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A Flaw's Flaw?
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! I'm always amazed at how these columns write themselves. I
had started to write about flaws or maybe flawed-thinking is more
relevant here. In my mind (I get scared and wonder about my mind, too)
I was thinking we do ourselves a grave injustice when we start putting
our human flaws "out there" for all to see.
A great example is our two US Presidents who were wheelchair bound or
used a wheelchair. Out of respect, pictures were taken from the waist
upward or behind a desk. Woodrow Wilson led us through World War 1.
Reports say he tried to keep us out of the combat. Franklin D.
Roosevelt led us through the Great Depression.
I was leaving Kroger's when I saw smoke. I know that it is illegal to
burn trash, etc inside the city limits. I made my way over to the
neighboring parking lot. Surely enough - a car fire. With sirens
wailing and the lights flashing - Greenville Fire Department's E-143
rolled to a stop a small distance from the burning car. Two guys jumped
out of the back - all firefighting gear in place - and laid out the
water hose.
As small explosions occurred (the battery, a/c unit, and left front
tire fell victim to the flames), the firefighters approached the car.
After turning their backs to the car when they heard an explosion -
they pried open the hood and extinguished the flames. But, that's not
the end of the story, It might not even be "the story." What might be
"the story" is:
I spoke with the "high seniority" guy from responding E-143's
crew. We discussed response time...about the guys seat-belted in the
rear of the truck with the "turn-out" gear in place (an insulating
layer over their underclothes that covers arms, legs, and up the neck a
couple of inches) and the outer layer that we see, with the reflective
tape. E-143's driver said he saw smoke (they know it's a car fire) and
told the guys riding in the back to put on their oxygen and face
shields. They add another "layer" to their protection - oxygen over the
nose and mouth. The heat resistant protective face shield is put on
over that, with another layer of fire-proof material down the back of
the face mask to cover the back of the head and down the neck.
My mind rolled back some 52 years. I remembered the name Chetty Miller.
I realize that he operated a funeral home and an ambulance service.
Bear with me here. If someone was ill - really ill - and needed to go
to Dayton to a hospital - you called Chetty. If someone had passed away
- you called Chetty. In those days there was no rescue squad as we know
it today - no trained, card-carrying personnel - just Chetty and maybe
someone else to help him. At that time, family or friends helped load
the patient. - ill or deceased. There was a fire department, but they
were not required to be trained in cpr, first aid, etc. That came
later. I believe "the point" is:
When you're watching a house or car burn - time slows to a crawl. When
you're watching a loved one be very ill - time goes even slower. I've
heard people call Wayne Healthcare a "Band-Aid" station. But, it's not.
I think it's the flaw in our thinking - we compare our hospital to
those in the big-city metropolitan areas. And we'll not measure up to
their services. When applied that way - is that thinking a "flaw's flaw?
I just want to give a shout out to Greenville's Fire Department and all
other emergency responders - volunteer or no. You do a great job and
provide an invaluable service. Chetty did a great job in his
time...we've grown and have many vehicles to handle many emergencies at
the same time. Bravo Zulu to you all - that is...Well done!!
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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