MEDC311 - Listen to RevSteve!  I was a peer on a CISM team for several years while I was in the Coast Guard and have had several of my shipmates tell me how much good it was for them. I’m sure you know about it given your years of experience. It will help you in all immensely and get you back on the horse.

MEDC311:  What is the first rule of safety you learned as a Basic EMT???  Scene Safety, Personal Safety, Partner Safety and Patient Safety.  You can only do as much as your physical being will allow you to do.  I too have been in EMS for 17 years and I too understand your anguish and dilemia, however, you mustn’t beat yourself up for not being able to take care of this man when you yourself were trapped and injured.  I know all too well it is what we are trained to do and for lack of a better way of putting it, it is the way we are wired.  Do not push your family away during this time.  They need to feel like they are helping you and frankly you need those closest to you to lean on and confide in.  We are not miracle workers and in the end EVERYTHING WAS IN GOD’S CONTROL, not yours.  I am so sorry that you are going through this but do not let it break you.  Good, passionate medics are hard to come by and I am sure your co-workers miss you.

Medc311 - I understand the pain you are suffering from the stress that is the root cause of personal discouragement and disorientating family issues. I encourage you to seek a quality Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program offered by a police or fire agency. Talking through your issues with CISM trained peers may give you some relief from your struggles. I pray God’s blessing on you and your family during this very difficult time.

Chaplain Steve

I know what happened on this particular accident as I am the medic who was injured in the accident. I have been going thru my own personal hell trying to understand why I was notable to get out of the amblance that was flipped on its side to render care to the other man. I was trapped in the ambulance and when I was released, I couldn’t walk due to a fractured ankle, so I was stuck not being able to do what I have been trained to do and have done for the past 25 years. Becaue of this accident I don’t know if I will ever be able to work on an ambulance again as this accident has made me wonder. The stress is tearing my marraige apart, and destroying all I have ever worked for.  My condolensces go out to the family and friends of the man who died and I am sorry for your loss.

Care for First Responders

In every case of tragedy caused by accident the public always focuses its attention on the victims and their families. That is it the way it should be when death or injury occur.

First responders are no different when things go wrong. They work injury and death scenes in the most difficult of circumstances. They must protect boundaries of personal emotion to professionally manage a tragedy. But when the day is over, and these public servants return to their homes and to their families, the realities of a critical incident become a potential source of personal heartache. Critical Incident Stress Management programs offered by law enforcement agencies are an effective means in addressing emotional issues.
Let us all be conscious of the feelings of our first responders and lift them up in prayer. Ref: Stories of the Street: Images of the Human Condition—http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/StoriesOfTheStreet.html
Volunteer Police Chaplain Steve Best

I totally agree.  Lights and sirens DO NOT GIVE YOU THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF WAY.  By law first responders are only asking for the right of way when they are responding to a scene and you are correct there are some first responders who believe that they have absolute right of way and they disregard the other citizens on the road.  It is a shame that someone had to lose their life because of the disregard of the rules of the road by the emergency vehicle.  I myself drive an ambulance and have been a firefighter for 17 years and the first thing on my mind when responding to a scene is MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.

not saying that this accident was not the man in the trucks fault… BUT it is the clear responsibility of ALL first responders to obey traffic while operating their vehicles whether to an accident or not. I have witnessed, too many times, reckless driving by first responders that could have very well caused accidents in their own right. Reckless speeds are NOT PERMITTED for ambulances even in emergencies—the safety of the driver and first responders is supposed to take priority- if they get hurt there is no one to help. 

I completely agree that people should give the right of way, but for the sake of the man who lost his life, it is only fair to state both sides of the argument.

I do not assume to know the facts of this case HOWEVER so many people DO NOT pay attention and yield to Emergency Vehicles.  Believe it or not whether it be an ambulance, police officer or fire truck you can rest assured they are enroute to help someone else.  If you are traveling in traffic, please give the emergency vehicle the right of way, who knows it might be your family they are going to help.

For the family of the man who lost his life, MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. Losing a loved one, especially around the holidays is very hard.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.