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
Feel The Heat!
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
It's July everyone. Let the dog days of summer begin! We talk about heat related issues, not only for patients, but for ourselves. So drink that water!!!
We also have 2 interviews with Jake and Darren. Two cool paramedics.
And a new Squirrel Theatre!
Relax and enjoy!
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 at training at everyday responder life is explored, all while having a great time doing it. So grab your coffee and watch those tales. This squirrel shift is about to begin. And now, a man who has never once received a ballot for the People's Choice Awards, please welcome your host, Brad Mack.
SPEAKER_02Hey, uh, hey, hey there everyone, and welcome to uh episode number 10 of 911 Squirrel, the podcast for first responders. As the Cool Tech Voice said, I am your host, Brad Mack, and this episode is called Feel the Heat. Oh yeah. My temperature is rising. I can feel you making me blush at the spot. My head hurts as anticipation, making me dizzy. I'm going pale and dry. The only thing that can save me, baby, is a call to 911 because I'm having a heat-related illness. Yep, we're going to be talking about heat-related illnesses and what we can do to prevent it for ourselves for ourselves mostly, uh also patients, but uh mostly for ourselves because we do work outside. But first, may the White Cloud Form follow and bless you all with fun and rewarding shifts. And as I said, we're going to be talking about heat-related illnesses and uh what we can do to prevent the system. Symptoms, not systems. Well, prevent the systems from going down in our bodies, but prevent the symptoms. Uh we also have two responder spotlights today. One with Jake, uh, who was supposed the this interview was supposed to be on the last episode, but thanks to some tech issues, which is my own fault, uh it's gonna be on this episode. It also includes uh John from last week, which he was he was a lot of fun to have. And so we're gonna probably gonna have him again to help co-host in another one. And another spotlight takes us to Kansas City as my friend Darren is out there, and he's gonna he's gonna help us with some heat-related issues and some other fun and exciting stuff. But first, we must dance.
SPEAKER_03Let me tell you. That's right, baby. I know. Tell them I'm telling I'm next. Tell me a fellow suit.
SPEAKER_02Uh, ooh, ooh, uh Yeah, I know. I keep doing this, and I keep waiting for somebody to want to make videos. And I am. I'm coming out to grab some people and start making videos. So please go do that. Get out there, videos yourself or your crew dancing to this song and post it on our Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. Let's see the moves. All right, another thing is uh something else that we want to do, and I think I posted about this, but uh just making it all again. If you are a follower of 911 Squirrel, uh we want to interview you on Zoom or FaceTime and then put it on our socials. You'll get to do the lightning round with us and all that. Um so and you might just get an invite from me, or you can message or email us if you want to participate. You can message us on uh our socials or email us at 911squirrel podcast at gmail.com. Now, the reason we want to do this is because it's the reason why we do this podcast. We want to make you the stars. All right. Uh also another thing is if you have comments, questions, or have ideas on subjects or segments, email us at 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com. And also subscribe to our podcast. Leave reviews, tell us how we're doing. That's what we want to we want to know what segments you like, what segments you don't like. Um if you want a new host, ha ha tough. Uh but we're gonna have, you know, just tell us how we're doing for crying out loud. We we s we wanna we wanna see what you guys want um here on this podcast to uh well basically we just we just want to know how we're doing. So please, please, please. Now, let's get back to the heat. Yeah, we wanted to get back to the heat. That's just how we roll. No, enough of that. Uh because it's making me all f it's making me feel flush and uninhibited and a little creepy. Uh but I d I do sound cool with this voice, though. Nobody can nobody can top Barry White. That's just all there is to it. Barry White is just awesome. All right. The dog days of summer are upon us. Especially for the eastern half of the United States the last few weeks. The sun is like a double agent. It's uh needed for vegetation, our health, and it brightens our days. The sun can also double cross us by blinding our eyes, which is kind of on you if you stare at it. But more importantly, it's heat. While it feels good, it can lead to agonizing pain and even death. Now, we all love to get outside during the summer, go boating to the beach, having picnics and so forth, but we have to protect ourselves inside and out because that big ball of fire in the sky is trying to kill us. Now, a lot of a lot of our work is outside. For law enforcement, you are always outside, hoping your cruiser's AC stays functioning. Cruisers? Is it is it cruisers or your car, uh your prowler, you know what I somebody somebody make sure you let me know what that is. Okay, uh you wear your vest, so back on law enforcement here. You wear your vest, hopefully. Uh your utility belt, hello Batman, and enough polyester to keep 511 in business. All that makes finding shade to park under while writing reports or using radar a priority. Now for EMS, you get out in the heat, sometimes, like officers, you are in your ambulance waiting for the next call. Uh same remedies still apply. Other times you carry heavy equipment to the scene, but then you have to carry patients back to the truck. So that is not fun in the sun. I mean, seriously. And if you get to if you got a station to go to, by all means go to it. Now, firefighters have the extremes on both ends. Um those nice halls with AC makes it very comfortable if the calls are scarce. I mean, let's face it. Um you might do some training, but usually that's pretty controlled. Uh but then a fire ignites somewhere. If it's a field or wildland fire, man, you hike, carry tools, equipment, dig, rake, spray. I hated doing wildland fires. Because you're constantly walking and you're paddling and you're raking. I hated them. Now a structure fire? Ooh, yikes. Wearing turnout gear, carrying an SCBA, wearing a mask, dragging hose 100 feet and 1300 degrees of sheer hell. Then you add the heat index of triple digits. Gosh, makes you want to get a portable pond out. So firefighters, I mean, you guys get you guys have the when you're not doing you know, don't have calls or whatever, it's nice to be in the AC. But you guys also get out in this heat to do some do some work. Now, dispatchers, uh yeah, you got nothing. Y'all are sitting this one out. You guys sit you guys sit in a building and then and unless um unless your maintenance guy really sucks at his job with AC, then yeah, you you guys are good. Now it all comes down to a few things we already know, but can't emphasize enough hydration and electrolytes. First, drink plenty of water. Not sodas, but water, Gatorade, uh anything like that. Uh sodas are not good. Um and well, if you are if you're off a shift and it's hot and you go out there and mow, I realize that some of you like to like have beer when you're outside in this hot weather and stuff. I'm gonna be the first to tell you, beer does not help in this hot weather. It takes away your fluids and dehydrates you. So just saying. So, anyway, uh back to this whole thing. Uh drink plenty of water, drink plenty of Gatorade, anything like that. So much that you have to urinate frequently, which usually gives you a nice break in the AC. Uh second, you have to eat. You need minerals to keep those electrolytes up. You need the salt, the potassium, the other minerals so you can operate at a peak condition mentally and physically. So, so simple yet so important. I've been there. I fell out on a fire ground one time because I did not keep up with my hydration during the day. I have also witnessed others who were a bit incapacitated mentally that could have led to bad outcomes. So, help each other out this summer. Always have water, Gatorade available. For leaders and supervisors, keep encouraging your chefs to do what's necessary. And I recommend bring bottles to them also. I would rather spend my I I used to do this, I would rather spend my own money on water and the because you don't want to have an incident. You know? You don't you don't want to have to go in front of the director or anybody else, you know, and explain why you weren't hydrated enough to make a good decision. Or your crew wasn't hydrated enough to make a good decision. If you are a fleet mechanic, that's right, the fleet mechanics, this is for all you test and keep those ACs running at peak performance, please. The hot days are here and they will only get hotter. August is just around the corner, too. So hydrate, eat, stay cool. Now, that brings us to our top ten. And our top ten this episode is sayings you can use to describe the heat. That's right, these are sayings you could use to describe the heat. Number ten, it's so hot, our uniform shirts are now two-toned. Yikes. That's somebody eating way too much salt. But you need the salt, don't get me wrong. Number nine, it's so hot, even my bullets are literally sweating. That's kind of stupid. Alright. Number eight, it's so hot, the chickens are laying eggs over easy. Actually, that's probably true. Number seven, it's so hot, the ACs are starting to unionize. Oh, I believe that. I've seen them get together and have secret meetings. Alright, number six, it's so hot, even my shadow is looking for shade. That's kind of an old one. Uh, number five. Excuse me, number five, it's so hot, Sophia Vergara is jealous.
unknownHmm.
SPEAKER_02If you like Sophia Vergara, if you don't know who that is, look her up, buddy. All right, number four, it's so hot I use my mailbox as a toaster oven. That's yeah. Because you know. Uh, number three, it's so hot, birds are picking up worms with pot holders. Actually, that's kind of funny. Number two, it's so hot, I started to pray every day now that we have a preview of L. Yeah, that's that's about right. Because let's face it, it's shh. All right, and the number one reason, or number one reason. What? The number one saying you can use to describe the heat. It's so hot, I'm thinking of transferring to dispatch. Yep. And see, dispatch, you guys got it. When it comes to heat, you got it easy. Don't don't give me this, oh, but you don't understand. No, no, no, no. If you're in dispatch, you're inside working. So I don't want to hear it. And that is our top 10. If you have a top 10 list or an idea for one, let us know by sending a message to our socials or email at 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com. All right, and now it's time for this. Anybody can sell an ambulance. The real test is what happens after delivery. At 108, we provide full life cycle support for brawn, demers, and crestline ambulances from specification and delivery to service parts, warranty support, and fleet replacement planning. Because when your crews need help, you shouldn't have to wonder who to call. Learn more at 108fire.com or call 877-989-7660. 108 Fire and Safety, built on integrity, driven to serve. 108 Fire and Safety, they are a wonderful sponsor of ours. If you are in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, or Florida, and your department is in need of ambulances, give them a call. Uh the federal government has $420 million for two grant programs, and everyone needs to take advantage of it. So let's get that ball rolling. Uh, I do know in Tennessee there's 89 counties uh out of I think uh a hundred or or ninety or something like that, um that are getting to they they get to take full advantage of of these grants. So believe me, uh get the get those grants written, call Technic Fire, uh get it get some cool ambulances, and uh yeah, let's get going. Now, here is this is an interview that w we were supposed to have on last week uh for the July 4th Spectacular. But thanks to yours truly, who um well let's just say you think you know what you're doing, and then the next thing you know, something happens and blah, blah, blah. Anyway, so we had to wait till this week to get it up. Uh, and it also includes John, who was uh our guest co-host uh last week, so or for the last episode. So it's a lot of fun. But that's why it's on this week, so here we go. Ha ha, ladies and gentlemen, uh on the Squirrel Hotline, we have a very special guest. He is a former paramedic for the Nashville Fire Department and uh is now getting ready to start his political career. Please make welcome Mr. Jake Edgar.
SPEAKER_07How are you, Jake? Thank you for having me, Brad. I'm doing good. How are y'all?
SPEAKER_02Oh, doing good, doing good. Um, well, why don't you tell everyone about yourself?
SPEAKER_07I'm a good old country boy from Tennessee that loves the Lord. I've been a paramedic for the last uh 15, 20 years. Uh worked here in middle Tennessee for a long time and live in Hendersonville with my wife and getting ready to celebrate July 4th with the family.
SPEAKER_02Very, very, very nice. Um now, uh, how is your beautiful bride Lane?
SPEAKER_07She is wonderful. She's uh actually making banana pudding right now for the family, and I'm getting ready to start making jalapeno poppers and put them on the smokers. So life is good.
SPEAKER_02Well, if I if we would have known that, we would have come down.
SPEAKER_07There's nothing better than jalapeno poppers on July 4th. Jalapenos, cream cheese wrapped in bacon on the smoker for three or four hours. Man, make a puppy pull a freight train.
SPEAKER_02Oh. You got some fireworks to shoot off, or are you gonna go watch them somewhere?
SPEAKER_07A bunch. Oh, yes. We have some for the kids and then we have some for the adults. So uh I don't even want to know what our firework bill is this year.
SPEAKER_02And 911 is on the is ready to go just in case.
SPEAKER_07Exactly. No, I'll tell everybody if we have to call 911 and we go inside and act like we gotta go to sleep. Like we weren't doing anything. So no, I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_02Well, since uh since July 4th is here, um I'm gonna ask you this. As a first responder, when July 4th came came around, what was something that you enjoyed most working a shift on this holiday?
SPEAKER_07And I honestly I tell everybody this. I always enjoyed watching the families. You know, the fireworks are great, the cookouts are great, but like when I did do that full time, it was cool to be at those events if I was working and see the families just hanging out together with friends and loving one another and having a good time. I always enjoyed that. It always reminded me of my childhood favorite movie, Sam Lot, like when they're playing on July 4th. It was the only night of the year that they could play under the lights. And uh so I just I just reminisce with that movie and when I see those things today.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, we have John Rodriguez here with us, and he has never been a first responder.
SPEAKER_04Oh well, I was a lifeguard.
SPEAKER_02Oh, you were?
SPEAKER_04I was, yeah.
SPEAKER_02See, I didn't know that.
SPEAKER_04I don't think we ever talked about that, but oh yeah, Red Cross certified and everything. I used to work at a summer camp uh when I was in high school.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_04And if you got certified as a lifeguard because we had a big pool and it was on a beach too. So if you got certified, it was a little bonus. So it's like, yeah, I'm getting certified. I mean, never renewed it after that. So but there was a there was a solid three summers there where yeah, you could depend on me. Thankfully, no one ever had to.
SPEAKER_02Well, pardon me for not knowing.
SPEAKER_04Maybe do your research. I'm just saying.
SPEAKER_02All right, I'll get the details down. Jeez. But you were never a first responder that people would think of.
SPEAKER_04No, no.
SPEAKER_02All right. Well, just just go with me here.
SPEAKER_04We'll we'll go. I'll go with you. I'll go. I'm here, man.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_02Well, Jake, uh, what would you tell a civilian like John here? Uh, something that you as a first responder would want them to know.
SPEAKER_07Uh, always like to remind people we're people too. Um, so you have first responders that have great days. Every now and then they have a bad day. Give them a little grace. Uh because you gotta think about the things they've seen over the years, the things they've experienced, the scrutiny they go under, and they never, ever, ever stop when that call comes in. You know, you can work tirelessly on one, two, three, four calls, and when the fifth, sixth, seventh call comes in, they gotta pick up and go. Uh good, bad, or indifferent. They've gotta go.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_07And uh so a lot of times people will come back, man. We had to call 911 and uh EMS or police or fire was rude or hateful. I'm like, look, it's very rare that that happens. They're probably dealing with something, whether it's at home, their work life, a bad supervisor, or you know, whatever they are people to.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. Well, it was yeah. I would imagine you're just on edge constantly, you know what I mean, from just you don't know what's gonna happen in this situation. You don't know what the you don't know the people you're dealing with, you know what I mean? Like you don't know what kind of day someone's having, what they're on the edge of. Yeah, that I would imagine that's probably the toughest part is going into that and going like, what what hornet's nest am I walking into right now? Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, it does the the one thing about it is is that it can, you know, you you always wonder when you get to a scene or even on the way to a scene as to whether it's uh you know what what you're going into, and that's where you hope dispatch uh gives you the best information. So hopefully that uh clears that up for you. Um But you had you had an interesting little uh side story
SPEAKER_04I think I told you about the time I went to the gym and there were those firemen working out. Oh, yeah. Like with the rope workouts. Those dudes are jacked, man. Those guys are not eating donuts. If they are, it's all it's on like cheat day only. The only like yeah.
SPEAKER_07Oh yeah. They like to work out. I always joke with them, and it's a like an inner career joke. And you know, we can joke with each other whether we're EMS or fire, but we won't allow anybody that doesn't do it to belittle that career. But it's like y'all are sitting here working out until you get a fire or a bad wreck or a med call. We're going on every call, so we never have time to work out. You know, it's just kind of like uh that uh interagency rivalry. I always get them worked up about it.
SPEAKER_04I always wondered what the point, what the exact point of the fire car was, if you can answer that. You know what I mean? Give us the skinny.
SPEAKER_07Oh my gosh, yes. So the fire cars are kind of um used to only chiefs at them. Now they'll send them on emergencies that don't necessarily require a fire truck. You know, a fire truck is rolling with thousands of pounds of equipment, whether it be the jaws alive, hoses, water, uh, chainsaws, heavy-duty equipment, rope rescue stuff. Okay. Sometimes uh these departments will send fire cars on simple medical calls, assist a citizen, you know, someone locked out of a vehicle. Yeah. But anytime it's a serious incident or suspected serious incident, they'll send the whole cavalry.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_07But the fire cars are just a way to cut down on a wear and tear on the trucks. And uh so that's how they justify that. Yeah. Okay.
SPEAKER_04Very good.
SPEAKER_02I'm I you know, it and and I always thought it would it would just be fun just to drive around all day. But uh, you know, that's that's just my thought. But uh you had John, you had a a uh little thing about uh um the Fourth of July uh and how busy it gets, didn't you?
SPEAKER_04That that had me thinking like Fourth of July and Halloween must be y'all worst nights. Gotta be, right?
SPEAKER_07I think so. Um 4th of July, Halloween, New Year's are all pretty busy. Uh you know, any shift can turn into a nightmare, but those typically, you know, like 4th of July, you're gonna have a lot of calls for possible shootings because someone thinks they hear gunshots, and then Halloween gets a little dicey with like overdoses and things like that.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, Halloween just gets out of hand.
SPEAKER_07Um and then New Year's it's just a hodgepodge. It could be people drunk, it could be a fight, it could be something worse than that. They're all three shifts that um you don't ever forget those. If you have to work a New Year's 4th of July or Halloween, you'll never forget those shifts.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_07It's always pretty steady.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I always gotta kick out of Halloween when we'd always go to at least one uh well, I wouldn't say at one, I'd say at least a handful of seizures at these like haunted woods or haunted barns.
SPEAKER_07Oh, yeah, yeah. And then you gotta get in there and get them out. Yeah. I used to because I was the class clown and I always joked probably more than I should have, but I would keep a Michael Myers mask with me on those days. And when we were just not going to a call, we'd pull up next to a car and I'd just look over at him real slow with that Michael Myers mask on, and then we'd drive off with the light turned green. I got reprimanded verbally a couple times for that, but it was worth it.
SPEAKER_02Oh gosh. Well, now we're gonna get now we're gonna get into what we call the lightning round of questions. Um here we go. Yeah, and these are these are fun. All right, so the lightning round. Uh, what excited you about the job? What excites you about the job?
SPEAKER_07The thing that excited me the most was trying to bring a calmness. Um, and I'll put it into perspective like this. One of the first calls we went on ever is me as a paramedic. This uh young man was trapped in a car and traffic's everywhere, and this car comes sliding up off the road, locked it up, and the parents got out. I'll never forget it as long as I live. And I just kind of wrapped him up. You know, I kind of assumed by context clues it was his parents, and I said, Hey, it's okay. I said, I think you need to pray. He's sick, but it's gonna be okay. Um, from that kind of shaped me into when you get on something that was high stress or people freaking out. I always like to say, Hey, let's take a breath. We have a job to do, and let's work through it. So that's kind of what did it for me. Other than helping people, uh, I try to be the calm in the storm uh the best I could.
SPEAKER_02Well what what excites you in life?
SPEAKER_07With life?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, in in just in life in general, not not just the job, but as in in personally, what excites you in life?
SPEAKER_07I think one of the things that people know about me is being a Christian, I love to let people know they're loved, whether it's through laughter or whatever, let them know the Lord loves them. That's probably what excites me the most. Um but is it just fun? I love to make people laugh.
SPEAKER_04How are you two possibly friends?
SPEAKER_07It's uh it's just I love being around family and seeing people laugh and getting cut up.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah, that's definitely you.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I like to have fun. Um if I ever got in trouble in my career, which it was never serious trouble, but if ever did, it was for joking.
SPEAKER_02Yes, those are always the fun times to get called down to the office. Now look, Jay.
SPEAKER_07When you know what you did and you're just gonna have to own it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, what was the worst smell? The absolute oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_07Well, it runs hand in hand with Fourth of July. That's a little bit gory, but uh anybody that was ever burned, like a true burn patient, those were the worst.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's it's it's not a it's not a great smell whatsoever, the burnt flesh.
SPEAKER_07Oh yeah. I mean, not to make light of it, but and heartbreaks for those people uh suffer that, but yeah, the burn patients were always the worst.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Well, um, what sound always made you just wow, cool. What sound did you enjoy as a first responder?
SPEAKER_07Um, I tell you that probably the thing that stuck out to me is one time we were on a call, it turned out that the uh one of the people on scene wound up pulling a gun and we had asked for PD to step it up our local sheriff's office in Sumner County. This was years and years ago. And back then we could all talk to each other on the radio and as soon as we called for help, hearing the sirens kick on from different directions of the city and the county. Um because you know, as EMS, we don't we're not armed. You're you're at the mercy of the Lord there, and um to hear those men and women kick on their sirens, and you could tell they were I mean, and they came with a vengeance. Yeah that's one of the best sounds you'll ever hear. You know, especially as unarmed emergency services workers, uh when your brothers and sisters that wear that badge and gum belt every day, when they when they hear that uh call from us and they know this is not just a report issue, it's a pretty daggum good sound knowing they're bringing the cavalry.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_07And they do, buddy. If they think one of their people, whether it's a citizen or an emergency responder, is in trouble or in danger, uh, especially in Sumner County, uh, the cavalry's coming. And may God have mercy on the person uh that is wanting to be violent.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. That is true. It is it is kind of a uh it kind of brings a little bit of relief, kind of takes that edge off a little bit when you hear that.
SPEAKER_07Oh, yeah, yeah. Gives you a sense of comfort going like it's gonna be better in just a minute, you know. Yep.
SPEAKER_02I agree. I agree. Well, as a former paramedic, what skill did you enjoy the most?
SPEAKER_07Um it probably goes back to that being the calm in the storm thing. I can remember going on calls for people, um, like children, you know, me and Lane were never blessed with kids. Uh God forbid when a child got hurt, those were always the hardest to deal with. But um being able to say, hey, we have a job to do, let's focus. Because in that situation, everybody's maternal instinct kicks in and they start thinking about their own children. I think it was a blessing for me not to have kids because I was able to just separate that. Like, hey, we have a job, we know, we're trained very highly on how to handle this, let's focus. That was probably it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I agree with you. I agree.
SPEAKER_07Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, what's what skill did you least enjoy?
SPEAKER_07Delivering kids. It's the worst. Uh I joke with everybody about this. I know it's a miracle from God, I get it, and I believe it. Um, but if I never had to deliver another child, I don't know what would be worse in my mind. Delivering another child or having to take a all-inclusive trip to North Korea. I just, it was not my thing. Um, especially, you know, like you're trying to protect the dignity of the mother and the hoping the dad's willing to help. Uh I just did not like doing it.
SPEAKER_02It's not a natural act if it's not your wife or child about to be born.
SPEAKER_07Exactly. And it is a blessing. It's a miracle to watch life come into this world. They're the most innocent things on the planet, but boy, I did not like delivering children.
SPEAKER_02I don't I don't blame you. I don't blame you. Well, what surprised you most uh when you first started as a first responder, what surprised you the most about the job?
SPEAKER_07Oh, how amazing the food was. No questions asked. Um, I tell everybody still to this day, I don't care if you go to a 10-store dining experience, the best food on the planet is at a fire hall.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_07They have the best food, best it's just, man, everything's cooked in ample amounts of grease plus some um three meals a day, typically, if the calls allow, man, it's the best food.
SPEAKER_02I agree with you. And you'd never guess it, you know. Oh yeah. I mean, especially at the fire halls when when you're stationed with fi with other firefighters, those guys know how to cook, man.
SPEAKER_07And I joke with friends of mine that owns rest that own restaurants. I'm like, look, if you I you know, I know there's a lot of cooking schools and people go and study how to be culinary experts and stuff, but if you want a true cook that's just down and gritty cook, get you a fireman.
SPEAKER_03That's right.
SPEAKER_07Some of them are the best cooks you'll ever, ever experience their food.
SPEAKER_02Yes, they are. Well, what profession would you want to do if you were not a first responder?
SPEAKER_07My whole life I was gonna be three things uh as a kid. I was gonna be a police officer, a preacher, or a pilot. Um, so I'd have probably done something like that. I'd have been a minister, a Christian minister, or uh I always wanted to be a police officer, but I'll be honest. I'm not tough. I I'm a big old 6'8 country boy, but I'm I'm pretty passive and laid back, so I don't know that I could write somebody a speeding ticket, or if uh you just got in a scuffle with a neighbor or something, I don't know that I could arrest them. I'm just too passive. So the Lord protected me from that because I'd probably got fired real quick.
SPEAKER_06Because some people just need a good whooping. Yeah. Um and there's a lot of people out there on the plant that's like, man, they just need to get their tail whipped one good time.
SPEAKER_07That's right. So I never got into law enforcement.
SPEAKER_02See, I I I tell people, yeah, or I remember a couple people telling me, Oh, yeah, you should be a cop, man. Blah, blah, blah. I'm like, nope. Because I'd be I'd be tired of being lied to all the time. And yeah.
SPEAKER_07Because I think sometimes office gets boring, and you need to do a desk pop. So it'd be nothing for me to pull out my service weapon and fire off a couple rounds into the ceiling just to get everybody's attention. And uh, I can guarantee that a chief or a sheriff probably wouldn't like that too much. As much as, you know, it's funny, but uh yeah, I wouldn't have been a good police officer as much as I would have loved to do it, because it would have been an amazing job.
SPEAKER_02Oh gosh. Well, one final question here in the lightning round. When you get to heaven, what do you want God to say to you?
SPEAKER_07Well, first I want to say good job, my good and faithful servant. Um, but second, I tell people this I was asked this question probably a couple months ago about my treasures in heaven, and I hope that when I get there that one person says, Hey, I came to know the Lord because of something that you said or did, that'd be cool. Oh, that would be very, very rewarding and uh something that I would that warm my heart to know in that be my treasure in heaven.
SPEAKER_02Very good. I like that answer.
SPEAKER_07I like it. If just one person came to know him, it'd be a win for me.
SPEAKER_02Well, one final thing. Uh do you have any final thoughts on either as your time as a first responder or any words for anybody that is a first responder? Any kind of final thoughts that you have?
SPEAKER_07Uh always remind them this because I don't do it professionally anymore. But always tell them, remember this. That fifty thousandth call that you go on that someone truly in their heart thinks is an emergency and calls 911, remember. To them it was.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_07To you it may be another call. Um and 911 does get abused, but just remember to them in their heart and their mind, it was an emergency. Go out there and kill them with kindness. It's I know it's hard sometimes, trust me. I struggle just like anybody else. But not doing it uh uh full time anymore. I try to remind people to them it's an emergency, kill them with kindness.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_07I agree. You'll always win.
SPEAKER_02Yep. Well, it was it's always a pleasure having uh talking to you and and uh having you around, just like I always said, man. Jake is always one, he's just one of those guys that you just want to have around have around a station or work with or whatever. Um because you've always phone everything.
SPEAKER_07Everybody says stuff like that, and I tell them it wasn't because of me, he's the good lord, and I was surrounded by people like you that were amazing, and I'm just so grateful that I got to work with so many amazing people and to all your listeners. Um, I always like to say this about Brad. He genuinely is one of the best that there ever was. I dispatched with him, I worked a truck with him in the streets with him. Uh I was I always knew that Brad had my back, whether it was a good call or bad call. He's one of the best there was. And Brad, I know that July 4th is um about America and about the men and women that have fought and died for this country and the freedoms that they uh the blanket of freedom they've provided for us. I know you're a veteran. Thank you for your service. Um and I hope you and your family have a very blessed July 4th.
SPEAKER_02Thank you. I I hope you all do. It sounds like you are.
SPEAKER_07Oh, we're going to. I'm getting ready. The smoker's already smoking. Uh, we got Applewood and Mesquite Wood and Hickory all mixed together, so uh the pumpers will go on in just a little while.
SPEAKER_02All right. Sounds great. Well, uh so hang on to line for just a second, but we're gonna let you go here from the squirrel hotline, ladies and gentlemen, Jake Edgar. Maybe appreciate it.
SPEAKER_01And now everyone's favorite component of the job, the Insta, where we have a discussion on certain prestiges to improve on the performance and deliver better outcome. Instintivists begin.
SPEAKER_02Ladies and gentlemen, on this first responder spotlight, we're gonna bring in another friend of mine, but he's not here in Tennessee, believe it or not. He is in the Northland area of Kansas City. Would you please welcome my friend Paramedics Darren Jr. This is what you call uh big big introductions. We like big introductions here on the squirrel.
SPEAKER_05Hey, if it's not a squirrel that doesn't have big nuts.
SPEAKER_02As long as we keep it family friendly, I don't care. How are you doing, Darren? I'm good. How are you? I am good. Everything going well there in Kansas City?
SPEAKER_05It is. It's very hot today, and uh it's been hot last week and the week before that.
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah. What's what's the temperatures been?
SPEAKER_05We've been running the low 90s, but high humidity.
SPEAKER_02Oh, really? Yes. It's all it's that's what all it always gets you. Yep, it's the humidity. Well, speaking of heat, uh, I wanted to go over some heat-related illnesses, heat, you know, heat-related issues that first responders always uh encounter, especially since we're in the dog days of summer now. And so my first question is um as far as heat related uh heat-related issues, what's what's one that you encounter most as a paramedic?
SPEAKER_05Uh that'd be heat exhaustion.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_05Yes. It's um it's the before of heat stroke and after I'm feeling good.
SPEAKER_02And what what are some of those symptoms of heat exhaustion?
SPEAKER_05So some of the big symptoms of of heat exhaustion is just tired, dizzy, sweating a lot. Um, your temperature could start to rise a little bit. Um, some nausea, vomiting, um, and some cramping.
SPEAKER_02Okay. Now what are those now what are those symptoms turned into right before like heat stroke?
SPEAKER_05So a lot of times the person will have been working outside a lot, in the heat. Um, sometimes they've been drinking a lot of water. Uh, but what happens is the body's uh thermostat just basically starts to go up. And it goes up so high that that all that sweating that you go through, you kind of run through it and you become dry. Yeah. Um you look red, you look you look hot, you look miserable.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And I mean that that's the one thing everybody seems to forget is you know, when you stop sweating, you're thinking, oh, I'm used to it. Now when you stop sweating, that's the first bad sign.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. If you're to the part to the point where you are not sweating, and I say, I feel hot and I don't feel good and dizzy, and they look like there's no sweat on them at all, it looks like they put makeup on and their skin looks nice and neat, that's bad.
SPEAKER_02So when so when they get the pinup girl looking and ready for their pictures to be taken.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, absolutely. Although it looks like they put a little bit too blush on, their cheeks are really red and they're so hot to a touch, and it's not because of the look.
SPEAKER_06Give me pout, give me pout, click, click.
SPEAKER_02Oh gosh. Well, see, that's the one thing is since we are in these dog eggs of summer, I mean, um what what are especially us as first responders, we're always outside. Uh, especially firefighters, when they're wearing that turnout gear, what are what are some of the things that you can say that you need that what that you can recommend that people do uh not only just before something, but all day long?
SPEAKER_05I mean Well, yeah, you know the the the the simple answer is drink water. But I'll tell you what um I tell my son who's in Boy Scouts and other scouts when they go to camp and it's hot and humid. You can drink all the water you want that day, and it's not gonna do a darn any good at all. To really get hydrated and be safe or have better percentage of outcomes of getting through the heat, you really need to start hydrating about a week in advance. So if you're drinking, uh I kind of I kind of go by how many um I usually take it by your weight and equal that in ounces. So I weigh 230 pounds.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_05You should be drinking about 230 ounces a day.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_05I take that back. Half of that a day.
SPEAKER_02So 115 a day?
SPEAKER_05Yes. Yes. Yeah. So I drink about three liters a day. Goodness, guys. So that's 96 ounces. The hard part of that is you can't live in the bathroom. You're always going to go and pee. Yeah. So not only that, is when you're drinking that much, you're flushing out your electrolytes. And everyone knows that. Um what I also tell my scouts too is it's it's important to drink, drink, drink, drink, but you need to eat too, because when you eat, you replace those electrolytes. Even though you might be drinking Gatorade, Pyroade, or whatever electrolyte solution you're going to use, you need to get food in you and eat. It's a constant cycle in the heat. So for firefighters, and I know they eat well because they work hard. Oh, yeah. Um, they do a really good job about drinking a lot. The ones I know, at least the ones I work with right now, they're they're in pretty good shape. Uh, once in a great while, and to not their fault at all, they will kind of pass out on us sometimes.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_05And it happens. You know this. Oh, yeah. Um, but and it's it's fine. We we'll take them aside, we'll strip them, we'll we'll douse them with water and shade them and and wave fans at them and make them drink a little bit.
SPEAKER_02Yep. Yep. Get uh get all those get all those hot clothes off, get them in shade, douse them with what I mean if if there's a if there's a free hose with not too much pressure you know, spray them down, get that, get, get out, get cooled down. Ice packs and all that stuff.
SPEAKER_05Ice packs, yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah, I mean it's not it's it's not a good time to take a drink from the fire hose, because if you drink too much water, it it's probably just gonna come right back up.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_05So it's it's I think it's better to slowly drink water when you're recovering and with ice packs and stuff.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, because you're shocking the system if you're drinking drinking a bunch of water when Yeah, and that that the body will not absorb that water really well.
SPEAKER_05Here's the other thing I will tell people. I know in this hot summertime we love ice water. We love to be cool and cold, and we like to wish that we get to work in indoors in the air conditioning. We don't. Um, so what I tell people to do is drink water at room temperature because it will absorb better than cold water, because cold water is just gonna make your stomach shrink. Right. You know, it's like a cold pack. You put it on and it shrinks the swelling. But if you drink uh like lukewarm or luke cold water, room temperature water, it's not gonna shrink your stomach, it's not gonna make you sick. Um, and it absorbs into your body quicker.
SPEAKER_02Because I remember I remember one uh when when you were here and we we were partners for I don't even know how many years, you know. But uh too many. Oh yeah, I'll show you.
SPEAKER_05Uh no, I'm still trying to get I'm still paying for therapy to get over that.
SPEAKER_02Hey, anyway I can help. Uh but I remember we had we had a lady that that uh I I guess you could say heat exhaustion or or even heat stroke, because she was passed out after mowing the lawn. And I mean we were Yeah, remember that? And we were dousing her with all kinds of all kinds of fluids and and I know and in fact I don't think she uh woke up until after we got her to the hospital.
SPEAKER_05Right, she didn't know what had happened, yeah. So what we did was, and this is the best way to cool someone off, is take their clothes off, at least give them some you know, some respect, like to the shorts or to the sports bra or something like that. Pour water on them and fan them because you will cool someone the fastest by evaporation. Right. So, and that's what we did with her, and she was how do you say it? Uh pretty gorked out. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, she was pretty. I mean, she had all that blotchin'. Yeah, she had all that blotchiness red and the whole nine yards.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, we starred fluids on her, we fanned her all the way to the hospital, and I remember she brought cupcakes to us at the station to thank us. Yeah. Never forget that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that was that was a few weeks later, but yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, it takes time to get that memory back sometimes.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you gotta recover, you know.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_02Oh gosh. Well, definitely, I mean, uh the whole thing about heat re uh as far as I mean, when you have a patient, that's one thing because you know what to do. But for us, being outside all the time, it's just a matter, at least in my thought is, you have to watch, you know, watch the the weather forecasts, see what's coming in the days uh in the future. Uh so you prepare for that because you had just said, you know, make sure you drink plenty of water beforehand. So if you know if it's gonna be you got heat uh heat indexes over a hundred, uh, like in three days, we'll make sure that you're filling up in those three days prior.
SPEAKER_05And the way I see it is once you start hitting in May in Tennessee, uh more June here in Missouri, um you need to start be drinking more water. Just be prepared for it.
SPEAKER_03Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02Yep. And with this whole eastern half of the United States, the heat they've gone through. Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Goodness gracious.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, really.
SPEAKER_05Oh gosh. No, but you know, to be to be honest, I like heat-related um injuries and situations. I I think it's kind of interesting the way the body reacts to it. Um, I think a lot of us first responders like that morbid part. And I'll never forget a few times, I think it was me and you, it was someone working on it at a church, real skinny, and he was pretty close. He was kind of on the bubble too, but you could see all of his muscles in his legs just cramp up and redefined.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that's I mean, I'm sure it didn't feel good, but it was interesting to see.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, when the hand, especially you see the first in the hands and the feet where everything just curls up and and and then they can't, you know, and the pain that comes with it is another thing.
SPEAKER_05So I believe we had another call where this guy was overheated and dehydrated, and they decided to put him in a coal bath. And what had happened was it made the and I understand why they do it, but it made his cramps worse. And I sat I sat there and pushed his feet back all the way to the hospital so they wouldn't cramp. I didn't do anything but that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I remember that because we were just like, whoa, man, you're gonna put that guy in shot doing that kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_05Right, right. And I know athletic trainers do that for athletes and stuff, but he was so extreme that his cramping was way beyond helping with the cold bath.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, can't don't do that. In my in my personal opinion. Since we just got by July 4th, as we move on to another subject. Uh first of all, how was July 4th for you? How was Independence Day?
SPEAKER_05Independence Day for us as a family was was pretty good. Yeah. Uh, this was the first year that I let my two older children kind of take over the fireworks and stuff like that and let them be power maniacs. Um, I taught them well up to this point, you know, don't stand over fireworks while lighting them. Uh you know, don't hold the firecracker too long. And then throw them. So uh no, it went really really well. But no, it was good. We had we had a good time. It was just the family, and that was it. And we had you know, just our hot dogs and hamburgers, and it was just just the initial family.
SPEAKER_01So oh, that's great.
SPEAKER_02But no fires started, no uh no injuries.
SPEAKER_05No, it's it's too green out here right now. Well, maybe we've got a few fires, I don't know. La la lay the fire department will find out until now.
SPEAKER_02Well, well, I'm glad you had a good 4th of July. Oh well, we're gonna get in since we're since we're uh talking to a first responder, now it's time for the lightning round. This is where it gets fun. That's right. I but I mean, love doing this because uh I I love asking these questions just because all first responders they're human beings too, and it's amazing the eclectic array of answers that we get when we ask these questions. So we're just gonna go ahead and start off. What excites you as a first responder? Sleep. Sleep. Sleep excites you. Yes.
SPEAKER_05That well, I'm I'm 51 years old. I'm still on the truck. Sleep excit excites me.
SPEAKER_02All right. Well, what sound or no or what sound uh do you like as a first responder?
SPEAKER_05Well, you know, kind of kind of go along with that that that sleep thing. Uh when the garage door goes down in front of my truck and I'm done with the call. Oh, okay. That excites me. Yeah. I like that sound.
SPEAKER_02I was thinking you were gonna go somewhere that way, like, oh, when I hear the gear shift go into drive, leaving the hospital. I thought you were going to go.
SPEAKER_05No. It's it's when my partner says, are you sure? Long story, not getting into it.
SPEAKER_02That's a that's an inside joke. I'm gonna have to interview her now. Just so everybody knows, we had a we had an FTO and her and her name was Cheryl. She she was a she was a really good paramedic. But when she was when she did um, when she FTO'd you, when she did, you know, to make sure and clinicals and all that kind of stuff, you she would ask you, you know, about everything you did, all the interventions or whatever, and you'd say everything, and then she and then you you would be like, okay. And she goes, now are you sure that's all you need? Are you sure? Are you sure and make you question everything that you just did? But she was great. She was great.
SPEAKER_05She was. She really was. I still don't know if I was doing everything right, but you know.
SPEAKER_02When you're questioning all your training going, wait a minute. All right, back to the back to the lightning round.
SPEAKER_05Okay, all right, I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_02No, that's okay. What smell just just makes you just what it what smell? Uh alcohol and blood. Oh, okay. See, that's a new one. Mixed together. Yeah, I get it. Yep. That's a good one. Now, what profession would you do if you weren't a first responder?
SPEAKER_05Okay, this is gonna sound kind of funny. Okay, this is I have I've I have three answers. Okay. So I always enjoyed growing up in volcanoes. So a volcanologist. Alright. And going along with that, uh meteorologist.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_05Uh or a pilot.
SPEAKER_02Alright. Those are good ones. Those are really good ones. And um what profession would you not like to do?
SPEAKER_05Retail.
SPEAKER_02I think you and about 90% of the rest of them. Yeah, I I don't I don't blame you there. Alright, what's uh go back to when you first started as a first responder. What surprised you the most?
SPEAKER_05So I started in Milwaukee. What surprised me the most was the people we picked up who they said they were sick lasted a lot longer than I thought they would. In school they tell you all these emergency things you have to do, and do them now. No, you don't. Most of the time they have more time than you think.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Okay. Alright. Um, what is your favorite skill?
SPEAKER_05I don't get to do it very often, but I always enjoy doing um external jugulars.
SPEAKER_02Oh, okay. I can see that, yeah. Yeah. What's your least favorite skill?
SPEAKER_05Innovation. Oh, really? And it's not because it's not because I can't do it. It's because it's the most scrutinized skill that a paramedic can do.
SPEAKER_02Okay. Alright, well, final question. Okay. When you get to heaven, what do you what would you like God to say to you?
SPEAKER_05Uh you know, we always make that joke of uh paramedics and first responders use humor to keep our sanity. And one of the things we always used to say was, I'm going to sub-level hell this or that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, oh yeah.
SPEAKER_05Um, I so I would say, congratulations, you made it. I mean, I would love to hear thankful uh uh servant of mine or something angelical about that, but just say, hey, you made it, you're good.
SPEAKER_00Step over here, Mr. Jeter.
SPEAKER_05Right. Go to the side where there's not a lever in the floor.
SPEAKER_02Oh gosh. And if you want to see a good show tonight, there's a couple cool cats named Elvis and Lennon that are showing up. Oh, great. That was a cool lightning round. I like this is why I love asking those questions because it's it's it's interesting uh the answers that you get. And they're and they're all different. Every everybody's got these different answers, and it's it's actually pretty wonderful. Pretty wonderful.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's it's that's that's EMS. Everyone has an opinion on everything. Or they have a everyone does a skill that uh they can do a thousand different ways to get the same thing.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that's pretty cool. I like your lightning round.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's fun. Well, Darren, I want to I really appreciate you uh appearing here on uh 911 Squirrel. It's always a pleasure.
SPEAKER_05It's always a pleasure to be back with you, Brad. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, ladies and gentlemen, give a g give a give a warm applause for Darren Cheetah. The sun shines its glory through the window. You stretched and feel refreshed. All you need now is the perfect coffee or drink to get the day started. At Sagebrush Sunrise Coffee, get one of our signature coffees, energy infusions, or cold refreshers. Come to 109 Fairfield Road in Bethpage, Tennessee to get your day started or keep it going with an afternoon drink. And nothing says love quite like an e-gift card. Sagebrush Sunrise Coffee, the perfect beverage for the perfect day. Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Grand Square Theater, where true stories are told, but in a theatrical style. In this episode three title, our director has decided to cast myself in the lead. Sit back and enjoy what should be my Oscar-winning performance in this wonderful saga entitled I Am a Star. Well, hello everyone. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Sun. Now, according to your scientists, I'm over four billion years old and have another four to seven billion years before I retire. I kinda like my work. In case you're wondering, I am a star. I light up your world every day. Despite what some people on your planet might think, I am the center of your solar system. You all orbit around me. Now I like to think it's my bright personality that keeps you close, but even I have to admit, my size and mass are like tractor beams. I watch sci-fi movies too. I am usually a pleasant enough entity. I just hurl through the universe, bringing my planet friends along for the ride. I love to shine my light so you have days to live your lives, and my warmth can be quite soothing. I have a special relationship with plants. They love the food I provide, which in turn gives you humans oxygen. Now, don't be jealous, we're just friends. I do get sick once in a while, cough up a solar flare, which I can only say I'm sorry your streaming and communications might be interrupted. Just tell me bless you, and we'll get on with our lives. With all the good vibes I provide, I am also quite dangerous. With the right angles and conditions, I can heat your area up to life-changing levels. You cuss me out, you say bad things about me. I get it. At least my friend Earth rotates to give you relief at night. I make you sweat, make it uncomfortable for you to sleep or work. You can combat me with water and minerals, which works according to those same scientists. With moderation, I can make you look gorgeous, adding pigment to your skin. But some of you think you're a steak and want to cook to be well done. That leads to cancer and looking like an old pair of leather boots. Now, don't blame me. You are warned every year on the telly. Even though I consider it disparaging against me, you develop sunscreen. I urge you to use it, especially if you're going to be in my aura for hours. You see, I like to burn things. It's in my nature. I can make your skin so red, cherries get jealous. I enjoy giving you blisters, mostly because of the weirdos that have a morbid satisfaction in popping them. Now, after a few days of that, something happens that I call the coup de gras. Peeling. Those same weirdos then follow you around wanting to quote unquote help you by tearing those dead skins off. But really, that's quite disgusting. Now I know it's hard to have a love-hate relationship with me. You love it when I make clouds disappear or give you a beautiful day. You love when I melt ice on the roads or give you amazing sunsets. But you also hate me when I call sunbirds or just make you miserable. I lead a complicated life. I'm always on maximum. I don't have any lower settings. It'll be a while, but one day you humans will miss me. But for now, enjoy all the good I can provide. But protect yourself, keep hydrated, eat, cover yourself. I won't be offended. And one final thought. Don't look at me. I'm hideous. Well. That was interesting, wasn't it? It was actually that. It doesn't matter. That was just a fun squirrel figure. Alright. Well, we have come to the end of this episode of 911 Squirrel. Hopefully you've had some fun, and hopefully you also have learned something. We want to thank Jake Edgar and Darren Juter for being on the episode. They're two wonderful paramedics and really cool guys. If you have stories, know someone you want to spotlight, have questions or comments, please email us at 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com, or go to our socials on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, blah blah blah, all under 911 Squirrel Podcast. You know, subscribe to our podcast, leave reviews, uh, get on our socials, tell us what what you think, what you want to hear, if there's a subject you want us to go over, by all means uh do that. But uh for us, most important, thank you for listening. Um I mean we we love do putting all this together and we especially me personally, I love doing this, and but we we want to hear feedback from y'all, so please tell us some feedback. What do you like, what you don't like, and so forth and so on, uh, so we can get better and better and funnier or more entertaining or more informative, whatever it is. Anyway, uh, and remember, you are a part of the team. Help each other, stay safe, especially in this heat, stay hydrated, eat, stay under shade, all that kind of stuff. And God bless you all. Thank you for listening, and we'll see you on the next episode.