Firefighting is not solely about heroism; it also involves responding to numerous non-life-threatening emergencies. Over a decade, a firefighter experienced nearly 7,000 911 calls, often finding individuals in distress due to factors like illness, isolation, and poverty. Many calls were for help getting up after falls or dealing with chronic health issues. There is a profound sense of helplessness in witnessing the decline of those whom they serve, feeling like the only source of human interaction amidst their isolation. The situation is exacerbated by natural disasters, raising concerns for vulnerable individuals living in rural areas.
Over the next decade, I went on nearly 7,000 911 calls in Portland, Oregon, and we did save heart attack victims, put out house fires and pull people from car wrecks.
Most 911 calls are not for life-threatening emergencies. They may be calls for regular back pain, diabetes-related issues or just feeling ill.
Some of the toughest calls involved performing CPR on people we'd regularly responded to, watching them slowly decline in isolation.
We watched people die from preventable diseases, from exposure, from being alone and poor. Often, it felt like we were the only people who crossed their thresholds.
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