911 Squirrel
A fun, informative podcast about life, training, and other insights, within the careers of all first responders (Law, Fire, EMS, etc). Telling stories, sharing insights on training, diving into serious subjects, and laughing at ourselves.
911 Squirrel
Mom and a Serious Story
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
It's time for Mother's Day! That means you better call or visit your Mother!
There is also a serious story for us all to learn from.
Brush you tail and give it a listen!
Got a thought? E-mail 911squirrelpodcast@gmail.com
Welcome to 911 Squirrel, a podcast for all the fine men and women who serve as first responders. Stories will be told, training is hot, and everyday responder life is explored, all while having a great time doing it. So grab your coffee and watch those tails. This squirrel shift is about to begin. And now, a man who argues tooth and tail that Snickers chocolate tastes different than Milky Way chocolate, please welcome your host, Brad Mac.
SPEAKER_02Hello and welcome to episode number five. Let's try five people of 911 Squirrel, the podcast for first responders. I am your host, Brad Mac, as the cool tech voice said. And this episode is called Moms and a Serious Story to Learn From. Let's try! There's gonna be stuff about moms because Mother's Day is here. And uh serious story to talk about and learn from, blah blah blah. So I hope everyone's ready for the fun time that we're about to have. Now, as the intro said, I will fight tooth and nail to show you that Snickers chocolate does taste different than Milky Way chocolate. Go ahead, try to convince me, because you won't. If you think Snickers and Milky Way are the same chocolate, uh well that's fine. I mean, I'm not gonna like defriend you or or browbeat you, but you're not gonna convince me because it's true. I also believe that Reese eggs are better than the original Reese's. That's just me. All right, let's just get on with this, because otherwise I could go all day with what chocolate tastes like. All right, uh, may the white cloud form follow and bless you with all kinds of fun and rewarding shifts. If the responder with the black cloud reputation is working a shift with y'all, hit them with sage, perform an exorcism, do something, have them wear garlic, whatever you have to do to release them from the clutches of the black cloud. I mean it's worth a try. Anyway, uh spring is here. Yay! And uh May is one one what is on my it's a good thing this isn't videoed yet because man, something was on my lip. I think it was some of the taco meat I had earlier. Uh uh May is one busy month for you all. We got graduations, weddings, getting the landscaping done. Uh, but hey, that's and that's a lot of work. You sh come to my house. Yeah, somebody come to my house and and let's work some flower buds. You'll be like, what the heck, Brad? Uh, but it's also time for Mother's Day. That's right. Mother's Day is May 10th, which uh as this comes out uh is Sunday. So I hope you already got all your mother's uh flowers and gifts and made plans and all that kind of stuff. Uh and moms like it when you come to visit. Moms always do like that. So please go visit her or if you're if she's in another state, at least call her something, you know. Moms like that stuff. Ah, but that did get us thinking about all the mothers out there that are also first responders. Not only are you raising children, which is the toughest, scariest, and probably the most draining roller coaster to ride, but then you add what many consider the most stressful of jobs as a first responder. Xanax table for one. Um, I'm just kidding. Sorta. Uh so to celebrate all the moms out there using my mother and beautiful wife as muses, this is my tribute to mothers. The very first time in your life when you felt safe and loved was when your mother held you for the first time. As a child, mom was your nurse, educator, emotional support, chef, guru, and your biggest fan. You may have not been conscious of it, but you knew when mom was around everything was okay. She was the first to cheer, encourage, and comfort you. She became your guiding light. You could hear your mom's voice from miles away. Oh my gosh, could you hear it from miles away? Of course, so do the rest of the neighborhood. Uh you could feel her wrath from a look. Yeah, you knew you were in trouble. And you always remember how her food tasted. Most importantly, you always held a fondness for her hugs. Now you may have disliked her discipline or the chores and projects she forced you to do. But later in life you realize why she did all those things. Mom wanted you to do your best. Well, because she gave the best of her. As a teenager, you loathed getting affection from your mom due to the superficial embarrassment or ribbing you received from friends. Now the one thing to remember though, they got their mom's love too, so it goes both ways. Uh graduation was hard on her because it was the first sign that you would leave soon. To start your life without her. When that day came, despite what emotion she showed on the outside, on the inside was this tornado of emotions that was 10% happy that you started adulthood and 90% sadness that you were gone. Every visit started with elation, ending in a depression of which the edge would be taken off when you called home when you called saying you were home. Now, one day you might get married and have a family of your own. That's when mom becomes Grammy, Grandma, Gigi, and that's to her delight, not only because she had grandbabies, and boy do moms love babies. But also because she saw you grow and become a mom or dad. You tell your children, that's not the woman we grew up with. But you know she is. I mean, let's face it, grandbabies, they don't get they don't get the discipline we got. Uh but your mom knows that you have the responsibility, the worry, and everything else that she went through. She is the first to help you, whether you want it or not. But you and your mom wouldn't have it any other way. Now being a mom is exactly like being a first responder. She makes assessments, takes action, and works toward a healthy outcome. She bandages boo-boos bandages boo-boo, say that three times fast, puts out fires, and enforces the law. Uh, she never forgets what you say or do, as she will write a report for I mean, it sh she she never does. And she will, so I mean it's like she'll write a report for doctors or lawyers, and it'll be like fifteen years later. Her shift never ends either. You could become successful, be a CEO or a senator, live a drama-f drama-free life, perhaps. But she will still worry. Those grey hairs and wrinkles are remnants of parenting, worn with pride, even though she loves the spa days and hair appointments you give her on holidays. Now, you will never know all the stuff she went through to raise you. She will tell you some of the fears she had, the late nights, the lack of sleep, but she won't tell you all of it. That's what makes mom the mythical creature that she is. Need more proof? Just ask Dad. And that is a mother's tribute by Brad Mac. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, just like I said, make sure you call or visit your mother on Mother's Day. No ifs, ands, or buts. She deserves it. I mean, moms love that stuff. So just saying. And that's my monologue for this episode. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is gonna be a little bit of a different uh thing. We have basically a first responder spotlight uh coming to us from Springfield, Ohio. Please make welcome Tyler Franklin. Thanks for having me. No problem, buddy. So, how are you on this wonderful Thursday afternoon?
SPEAKER_04Uh, not too bad. I wish the uh weather was a little warmer, but you know, it's Ohio.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you know. What is it right now? Uh right now it's 53. Oh, that's not too bad. I mean, it's a little cold, a little cold for April, but yeah, not horrible. Well, you your summers are a lot better than here in Tennessee, I'll I'll tell you that. So, well, it's good to have you on. Now you sent in. Well, let's I'll tell you what, let's go let's we'll get to that in a minute. Uh, but you are an EMT basic, that's correct, and a firefighter? Yes, sir. And you've been a firefighter since 2012 and an EMT since 2017?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and uh I actually started as a cadet when I was under 18 in 2010. Oh, nice. And then just stuck with it.
SPEAKER_02Nice. That's great. Uh now what uh my first question is uh what is it, and you can't use I mean everybody everybody has to use it, and I and and for the most part everybody believes it. Uh so you can't answer with I want to help my community. But what was it that yeah, what was it that's that told you, hey, I want to be a first responder?
SPEAKER_04So actually when I were I had my permit and I I have two uncles that are actually in the fire service. One's retired and he was a battalion at Springfield City, and then the other one I I currently work with is uh my one department and uh uh I just kind of learned from them, but but the uh I had my permit and it was out in my uncle's truck was a paramedic and we were just driving around and we actually came across an action. We witnessed it and then turned around and were helping, and that kind of ignited it a little bit, and then uh just kind of went from there, did some ride-alongs with the city of Springfield, and uh just kept getting more and more interested in it. And it aside from obviously wanting to help and uh simply just being nosy, wanting to know what's going on around me.
SPEAKER_02I mean simply being nosy. Hey. It is true. I mean, there's a morbid curiosity to doing this job. But that's great. Well, I'm glad you're first responder, and gosh, this is 2026, so 14 years, man. Yeah, I know. I I can't believe it sometimes too. Yeah, just it starts flying after a while. Oh yeah. You sent this top eight. Now, where did you get this from?
SPEAKER_04I have had it for years and years. I saved it uh it was on some meme website, I think, or it could have even been posted on one of the Facebook groups, like Midnight Paramedic and so on.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah. Well, if it's Midnight Paramedic, we'll give them a shout out. Just to make sure. Just so I don't get a phone call going, hey. So we'll give them a shout-out. Yeah, we're just gonna do top eight of uh slang abbreviations to describe patients. This is gonna be so good. All right, you ready? All right, so the number eight uh slang abbreviations that have been used is cardiac patients should not be referred to as suffering from muh, messed up heart, PBS, pretty bad shape, PCL, pre-code looking. That one's great. Or Hig Gia H-I-B-G-I-A, had it before, got it again. Oh my gosh. I go, oh, there's so many. Oh, we're just gonna go on because this is just gonna crack me up the entire time. All right, all right, the number seven uh slang abbreviations are stroke patients are not Charlie carrots, nor are rescuers to use CCFCCP, cuckoo for cocoa puffs, to describe their mental state. This this is so wrong, but it's actually so true. All right, the number the number six, the number six slang abbreviations. Trauma patients are not cats. Cut all to cut all to shot, I used the wrong button. Uh cut all the FDGB fall down go boom. That's a great one. TBC, total body crunch, or hamburger helper. Oh gosh. Similarly, descriptions of car crash do not have to include phrases like negative vehicle to vehicle interface or terminal deceleration syndrome. Oh this is this is fantastic. All right, the number five slang abbreviations. This one's one of my favorites, too. Hazmat teams are highly trained professionals, not glow worms. Oh gosh. And the number four slang abbreviations. Persons with altered mental states as a result of drug use are not considered pharmaceutically gifted. The number Oh my goodness, the number six, let's see, that was or uh oh, I'm sorry. One, two, three, four, five. The number, the number three, the number, the number three slang abbreviations, even I can't even bring my own numbers. Gunshot wounds to the head are not trans oxcipital implants. Oh my gosh. The number two slang abbreviations not to be used anymore are the homeless are not urban outdoorsmen, nor is endotracheal intubation referred to as PVC challenge. Oh my gosh. And the number one slang abbreviation not to use is do not refer to recently deceased persons as being paws up, art, assuming room temperature, CC, cancel Christmas, CTD, circling the drain, which we've used that one several times, and DRT, dead right there, yeah, use that one, or NLPR, no longer playing records. And that is your top eight this episode. Slang abbreviations. Oh, that is that is classic.
SPEAKER_04That is just I've only seen one of these used once.
SPEAKER_02Which one was that one?
SPEAKER_04And not in a report, but I had called in a report to one of the hospitals we were coming in for a fall, and we walk in the doors, and they have a screen of where they show us, and it shows a small uh description of what it is, and it it said like 70-some male FDGB, and I just started cracking cards. And the the patient was like, What's what's funny? And I was like, Oh, nothing, mid, just uh nothing. La la la. And that was on the copy way off guard.
SPEAKER_02And that was on the CAD?
SPEAKER_04Uh, that was on their hospital board for EMS when we walk in. It it usually has what uh room we're taking to.
SPEAKER_02Oh, okay. Oh my gosh. That these are just classic. Oh my goodness. Oh, yeah. That is the best thing I've ever read. You just laugh more and more at each one you read. Well, some of these are great, like you know, stroke patients are not Charlie carrots.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_02Hasmet teams as glow worms. Oh my gosh. The PVC challenge and innovation. That's oh, that's even better. Oh gosh. I thought I was doing good when I made a when I made a dart gun out of an ET tube and a 12-gauge cardiac needle. Oh, that's great. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend it, but uh when you're around a bunch of bunch of first responders, boy. Yeah, things are bound to happen. Oh gosh. Well, I really do appreciate uh the top eight here, and I appreciate you coming on and and being a good sport and and being a part of it. Yeah, not a problem. I appreciate it. Oh, appreciate you having me. Absolutely. Hey, stay on the line, but uh, I'm gonna let you go here for this for this episode, but stay on the line, okay? All right, ladies and gentlemen, that was Tyler Franklin from Springfield, Ohio. Oh, that was that was so much fun with Tyler. It really was. He's he was he was a really good sport and all that. So thank you, Tyler Franklin from Springfield, Ohio, for being a part of 911 Squirrel. Uh now remember when I said that if you send in a top ten, we would also interview you if we used it. Well, there you go. Hello. Uh we don't make promises we can't keep. Well, boy, I shouldn't have said that. Uh now I'm really in trouble in case I do say something and then I forget and then because you people will let me have it. Uh we have lots of emails and DMs telling us nice things, but excuse me. Uh but we need your stories, your jokes, your recipes, your blood type, your dog's name, the reason why you have a scar in your forehead, anything and everything to make you a part of the podcast, because that's what we want to do. Um if you have a small business, give us all the info and we will basically advertise it on an episode and on Facebook. Uh, we want to help however we can. If you have a top 10 list, well, send it. If we use it, we will also interview you. And it is possible. Uh, one of the things that uh somebody had mentioned uh this for a segment, since we have all these followers, which I'm not gonna waive all that list again, um there is a possibility that we will DM you and see if you want to be interviewed just on the spot, bam! Here you go. So that is possible. Uh now here is something else that we would like to do. If you would like for us to record a podcast from your department, please send us a request and we will figure out how to make that happen. If it's something now we're we're here in Middle Tennessee, so if it's something within, oh, let's say four, five, six hours away from let's say Nashville, that's easy enough for us to do. If it's something longer than that, well, it may take some sponsors depending on where we're going and all that, but we'll try to figure that out. But if you would like for us to Record it from your department. We'll interview whoever you want us to interview and talk about things. Um, by all means, uh just just uh send us a request at 911 squirrel podcast at gmail.com and we'll see what we can do to make it happen. We'll look at schedules, blah, blah, blah, and try to figure it out. Uh all that to say, no matter what it is you want to send us, 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com or catch us on Facebook or Instagram. Yes, because we need the stories, we need the comments, whatever you want us to do. And also, hey, hit that subscribe button on whatever streaming uh app that you use to listen to 911 Squirrel. All right. Now, let's move on to something else.
SPEAKER_01This is the briefing. News from around the country that affects the policies, procedures, or employment of first responders. And now, the briefing.
SPEAKER_02All right, this is the briefing, and I found one story that uh interesting, and I like it. I do like it, actually. Uh man, I'm losing my voice all of a sudden here. Uh, a program that helps first responders better assist vulnerable residents is expanding across Macomb, Macomb County, which is in Michigan, um, Sterling Heights, Michigan, allowing families to securely share critical information with police before emergencies happen. The SAVES Special Needs Autism Vulnerable Persons Elderly Safety Project is a program that strengthens communication between first responders and vulnerable individuals by enabling families to share important information that promotes safer, more informed responses during emergencies. Great. Uh the families can enroll into the SAVES project by completing the information packet. Um the information is securely entered into the SAVES database, and the associated address is flagged in the 911 system to assist officers and dispatchers during emergencies. Now here's here's the kicker. Uh those registered in the program also receive QR code stickers for items like backpacks and phones that allow officers to identify and assist people in the program. Great. According to Sterling Heights Police Lieutenant Craig Cole, uh he said the program allows the police department to work more efficiently and reunite people with their families. Great. Uh the program does give privacy to families that want to get involved with the program but are afraid of information being public. Yeah, that's that's an issue. But uh they are saying of course it's not posted for public viewing, not meant for to function like a searchable public database. Good. Shouldn't be. Um let's see here. Okay, so anyway, the rest is all blah blah la. But this this is from Sterling Heights, Michigan, uh, which is uh I guess the Detroit area. And a great idea. I I I I like it, man. I like it to la um I can see where uh this is um I mean trying to communicate with autistic children um is it can be hard, it it's it can be difficult, it can be frustrating, uh, or with elderly people with Alzheimer's or dementia that may not know anything about anything. And having a QR code, that's great. Now if you have a QR code and you got information in the QR code, where does that go to? What website does that go to? And is that secure? Is that that's a good question. But um as far as all that, yeah, it'd be so much easier to be able to, you know, you you scan the QR code, you find out who they are, that gives you all the pertinent contact information, you call them up and say, hey, come get your kid, come get your your mother, your father, blah, blah, blah. So yeah, I I I like the idea. Uh it's it's the whole, you know, the information, is it very secure? Um, hopefully it's not on a cloud. Um, if it's in the CAD system, hopefully the CAD system is not is very secure. But I do like the idea. I really do. Uh but send us your thoughts. If you have a news story that pertains to first responders, email us at 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com. Now, another thing oh, uh la la la la la. Uh another thing that we have to do here. Oh sorry, but they uh uh dead air. Uh uh I was trying to I was looking at something going, wait a minute, how what did I how did I write this? Uh but anyway. Let's move on. Uh we need to give a shout out to a small business. Uh that's right. Trinity Fire Products in Napierville, Illinois. Um, they have a really cool nozzle called the Poseidon Electric Vehicle Nozzle and Decontamination Unit. It's you gotta see this. It you you know, you you put it underneath like let's say it's a car fire, you put it underneath the car, and the nozzle, I guess, just spreads all over the place, and then the next thing you know, it takes care of any fire underneath the vehicle. Which I can see that works great. Like um if you have if the fire is in the front but you have a gas tank in the back, or if it's in the cab, why you want to take you want to m keep the tank you know cool, just like you know, because you don't want you don't want that to explode. So I get that part. Uh it keeps the batteries cool because guess where the batteries are in vehicles? Well, on the bottom of the car and so forth and so on. So it's a it's a really cool thing. Uh if you want to learn more about it, go to Trinityfireproducts.com or call 630 723 417 and I didn't write the stupid last number. Oh my gosh. You know what? We can handle this right here. Because I have technology right at my fingertips. To do to do let's see, Trinity Trinity Fire Products Products. Let's see what it is. Okay, it's six three zero seven two three four one seven seven. Apparently, my fingers could not hit the seven twice. So go to Trinityfireproducts.com and see this cool nozzle. I I I do. I think you're gonna I think for some people it's gonna be cool. All right.
SPEAKER_01She carried you for nine months, enduring stretch marks and morning sickness. She changed diapers, drove you to school events, and lost years of sleep to worry and fear. Have you told her how much you appreciated her sacrifices? Have you told her you loved her? This Mother's Day sent her an arrangement for Flowers by Pat. Make it a day, she cries tears of joy. Call Flowers by Pat at 903-729-0631 or stop by at 616 West Coast Street. Time is running out. Don't disappoint your mother.
SPEAKER_00Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Glan Square Theater, where true stories are told, but in a theatrical style. This episode three titles is the principal tale about a boy and his mom, of which our director vehemently denies it being autobiographical. Sit back and enjoy this wonderful saga entitled One Kick-Ass Mom.
SPEAKER_02This is Zachary. He is like every other 10-year-old kid. He likes basketball, video games, and climbing trees. He was just recently in a school play, and just like other kids who happen to be on stage at that age, he found a moment in between lines to break the fourth wall and wave at his parents. Talk about cuteness overload. There is one aspect of Zachary's life that is different from the other kids. You see, his mom is a cop. That's right. She is a patrol officer for the city police force. Her name is Sarah. Unlike most moms, Sarah spends her work hours making traffic stops, investigating domestic disturbances, and chasing bad guys. On the job, she is one tough cookie. But she is fair. She's tackled drug dealers, tased drunk idiots, and has taken down men twice her size, mostly because they think they can overpower Sarah. They learn the hard way that Sarah can kick ass. Now Zachary has seen his mom in action. Once when he and his little sister Kayla and his dad Mike went and met Sarah at a local diner for lunch, a patron decided to cause a ruckus, complaining about the service and yelling profanity. Sarah got up and asked nicely for the patron to leave or be trespassed. Unfortunately, a combination of anger and stupidity consumed the patron. In the blink of an eye, Sarah dropped him to the ground and handcuffed him. Zachary thought he watched obscene from a TV show and felt so proud of his mom. Sarah's husband Mike, well, let's just say he felt a little weak in the knees, if you know what I mean. Now Zachary does have one problem though. You see, when you have a parent that's in law enforcement, you learn very quickly that you can't get away with anything. His mom has heard it all, seen it all. After 12 years on the job, she can tell when somebody tries to pass BS as truth. Zachary tries elaborate stories and schemes, but he fails miserably when mom starts the interrogation. Zachary also forgets that mom is an expert in securing evidence. Zachary and Kayla have no chance. Their dad Mike, well, he's too smitten with Sarah to be the kid's public defender, but he does make sure Sarah's judgment fits the crime. There are some positives though for Zachary. If he happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with other kids who act up, Sarah uses her investigative prowess to exonerate her beloved son. Zachary also looks into the future. In six years, he gets his license and possibly his first car. That makes him hope for mom's influence to get him out of any tickets. Sarah has a sense of humor though, already planning a traffic stop with other officers to keep her son scared straight. It's a perk of law enforcement parents. Now, despite all the drawbacks of his mom being a cop, he knows his mom and dad love him. He is safe and content. He'll probably become a police officer later in life. He's learning all the tricks. Zachary will have to keep an eye on his little sister Kayla, though. She has seen mom in action and thinks she can do all that too. Those boys don't have a chance. As for Sarah, she willingly volunteered for two of the toughest jobs in America: law enforcement and being a mother. She happily takes on those roles with love for both. God bless her. Now, if you don't mind, they just dropped Zachary and Kayla off at my house for us to babysit. Mike saw Sarah working out doing kickboxing, so he's feeling a little bit romantic.
SPEAKER_00The end.
SPEAKER_02Well, we have had fun today with Tyler from Ohio. Um with his top eight. Uh OH IO talked about Mother's Day. I even gave a little tribute to Mothers. All very enjoyable, at least I hope it was for everyone. Uh so now we're going to switch gears and get a little serious, which is why we put this segment last. Um it's just a heart-wrenching interview, but I I believe this is one that I think everyone can learn from um and implement into uh their daily life, whether on shift or even at home. So joining us now on the Squirrel Hotline from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, please welcome Josh Wagner. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. How are you guys? Well, we're all good. How are you, Josh?
SPEAKER_03Doing great, doing great. It's an awesome day here on Cape Cod. It's about 55 degrees out, the sun's out. I was just hanging outside with my daughter, my oldest daughter, Mavis, playing in the sandbox with her. Well, my youngest uh Kettley was taking a nap, and she'll be one next month. So I'm a firefighter. Yeah, I'm a firefighter EMT for uh 10 years. I work in the town of Milton and the town of Carver, and I was on the town of Wellfleet, which is a little shore town on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
SPEAKER_02Well, thank you for the thank you for your service to those communities. Um, it's always great to meet responders from across the country, really. Uh, when we got to your story though, uh when you emailed it to us, uh, about what you and your wife went through, it just tore our heart out. So I I want you to tell us uh all about your daughter, uh Xavier.
SPEAKER_03Yep. So she is our angel baby. Um she is actually uh she actually had a story written about her um at Boston Children's Hospital uh in Boston, Massachusetts. Uh she was a very sick baby at birth. She was born uh prematurely um at 30 30 weeks and was uh severely underweight. She got rushed to the ER because she had interception, which is like the twisting of the bowels, uh, from what I understood at the time, because I was just a firefighter EMT for the town of Wellfleet. And um so she spent most of her time in the NICU, uh up at Children's, where we between me and my wife, um, we would go up every other day, travel. Um, children's was great. They got us food vouchers. Um, my mom would be up there, you know, when we couldn't be there. And we really spent every moment with her. And then she came home uh Father's Day of that year. And um, she was able to spend a few weeks at home and just kind of hang out, you know, with the family. Things were going okay. Unfortunately, she um we were laying in bed uh that July 16th of 2021, and I had said to my wife, I think we were watching something on TV, I forget what it was, but I had said to my wife, I'm like, hey, you know, I haven't heard Xavier cry or, you know, moving a little bit. And I looked over, and that's when I noticed she wasn't breathing. And um I really like grapped up from the bed, like I really went into like fight or flight mode, like channeled every channeled everything, and um was like, oh my god, I brought her out to the kitchen table and like I started performing uh infant C PR tour while my wife, well my wife uh called 911 to get the first responders for Dennis out to our house. And literally uh police showed up first and and they literally came into the house, they applied the AED, the officer literally like took our child right out of my off the table with all his stuff on, ran right back out, and literally by the time he was back outside, uh Dennis Fire, the medics were showing up, the engine was showing up, and the medic at the time literally uh said, Where's the father? Or I was trying to console my wife. I literally went into the truck, and that's when that's the moment when I wished I was not a firefighter EMT because everything flashed before me about like how far we've battled as I looked at the Life Pack 75 and it was just flatlined. And the medics were like, hey, kiss your daughter, you know, and we'll see you at the hospital. And they took off, and then at the hospital, that was when we had to call everything.
SPEAKER_02Uh, that is just horrible. Gosh, our hearts go out to you and your wife. Um, I know this this is hard, but tell us your mindset um and what it was after this happened.
SPEAKER_03It was literally like everything just like it went like black. I I I remember calling my my chief at the time and like literally just saying, like, if I can't even save my own daughter, what am I what am I doing, you know, working for the town, for you, like, you know, I shouldn't be doing this. I'm gonna put in my letter of resignation. Like, I went through like some of probably the darkest hours within those first 24 hours, and to see the people come around me, like my my deputy reached out to a member of the critical incident response team that we have on the Cape that goes out to like traumatic calls for first responders, got a hold of one of his guys and there explained the situation. Like he was calling me probably within the next two, you know, so many hours of everything. And I went into like some deep therapy and um, you know, and then I worked with that for years. I still uh still see a therapist um for just trauma and everything because in my short tenon year of 10 years, I have seen a lot, experienced a lot, and some things, you know, people it's hard to explain to people what it actually feels like, other than it's just like a complete like take like the most craziest thing you could have, and then like put it into like self-relations of yourself, I guess. Is it it it's just crazy. Well, what was it like to go back to work? And you know, I it's thankfully I haven't had too many uh pediatric calls, but both towns uh both departments I work for are aware, you know, that I do have some issues, but it it I've worked through them and I can perform my job as it's just a very fine way of doing things. Like it's almost like a procedure, you know.
SPEAKER_02Right. I am so happy that everyone in your department recognized your situation um and wanted to accommodate that. I'm also happy that your family is right there uh and has been right there for with all the support.
SPEAKER_03No, no. Anything my mom needed, you know, they did. My mom was there. Um and uh my wife's family, anything they we needed were they were there. So it it was great to have that support.
SPEAKER_02That is so great. Wow it really is. But I am curious though, what was it like for you on the first PEED call after going through all this?
SPEAKER_03So the the first call it was for a child that possibly um could be choking. And um I just remember hearing the tones drop and like I had a like brief flashback I'd say for about a good two to three minutes where I just kind of like stood there. And my paramedic at the time uh literally had to like give me a shake on the shoulder or give me a tap and be like hey hey we we got a call and like and I just stood there and she knew at the time that I was like just kind of having a moment I guess you would call it and uh she you know go ahead and she like radioed back to dispatch that we would receive the call you know she told and told them that our truck wasn't en route and then just literally grabbed me by the shoulder and gave me a good shake and she goes Josh we got to go and that and then I just remember shaking my head getting there I don't really remember the drive there I just remember looking at the GPS and just going. And then I remember getting on scene and just having another moment where I just kind of stood there and I'm like thinking back to what my therapist said and he's like you just got to tell yourself it's not your emergency right now. You don't have like you're you did everything you could for your child like now you've got to pass on your strength to someone else and I just remember like running into the house and like kind of getting blinders on and talking to the mom right away like hey your your kid is breathing it's okay what did you do and she's like I patted him on the back I'm like great you know he seemed how and just running through like what I was trained to do um as an EMT and my medic came in we did a full assessment we wound up transporting the child and mom just on the off chance of aspiration but the child was breathing and thankfully uh mom had intervened prior to our arrival but those few moments that just hearing the tone drop I could only imagine what the fire medics um felt that night as they were coming to my address. So there it was like a whirlwind of um emotions and feelings and they get easier with time but if it's uh it's if it's a higher acuity call like the choking that one was or an unresponsive those emotions come flooding right back and and I just gotta slow my road take a minute and I have to almost sometimes explain to my partners because sometimes I have different partners so I just kind of explain to them hey I have some issues I'm I'm good I can perform my job but you just might have to kind of give me an extra nudge on certain pediatric calls and everyone I've come across says say no more you know they've really been great they've kind of been there to make sure I'm I'm good so I guess the easiest thing I can say is literally like just take it a step at a time day by day and it's literally what I live by now because time is so unexpected.
SPEAKER_02Yeah and it's not like we it's not like we all get a bunch of PEDS call throughout our career and with PED calls uh you know we've had the training but the adrenaline and the stress always seems to be a little more intense than with adults they don't really train us for in any type of scenarios just like you guys said er earlier you know pediatric calls in EMS and anywhere in first responder land are few and far between you know those are rarity but even more rare and even more emotional um what I believe is when and I I think you would probably agree is when a family member uh it's a family member that you have to work on. And that is something I don't think anyone can train you for 100% that is an absolute absolutely true statement.
SPEAKER_03It was um I yeah that it's literally like I just I literally didn't even freeze. I think I jumped out of bed in one fluid motion and grabbed Xavier because she was right next to my side of the bed and literally I was already down the hallway on the table I I remember looking at it after the fact and going what in the heck happened in here like everything on my dining room table was thrown on the ground so I must have you know in my fight or flight mode as we they all talk about um I must have like cleared the table off to have a flat surface so like kitchen plates were that you know were just hand washed and put away were were getting ready to be put away they were on the ground broken you know it like life just stopped for those few seconds and like a whirlwind came through and then when you look back at it you're like holy moly.
SPEAKER_02Having gone through all that um what advice could you give all of us first responders on how to cope with this type of traumatic event?
SPEAKER_03Yeah so the best thing I can advise anyone to do is literally take it moment by moment and if it is a family member that you have to you know respond to seek help immediately afterwards no one's gonna judge you for it it is a very powerful moment that you need to you can't handle it alone because if you do you're not you're not gonna make it out it it's just not not uh feasible because of all the emotions all the adrenaline um so the best thing I could advise uh first responders to do is just really take it step by step moment by moment like lean on uh your other crew members maybe if you're really that uncomfortable uh I would maybe ask if possible if the staffing allows it if you could be on the engine or something or assist so you don't have to do the real care um but if it really happens to you in your house your time while you're visiting your loved one then literally do what is trained and seek help afterwards because your fight or flight is going to kick in um and that's gonna push all your adrenaline which is going to give you your ability to perform and do things and then after that you're gonna feel a crash and that's when you're gonna want to seek to help talk to your lieutenant talk to a friend therapist but seek someone right away because if I'm sure if I didn't I wouldn't be talking to you guys today.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh that is perfect advice for anyone going through something like this. Um that is something we all need to take to heart another thing though that I think makes you a better EMT is that you have a more deeply felt compassion and the experience to help kids and the parents that you may encounter on calls.
SPEAKER_03I appreciate that I I I do feel like in some of the pediatric calls you know like where the kids are kiddos are sick and everything I feel like I do have a lot more compassion and I have a lot more compassion for that PD's and it's a love-hate relationship with the pediatric calls because I do have a I do have a ton of compassion because I do have kids you know I have kids and it's a hate passion because I lost something very close to me you know so it's the love-hate relationship literally is the best way to describe it but I do but I do have a lot of compassion uh in general when it comes to EMS but especially for the moms and dads and the kiddos so well I am truly amazed by you and Samantha's courage to not only seek help but also give us a glimpse into your lives doing it.
SPEAKER_02We hope that you continue to do so uh you you Samantha your family uh so that you can all keep moving forward in life. I definitely will I definitely will that means a lot thank you well I believe I can speak for everyone when I say that we will all keep you and your family in our prayers all our hearts go out to y'all and we hope that it gets easier and easier to deal with.
SPEAKER_03It's definitely tough and uh but it gives me honor to share it with you guys and I appreciate you guys uh you know taking my call today.
SPEAKER_02Oh no no thank you for sharing this with us and I know this it wasn't easy. Um may God give you and your family blessings guidance and contentment. Thank you. All right um I'm gonna now that that's in uh I'm gonna do thank Josh again for telling us their traumatic story of Xavier uh it takes a lot of courage to agree to openly talk about that and also what they had to overcome. Uh I think we all can agree they are overcoming this trauma. I mean let's face it when they they did exactly what they needed to do and that is absolutely wonderful. There are a couple things that I uh we edited out due to time. One was uh this fun little fact that uh Josh gave us was Cook's seafood if you are in Cape Cod go to cook's uh seafood and they have the best seafood especially at the beginning of the tourist season that's when everything's fresh everything's ready to go and so forth I'm sure I'm sure that there's fresh throughout the year so go to Cook's seafood. The other thing that he was telling us about and I was like do what uh was when Xavier Xavia Xavier passed uh children's services showed up and they started asking questions. Now I realize that it must be state law in Massachusetts for them to do that. I'm just guessing on that. And what's sad is it's because of the society that we live in and the bad apples that have just done horrific things that makes children's services uh skeptical of everybody. Skeptical skeptical if I could learn to speak uh when something like this happens it they're they're just you know it's like law and order SVU or something. I just think there's a better way to handle it with grieving parents instead of straight interrogation. I mean I get it but I don't know. It's my opinion obviously I I'm just I I that's just all I'm thinking. I I I I mean children's services they have a tough enough job too but I think there's a better way to do it. I I just don't know what it what that is. Uh anyway well we have come to the end of this episode of 911 Squirrel. Hopefully you all had some fun hopefully we learned some things um if you have stories you know someone you want to spotlight have questions comments email us at 911 squirrel podcast at gmail.com or go to the socials on Facebook or Instagram or all under 911squirrel podcast. Uh thank you for listening go subscribe go follow all that kind of stuff uh and remember you are part of the team help each other stay safe and God bless you thank you all for listening y'all enjoy your week