She woke up over half an hour early. She could tell her nerves were the cause. Today would not be such a great day. She could already tell from the way she was acting. But, if it was up to her, she would make the most of it.
She climbed out of bed, showered, fixed breakfast and was ready for work 45 minutes before she even had to leave. She called Jessie, leaving a message on her machine to call her back this evening, or to stop by and see her, if she could.
She walked into the station, and clocked in early. Jackie was laying on the couch, feet proped up on the armrest, her hat was pulled down over her eyes. Stacie couldn't help notice how peaceful she looked when she rested. She tiptoed over to the other couch and plopped down making herself comfortable. She turned on the tv hoping it would be low, but it was blasting. Jackie pulled her hat over her head."Sorry." Stacie said turning down the volume.
"It's ok, I really wasn't asleep." she said sitting up checking her watch.
"Oh."
"You're here early."
"Yeah, I was up early. But you're here early too."
"I know, I couldn't sleep, so I decided to come on in."
"Oh."
Both sat in silence until other EMS members started to come in. They talked and joked with the other members until they heard the whistle go off. Jackie and Stacie jumped to attention and ran to the truck. "Two vehicle accident. Four patients involved. Two critical, two stable but needing attention. Truck 6, can you respond?"
Jackie and Stacie both reached for the communicator at the same time. "Stace get it." She grabbed it.
"Truck 6, we can respond."
"Truck 10, can you respond?"
They listened as they called another truck from the same company they worked for. Kevin came on, accepting the call. Both trucks sped away from the station in a hurry to get to the scene.
When they arrived at the accident, they hurried out of the truck,"Stace check car two, we need the most critical patients." Jackie said hurrying to car one.
Stacie ran to the second car and found that the woman driving was in the worst shape. Only one first responder was on the scene and he couldn't do anything because he couldn't get into either car without having fire personnel there.
"Jackie, the most critical is the woman driving, we can't get in to get her out." She ran back to the truck calling for the fire department once again. They arrived 10 minutes later starting on the first car where the man was. He was almost passed out, and had labored breathing.
We pulled him from the car right when he passed out. They administered an IV, put a neck collar on him and checked his vitals.
"I'm getting no pulse, and his breathing isn't the best either." Jackie said grabbing the bag," I'll tube him, you start compressions when I'm done."
Stacie got on her knees and watched as Jackie inserted the breathing tube and bagged him. "Ok start."
She leaned forward and began the compressions, her necklace came out of her shirt and was in plain view. Jackie looked at her oddly while she was doing the CPR."Stace stop. I think he's breathing."
Sure enough, his chest was rising and falling. Another ambulance arrived on the scene and they loaded the man up and sent him to the hopsital.
They got the lady out of the second car and put her aside because she wasn't critical. Kevin was at the other car trying to get the woman out of the front seat."Stacie come here." He called. She ran over to him catching her ankle on the door slicing it open.
"OW,damnit."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"You're bleeding."
"Yeah, but so is she."
Stacie stayed behind as Kevin ran to get another backboard from the truck. "Ma'am, where are you hurting?"
"My chest,my leg and head."
"Ok, when we get this board, we are going to put you on it, and put a brace on your neck, ok? Don't move your neck, or your leg. We need to splint it just in case."
"Ok." she said.
"What is your name? I'm Stacie and the guy that was here is Kevin."
"Im Kayla."
"Kayla, don't worry about anything, because you are in good hands."
They worked quickly pulling her from the car and stablizing her the best they could. After they put her in the truck, Stacie went back to the truck and sat trying to force the pain from her mind. When she looked down, her ankle was sliced pretty good, blood was everywhere.
Jackie came back to the truck."Kevin told me you sliced your ankle pretty damn good."
"Uh huh."
"Can I take a look at it?"
"I guess so." Jackie picked up her leg laying it on the bench. She pulled up the pants leg."Damn girl, you did get that pretty good. You are gonna need about 10 stitches. Not to mention a tetnus shot."
Stacie watched as she found the wrap for wounds and watched her as she wrapped it. She was very gentle not to hurt her anymore."Boy this is a switch." she began, "A EMT needing medical attention."
"It happens to the best of us. I cut myself once while pulling a girl from water. I don't know how I did it, but I did. I needed a few stitches."
"I can't believe I hit the door."
"I knew something was wrong when you were limping and I saw blood on your leg. And I knew something was wrong when you didn't come back out of the truck"
"Well it hurts like hell, I didn't feel like getting back out."
"They'll give you something for it at the hospital."she said shutting the door.
On the way to the hospital, I talked to Kayla trying to keep her awake just incase she head any head or neck injury. I didn't want her falling asleep. We pulled into the hospital and Jackie came back opening the doors. I started to get out but she stopped me."I will come back for you after I get her inside.So sit."
Stacie immediatly fell back onto the bench watching Jackie as she went inside. She waited a few mintues and watched her come back out. "Come on." she said holding out her hands. She placed her hands on her shoulders as Jackie placed hers around her waist and pulled her out. She helped her hobble into the emergency room."And here is the one EMS personnel I told you about. She sliced up her ankle pretty good on one of the cars."
Steve, and doctor she knew very well smiled,"Well, take her to room 4 and we'll fix her up." She helped me hobble into the room and left to take the stretcher back to the truck.
Steve closed the door and removed the bandage."Well you did mess that up pretty good."
"I'll numb this, stitch you up and prescribe something for the pain. Keep them covered and come back in about 6-8 weeks to get them taken out."
He sat down on the stool and begen to suture the wound. Jackie came in and sat in the chair beside the bed. She kept staring at me with this smirk on her face. I couldn't understand why until I put my hand to my chest and felt the necklace in plain view. I left it were it was and pretended not to know she was staring.
After my ankle was stitched and I had some painkillers in me, she helped me to the truck where we headed back to the station. We had just pulled in when another call came over the communicator,"12 year old girl, cut her knee badly, possible bone injury. Truck 6 can you respond?"
"We sure can."
"Man, we don't get any rest somedays."
"I knew today was going to hectic." I said as we pulled on the scene. It was crowded. People were hanging all around the girl. We moved them out of the way.
"Hi, I'm Jackie, my partner is Stacie, we are EMT's and we are here to help. What's your name?"
"Kelli." The girl said through tears.
"Ok Kelli, I'm going to take a look at your leg. And then my partner and I are going to put you on the stretcher and take you to the hospital." Jackie removed the bandage on her leg and checked the cut. She felt around for any possible signs of broken bones and felt none."Stace, get the backboard. I don't feel any signs of a broken bone, but I don't want to risk it."
I handed the board to her and helped get her on it. We put her in the truck and headed towards the hospital. She became more upset with each minute."Kelli, what's wrong?"
"I don't want to get stitches, I've never had them before and I know it will hurt."
"It won't hurt. I had to get stitches this morning."
"Can I see them?"
I picked up my leg and removed enough of the bandage so she could see them."Are you sure it won't hurt?"
"No, I promise it won't."
"That's a very pretty necklace. What does it mean?"
I fingered the charms and beads."It means that I like women more than men."
"Oh. I think boys are annoying. Do you hate them altogether?"
"No. I just like girls better because I can relate to them more. Emotionally, I feel I get along with them better."
"Oh, I think I understand. But I still say it's really pretty."