THE MEN OF RESCUE 51
By
I don't own them, Mark VII and Universal does. Sad to say I don't even own CODE RED, (It aired on ABC in the 80's).
This is for the POV/Perspective Challenge.First time for EMERGENCY, so be gentle on me.
Roy De Soto and John Gage just entered the academy to give EMT's and first responders, special training on protocol changes when approached by the chief from Task Force 1.
"Gentlemen, how are you today?" They shook hands with the newest station chief, Joseph Rorcheck.
"John Gage, Roy De Soto. Fine Chief, and you?" Johnny looked at the two men approaching. "I want you to meet two of the men attending this class, Ted and Chris Rorcheck, firemen from Task Force 1 Battalion 16, and my sons." His pride shown during the introduction as they stood there. Chris reminded him about the attendance by others from the region and that representatives from Nevada would be there in the next few minutes.
"Gentlemen shall we." They entered and began the week-long lecture series. Today was mass casualty transport in an MVA.
"On the interstate highways, today we see MVA's that are involving numerous vehicles and trucks that are transporting chemicals, some that are hazardous in nature. During this series of classes and discussions, we are going to examine these types of rescues. You must remember that your safety is the most vital key to a successful rescue". Johnny entered the room in full haz-mat gear. "All trucks must have a Bill of Lading, and a safe handling manual, explaining what the chemicals are, how to be handled, and most important, how to treat accidental contamination, and bodily contact."
"We are going outside to show you a mock drill and a de-con so you can see what we are about to discuss". Though Johnny's voice was muffled, those in attendance were able to hear him via the use of a body pac microphone he wore. One of the medics from Nevada was not feeling so well.
"Are you ok Mattie?" Her partner asked her with concern in his voice.
"Yes, just have to get my eyes adjusted to the light." [Cover it up; you can't let Greg know that you are having another headache. Be glad you have your sunglasses on.] Her mind went to that response they had just one day earlier. A day she would never forget.
Flashback
"IV, wide open normal saline, transporting, ETA 18 minutes. This is for patient one. Be advised patient two will be under police custody and arriving under guard. Reno 21 clear." They were on a domestic that appeared defused, and rendering treatment to their patients, Greg Manning was treating the male patient and Madalyn Rogers, also known as Mattie, was treating the injured woman who was crying uncontrollably. She was securing the IV in the woman's arm, before checking the cuts on her face one final time.
"It's going to be ok, Greg and I are going to transport you to Reno Baptist Hospital, in about 15 minutes you will be receiving the best care you can have." She smiled to let her know that it was ok. If you want me to stay with you, I can see if we can tone out." They placed her in the ambulance.
Two slaps to the ambulance door, and they were off in a burst of sirens.
"Mattie, I'm scared, he said he was going to kill me if I tried to leave him."
She adjusted the oxygen mask on her face. "Shhh.I have a few friends that can help you, and I will too". Mattie radioed the hospital. "Reno two one, to base, requesting tone out for approximately 1 hour at Reno Baptist Hospital. Also requesting Mindy from Sister House be advised we have a DV survivor requesting assistance and will arrive in approximately 10 minutes". She held the injured woman's hand reassuring her that it was going to be alright.
"Affirmative, request granted and advocate has been alerted, will meet you at ER treatment area."
"10-4 base, Reno 21 clear and thank you."
Looking at her patient she saw the beginnings of facial swelling and bruising was becoming deeper and darker. "What is going to happen to me?" Her patient began to cry again.
"The doctor will treat you; Mindy will have to take pictures of the bruising, and talk with you. I toned out, so I will be there with you." Mattie wipd her tears away carefully.
After they arrived and everything completed, she thanked her and was placed in a private room for overnight observation.
"Mattie, how about we get supplies and something to eat?" He had a smile on his face, one that was always there after a successful rescue. Before she could answer, the man they brought in broke loose from the officers and tackled her to the ground, knocking the wind out of her.
"Mattie!" Greg screamed out her name. He rushed to her side. Officers subdued him.
"You are mine when I get out ambulance chaser; I was going to get her, but you're first." He was taken kicking and ranting to the prison ward.
"You ok?" Great concern shown on his face as he saw what happened to his partner and best friend.
"Think so, but my side hurts." They had to treat Mattie for bruised ribs.
"Think you will be well enough for the conference in LA?"
"I've been ready for this for weeks. They say that LA Fire Academy has a rescue training program unlike anything we have seen." They went to the rescue unit, returning to station.
Present time
Outside during the mock demonstration, Roy asked for her and Greg to show them how Reno responded a call. Both suited up and began their demonstration. Johnny played patient for this one. To lighten the situation, he told Mattie something that made her laugh. "Be gentle beautiful, I'm only 29."
"If you keep that up, Gage, you may see why they call me `Lady Lifeline'." She blew him a mock kiss. That was what they were trying to achieve, team cohesiveness while keeping to the subject at hand. During the demonstration, Johnny pretended to have a broken arm, and injuries about the face, similar to what can occur.
"Reno two one to base. How do you read? We have a two vehicle MVA, one known injury, vitals to follow." She began to fight the pain in her head, but it was getting difficult. "BP is 90 over 68, patient is." she began to show signs that Johnny took as warnings at once. "Patient is going into shock.have started O2 at 2 litres." He began to see her fighting dizziness, Swallowing heavily. He gave Roy a hand signal alerting him to a possible Code I. Even Chris Rorcheck took notice.
"Patient is approximately 25 years." She took off her helmet and Johnny saw under her glasses. [What on earth. Roy, I hope you saw the signal. Before the thought finished, she fell into Johnny's arms, causing Greg to run over to her.
"I need the bio phone and drug kit." Chris and Ted saw what was happening and went to help.
"Johnny, what can we do?" Chris and Ted ran over at once.
"Get the drug kit and bio phone out of the squad, right side, center compartment". Roy told them where it was as he helped Johnny remove her gear and glasses, at once he, Johnny and Greg saw the swelling about her face.
"Greg, is there any health problems with your partner?" Roy began firing questions.
"Last night before we left for the conference, we had a call, and she suffered bruised ribs when she was tackled to the ground by a man the police had under arrest for Assault on a Female. I thought she might have hit her head, but she said she was alright."
"Rampart, this is squad 51, how do you read?"
"Read you clear 51." Dr. Early took the call.
"Rampart, we have a Code I at the Fire Academy."
Roy took her vitals, and shook his head. Johnny gave Roy the Bio Phone. "Patient is 20 year old female, BP is 90 over 55; palpatable lump on neck at about the fifth C-spine; unresponsive to stimuli. Normal breath sounds, pupils equal and responsive in right eye, left eye shows severe swelling and unable to open."
"Mattie, don't do this to me." Greg was feeling powerless to help his best friend. Chief Rorcheck stood beside the young medic."She hid it from you didn't she?"
"Yes sir, but.I knew she was acting tired since it happened, and. was taking pills to stay off what I thought it was tension headache, she didn't tell anyone about the tackle, but I knew, but she swore she was alright." Fear was rising in his voice.
"IV D5W, full open; use head injury protocols; transport soon as possible."
"I have the helicopter here for the demonstration fly-over; I can fly her out of here and be at Rampart in 8 minutes." Chris reminded the medics.
"Rampart, we are transporting by helo to your location. ETA is approximately 15 minutes".Mattie was still unconscious as she was loaded on the helo.
"Johnny, you fly with her and Rorcheck, Greg, you ride with me. Brice, I think we need to halt the seminar today, but continue soon as we know something." Brice nodded in agreement.
"Greg, she's going to be alright." Her partner was holding her turnout coat and helmet, showing her call sign as Roy spoke to him. All shades of his medical training, gave way to his feelings for her, his best friend.
When the helo landed, everyone in ER, and Dix was ready.
"Treatment room 1 Roy." They took her in quickly.
"We need a head-neck series, Blood screen, be ready to complete a lumbar puncture." Dr. Early was alerted by Johnny during the helo flight that she came to for a few minutes, complaining of severe neck pain and pain behind her eyes, before losing consciousness once more. "BP is 90-56. Respiration is 16 and shallow. This could be caused by the injuries she suffered yesterday before leaving for the conference. Her partner can fill you in on the details." Johny was telling the Dr. about the tackle she sustained the night before. "Doc, she was tackled to the ground yesterday in a rescue, and may have hit her head." This time, it was Greg Manning that spoke up.
"Mattie, it's Dr. Early, can you hear me?"She began coming to, and looked around.
"You are at Rampart; looks like you took a nasty fall young lady. We are keeping your neck secure, and have begun to take x-rays of your head and neck. Are you in any pain?"
"Neck, shoulders, eyes. Light hurts. Greg, where is."
"Right here Mattie." She could hear his voice.
"We want to do a lumbar puncture, is that alright?" She gave a thumbs up sign. "Johnny, can you help me?" He went to the bedside. "Hold her hand. It's going to sting a little."
"Hold on to me, if it gets bad, squeeze my hand." Johnny was there for her.
"Take this to the lab. Tell them to call with the results."
"Soon as the results return, we can give you something for the swelling, and pain."
After the results came back negative for a stroke, Joe decided to keep her for a couple of days to see if anything could have caused this.
That night, when she was settled in her room, she got a few visitors: namely Roy, Johnny, Ted and his brother Chris Rorcheck.
"Well, you look better then you did earlier." Roy was glad to see her more alert.
"Yea, looks like you have recovered nicely. About the seminar, we called Reno; you have the next 3 weeks off to recover." Chris was smiling, glad it turned out for the best.
"Not sure how to thank you guys for helping." She looked at her partner. "Greg, sorry I didn't tell you how bad I was hurting.thought I could handle it myself." Roy looked at Johnny remembering how he became ill and didn't tell anyone until it was almost too late.
"How long have you been partners?" Ted asked.
"Six months, she just came to the unit straight out of Academy. She is one of the few firefighter medics our station has, and the smallest."
"You look tired, how about we let you rest." Ted noticed her eyes closing.
"Feeling more tired now, guess that's what I need." She closed her eyes and let the meds work.
After they left, Roy commented about her size. "She's how big? She barely looks 100 pounds." Roy was amazed.
"That's all she weighs. Her brother is a firefighter in Vegas, and she went into the family business as they say." Greg was very proud of her.
"How did she get the name 'Lady Lifeline'?"
"She was riding with a friend of her's from Metro Police, and they found a missing child, she took him on horseback to the nearest hospital, with no equipment to aid the rescue. She was very resourceful, relying on what they had with them."
"Sounds like someone I know." All of them began to laugh at Ted's comment.
"Call us if you need us." they each shook Greg Mannings hand before leaving.
"Everyone thanks again."
"Don't mention it, Greg, just part of our jobs."