The New York Times today has some stories that interest me.
One is about the shooting last week in Tucson and how when something like that happens what happens when the first responders get to the QTH and what takes place and how it moves to a hospital ER.
I have done all that…I have been the first responder and I have been working in the ER when those things end up in the hospital.
My first night as a police officer, out on my own, and I was the only officer on duty and I found a car accident when one young teen dead in the car and his brother in bad shape. I called for the fire department and EMS and did my best. I had in my mind how in the hell am I going to write this report because it was going to be a big report and I could not even tell what kind of car it was it was so smashed up. Then after a few minutes I saw a Missouri state patrol officer and then I remembered that I had driven out of my city to find the accident. The MHP officer looked like he was 14 years old but he knew is job and how to do it and I was off the hook. Except I had to drive back into my small city and tell a mother and father that one of their sons was dead and another was on the way to St. Joseph Hospital.
I was working at Research Medical Center (security) when the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel walkway collapse took place. On July 17, 1981 114 people died and 200 were injured. Kansas City and everyone did a great job. I am glad I was not at the collapse site. Those police, fire and EMS and citizens did a great job. The Kansas City hospitals did a great job. We did a great job at Research Medical Center.
I saw a lot of things over the years. First responders, citizens, police, fire and EMS are great people and a God send when you need them. Hospital workers, all of them, are just excellent.
The news media I think are just a pain in the ass. I guess we need them. We need for the public to know what is going on but they were nothing but problems for me and many others.
In my first incident as a police officer I was all alone and never saw the new media. I did not need them and did not miss them.
On the Regency Hotel collapse from my little view of it.. The press fucked up. At least one radio station told people to go to the hospital and donate blood. KC hospitals did not collect blood. We had lots of good citizens showing up demanding to donate blood. We told them that we did not take blood and where they needed to go (to a blood center) but many of the citizens were upset and pissed and yelling at US because a radio station TOLD them to go to the hospital.
I don’t miss those days. But I do have a lot of memories of those days and a lot of stories.
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