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Hello everyone.  I work PT for Rural Metro Ambulance out of Cobleskill, and do a regular 24 hour shift on Saturdays 6A-6A.  This past Saturday we had no crews to work the 3 stations; Cobleskill, Nelliston, Herkimer.  I was alone with no medic in coby, there was another EMT in Nelliston, and one medic ambulance in Herkimer, so they pulled me up to Nelliston, about 30 minutes north of Cobleskill to work as a BLS ambulance.  We had a Medic crew working a contract Race that we cover all summer in the Glenn Ridge Speedway and Fonda Speedway.  About 9:00 PM we got a frantic call on the station intercom from our dispatcher;  "Guys, I need you to respond to the speedway, all hells breaking loose and I cant get a hold of the crew there.  Alls I know is their calling for two choppers and additional ambulances but I cant find out why."  We looked at each other for a second and took off.  Enroute to the scene we saw one of the 2 choppers circling the LZ about to land and we could not get a hold of the race crew either...which was bad news, cause we knew they must be real busy with something.

Upon arrival at scene, we were told a driver rolled his car, fuel spilled into the passenger cmpt and ignited burning him.  A track firefighter, without any truck, water, chemical wagon or anything other than a 10# extinguisher dove head first into the car and pulled the guy out, saving his life but getting burned on his face and hands.  The driver had 2nd and 3rd degree burns on 45% of his BSA, and the firefighter got 1st and 2nd degree to his face and hands, possibly airway burns so he had a precautionary bird ride to a burn unit.  But the scene was chaotic...pit crews running around trying to see if the driver was ok...Track EMS running around trying to maintain order...a second bird landing right on the track...and STILL no contact with our crew who had the driver on board and parked across the track to wait for the hellicopter to land.  Finally we heard them on the radio calling for additional help in the rig, we both took off.  I was a EMT-CC a few years ago, and when I jumped in the rig it was a MESS...they were trying to RSI him but his airway was burned and imflamed, and I had to bag him until the air medic got there and took over care.  The medic was visibly shaken, and his rig a mess, so we told him to take the rig we responded in and we would take his back to station and decon and restock it.  It took us 2 hours to clean, decon, and restock the rig and it was gruesome.  I have seen bodies before, and pulled one body out myslef as a 18 year old firefighter, but it sticks with ya.  Once you smell burned flesh its with you for life, and it came back full force that night.  Just wanted to vent a little.  I vented some on Disaster Responders web site too, and wanted to vent a little more here.  Just clearing off steam.  Thanks for listening and I hope none of you have to ever deal with burned bodies ever.

Keep talking about it Moose!  That's the whole point of CISM.............

Sorry to hear about that Moose.And you can vent all you want. As you know. It's go to talk .I can go on.But I won't.

I work at the local track here.And thank godness,I have yet to have the bad one.I think about it all the time.There are major issues at this track.I couldn't begin to tell. But it will happen.It's just a matter of time.

I hope the good lord is watching over all that were involed.

Well just wanted to let you know that WE are all here if needed.

I'm so sorry to hear about it Moose. My prayers are with you and the others that were hurt.

I have yet to experience anything as bad as these two calls, but what I do know is that talking about it helps.  I know this isn't about scenes we have experienced but when my father died, the only that helped me was talking about it.  I still have my problems around those dates but I have learned to talk about it.  Vent all you need to.

vent all you want, thats what we are all here for...

Talk moose talk, its the only wayy you can feel okay with what has happen.

Thank you all for your concern and replies.  It seems that Saturday night is a bad night to be on shift with EMS!! LOL  I just had another call this past Saturday involving a 21 month old boy falling 8 feet onto a cement patio...He lossed conciousness, and had a spinal injury and I was with him thinking about my Daughter who just turned 2...Rough night!

But thanks for all of your concern, thats why I love this site.

Were here for you man, if you need anything im sure we can all help in some way. Keep talking about it, spend time with loved ones.

Moose,

Hang tough and keep talking to others as needed. I am a CISD member and a person who has unfortunately seen a lot. Get sleep, try to control your dreams, go easy on the alcohol and just let time do it's thing. You know it takes special people like yourself to do what we do. Good luck and my prayers are with you.

Troy