A friend of mine who is an EMT and a firefighter sent this to me and I just wanted to share it!
You stay up for 16 hours.....
He's been up for 48 straight
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.....
The rain in the middle of the interstate keeps him awake.
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.....
He's chilled to the bone, hasn't eaten all day, has the flu, and then runs into a burning building
You drink your coffee on your way to the mall.....
He pumps on a five years olds chest on the way to the hospital.
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket....
He makes sure the pass device on his pack is working.
You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.....
He watches his buddy fall through four floors.
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.....
He walks down the highway looking for the motorcyclists missing limb.
You complain about how hot it is.....
He wears fifty pounds of gear in the middle of July and drags a body out of 1600 degree flames.
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.....
He hasn't seen a meal since last shift ate breakfast.
Your pissed because the laundry is building up....
He's worn the same stinking, wet, grungdy clothes for the past 24 hours....no time for a shower.
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.....
He holds the hair of some college girl while she's puking in the back of the ambulance.
You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.....
His shift ended 2 hours ago and he is still on for another 24 hours at a station thirty miles away.
You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight....
He calls his girlfriend to tell her he made it back alive....then leaves abruptly for another fire.
You YELL and SCREAM at the engine that just passed you because they SLOWED you down....
He's in the back of that engine, going to cut somebody out of their car only to find out that they are already dead and their daughter is barely alive.
You roll your eyes as a baby cries....
He cries as he hears his newborn cry in the hospital....but he was taking a drunk teenager in when his boy was born.
You criticize your FIRE DEPT. and say they are never there quick enough anyway...
He blows the air horn while the person in front of them REFUSES to MOVE while talking on their cell phone and reading their mail while driving
You hear the JOKES about fallen firefighters and say they should have KNOWN BETTER...
He feels the floor give way while he's carrying an old lady from her bedroom and tosses her onto the hard floor and falls into the unknown.
You see the bright lights when you go by.....
He sees the broken bodies lying around the car.
You are asked to go to the store by your parents and you argue.....
He looks into buying a bullet proof vest because he has been shot at trying to save the shooting victims life.
You stay at home and watch TV.....
He takes his spare time to wash the trucks, restock the ambulance and maybe call his mother to tell her not to worry, he'll be home the next night
You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.....
He tries to sleep on his spring board bed but keeps getting woke up by the siren and bell, another person needs help, off he goes
You sit there and judge him, saying that it's a waste of money to have them around. Garbage truck workers make more than he does....
but its NOT for the MONEY, its for the people who need him that keep him going day after day!
Active Ink Slinger
