Those frontline medical personnel need to remember to hydrate well, eat nutritious food, take time for self care, practice good sleep hygiene, and spend time away from work where the stresses of this traumatic event can be briefly set aside. For those who are prone to give until it hurts—and then give some more—it’s a high priority to get away, debrief with friends, family and colleagues, and allow the nervous system to recalibrate.
My sincere thanks to Nurse Keith for allowing me to discuss his tips and insights in this blog post.
by California Casualty | Firefighters |
Happy Monday, everyone!
Our firefighters have been on our minds a lot lately.
We have been keeping close track of the multiple wildfires burning across the country (this blog post is about our Service Center in Colorado Springs, near the Waldo Canyon Fire).
The Fourth of July is also coming up!
For most of us, this is a fun day with family and friends. BBQ. Fireworks. Stars and Stripes.
But for our Firefighters and EMTs, the 4th of July is one of the busiest days of the year. So be sure to keep them in mind while celebrating, and celebrate safely so you don’t need their assistance!
(We will cut our safety speech a little short. But keep an eye on the blog in the next few days for firework and safety tips.)
Anywayssss…
Speaking of Firefighters, today we have our LAST TOP FIRE & EMT Blog.
Can you believe it? Our first Battle of the Blogs is almost over. (Voting ends July 8!)
But we’re wrapping it up on a great note with a GREAT Fire & EMT Blog…
Firefighter/Paramedic Stories.
If you are looking for excellent day-to-day stories about the life and experiences of a Firefighter and Paramedic: this is the blog for you.
It’s authored by a Firefighter Paramedic, a blogger named FireMedic.
In his blog, FireMedic takes you along with him. Introduces you to his patients. Shows you the character of his coworkers. Brings you into the fire. Describes the humor, the crazy, and the heartbreak that goes into this job.
So we caught up with the FireMedic himself and got the behind-the-scenes scoop on the blog…
So, FireMedic, how would you describe Firefighter/Paramedic Stories? For the most part it’s a glimpse into the life of a firefighter/paramedic.
What is the focus or mission of your blog? It covers calls, station life, training, a little bit of my personal life and the occasional rant.
Why did you start it? My wife actually started it while I was in paramedic school as a way to share my experiences with close friends and family.
How long have you been writing here? My blog just had its 7th birthday.
Do you have a favorite thing to write about? I love writing about fires. While everyone may one day come across a medical emergency very few people get to run into a burning building. I like to share that.
How would you describe your blog ‘community’ … There’s a lot of fire and EMS bloggers out there. Some of them put a lot more time in then I do. Their dedication amazes me. Happy medic and Statter 911 are two of my favorites.
What has been your best experience as a blogger? I love getting comments from people. It’s great to be able to connect with random people from all over the globe and to answer question that they have.
What have you learned? Even though my blog is anonymous, there have been some people with whom I work that have figured out who I am. Some of them are not too happy that I have a blog. I guess I’ve learned the importance of being discreet.
Any stories you’d like to share? New ones all the time, come back and read them.
(He’s telling the truth. FireMedic is a frequent blogger, always with good stories to tell)
If you win Battle of the Blogs, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings and why? Toys for Tots. Every kid deserves something to smile about.
Where else can we find ya on the web? On Facebook and Twitter.
Want to read some of FireMedic’s stories? Check out Firefighter/Paramedic Stories here. To vote for your favorite FIRE & EMT Blog, click here!
by California Casualty | Peace Officers |
Woo hooo, it’s FRIDAY!
That means the start of another weekend is just a mere half-work-day away.
Today, we are veryyy excited to profile another TOP Law Enforcement Blog! It is a little different than our other LE blogs, and that’s precisely why we like it.
Today’s TOP LE BLOG is…
Things Worth Believing In.
Things Worth Believing In is a blog run and authored by tgace, a Police Lieutenant in Narcotics/SWAT.
Tgace’s main content and postings are slightly different than our other LEO bloggers. He focuses less on the day-to-day and more on the big picture. He discusses news events in the LE world (and supports his views with examples and videos).
But tgace also spends a lot of time talking about Warriorship. Now, my knowledge of warriorship is limited to what I’ve read on the blog.
But tgace describes ‘warriors’ like this: ‘I have come to be of the opinion that a true “Warrior” is someone who goes out into the world and engages in some sort of activity that serves someone other than himself. ”
Sure sounds like an LEO to me.
Things Worth Believing In is not your average LEO blog. And that’s why we love it. So check it out, read a little bit about warriorship, and keep up with some LE current events.
Want to know more about tgace and his blog’s origins? Here’s our Q&A:
How would you describe Things Worth Believing In? My blog is sort of a digital “blank book” that I use to record thoughts and ideas that relate to some of my specific interests: law enforcement, martial arts, firearms skills and martial/warrior philosophy.
What is the focus or mission of Things Worth Believing In? The main focus of my blog is to discuss the many topics, skills, and ideas that make up the way of living people have defined as “warriorship.” A mindset that I believe, if processed correctly and placed in the proper social context, can produce police officers with a developed sense of service, honor and personal integrity; but if misconceived, can result in arrogance and a mindset of conflict with the people they are supposed to serve.
When did you start it? Late 2008. This is my first serious blog attempt.
Why? I started my blog as an effort to define my idea of what “warriorship” is and how it relates (if at all) to the mindset/mentality of the modern American Police Officer.
What are your favorite or least favorite topics to write about? My interests have fluctuated over the years. I currently enjoy writing about firearms and martial philosophy but tend to avoid overly political topics that tend to breed resentment and job related problems.
How would you describe your blog ‘community’? To be honest, there are not many LEOs blogging on the topic I am interested in. Many tend to focus on personal “war stories” and street encounters, or discuss departmental politics and focused LE related topics such as active shooter response or combating the threat of terrorism.
What has been your best experience as a blogger? I have met and exchanged ideas with other American police officers and I have been sent a few products by companies for product evaluations, which was unexpected but enjoyable.
What have you learned? Not to take myself too seriously. Putting your ideas/thoughts out for public examination better come with a thick skin.
Any stories you’d like to share? I recently had a humorous exchange with a commenter on a “knife law” post. He struck me as an “anti” type and obviously didn’t read beyond the single post. His reaction when he realized I was an LEO was kind of funny.
If you win Battle of the Blogs, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings and why? I would donate any money to “The Wounded Warrior Project.” As a military veteran, I don’t believe there is any higher obligation we have as Americans than to take care of the men and women who risk all they have for us.
Where else can we keep up with you on the web? Facebook.
Want to read some of tgace’s posts? Click here! Ready to vote for your favorite law enforcement blog? Click here!
by California Casualty | Peace Officers |
Today, we are excited to profile our second female law enforcement officer blogger! This time, we are talking about a very honest and humorous blog by a patrol officer.
Today’s TOP Law Enforcement Blog is…
The Boogie Man is My Friend.
This law enforcement blog is authored by a woman named Momma Fargo. (And Momma says this ‘super squirrel’ picture fits her to a ‘T’!)
Momma Fargo is a female police officer and hilarious blogger.
Looking for a blog that talks about the real deal? Momma dishes it out.
She works on patrol and The Boogie Man is My Friend contains many stories from her day-to-day life (with names changed, of course).
She’s sassy, unapologetic, and most importantly: honest.
We wanted to know more about the badge-baring woman behind the blog. Our Q&A with Momma herself:
How would you describe your blog? The Boogie Man Is My Friend is an eclectic mix of day to day happenings in my life on and off duty. It’s crazy, honest, and out front with what happens in reality.
What is your focus or mission? I first started to blog as a journal for my daughter to remember what her mom went through and for her to read it someday when she was older or I had passed away. Pretty soon, I had followers and followed other bloggers. The original mission is still there, but now I think it is important for people to know what goes on in the life of police officers. Of course, I still hold back public information and still contain most horrific things in what I call my Pandora’s box.
Why did you start it? I’m over 40 (cough) on patrol duty and used to be a detective for many years. In 2007, I left the department and resigned, anxious to start my own business. I came back in 2008, then doing both my business and police work. The Chief offered me my old position back, but I told him I had to start at the bottom and earn my way back up. Although, I’ve been offered my old detective slot back several times, I’ve stayed on patrol because I love the hours, dynamics, and leaving my work at the job. So, in 2009, I discovered blogging by accident while surfing on the internet. I thought it would be a way to express myself and keep a record for my daughter.
What’s your favorite thing to write about? My favorites are the funny encounters with kids and the crazy people out on the street. Every day I run into something I haven’t seen or experienced in law enforcement.
I have changed the names of the guilty and innocent to protect privacy and given them my own names which are derived my contact with them and stem from their personalities.
Any least favorites? The least favorite and most difficult things to write about are the times where I felt I failed to help someone.
What can you tell us about your blog community? My blog community is an amazing support system comprised of so many different walks of life. I truly appreciate them all. They keep me in check; they make me smile; they keep me up when I am about to flounder; and they make me laugh. They all are truly an inspiration to what wonderful people we have in the world and a big asset to humanity.
What has been your best experience as a blogger? My interaction from my blog readers
Have you learned anything through blogging? You can’t fool anyone. The truth is so important to us all. Phony is not in my vocabulary. I have seen phony things on the internet and blogging. However, I am real. I have learned that being real is so important to keep alive. I have also learned how amazed people are at my police stories when it is just “ hum drum” daily law enforcement for me. We really do shield a lot from the public.
Any stories you’d like to share? One of my stories that tickles my funny bone still today is The TIME MACHINE.
And Momma, If you win, to which charity will you donate your $200 winnings and why? I would like it to go to the American Cancer Society in memory of my father. My mother is a cancer survivor, however, my father passed away when I was very young from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Cancer sucks. There is just no other way to put it.
(Well said. Cancer does indeed suck.)
Want to read some of Momma Fargo’s experience on Patrol? Catch up with The Boogie Man is My Friend by clicking here! To vote for your favorite LE Blog, click here!
