Middle Day at Lucky #13

It’s our middle day here at Lucky #13 and we’re trying to ride it out quietly. It’s “that time of the month”  (check time) so things have been a little crazy. Last day, I didn’t post on “Randy” because he wasn’t here. It was his first day “traveling”. They needed a body down at The Deuce and our rookie’s number was up.

The Deuce houses and Engine, Tower Ladder, Medic and our Haz-Mat unit. Randy rode the Engine and caught 12-13 runs. He got to see a little different section of town and caught a good variety in the runs. He was with a good crew who looked after and took care of him. It was like sending your kid off on their first day of school for me. I was a little nervous. I hoped everything we’ve been teaching him had “stuck” and that he would make a good showing .

Well, at 10 pm Saturday night the Chief called me. EATING MY BUTT. “What have yall been teaching this boy?!” The Chief had stopped in to check on little Randy and gave him a pop quiz on ropes and knots. He did real well until the Chief asked him to show him a “dragging bowline” … LMAO … He stuttered, stammered and finally admitted her didn’t know that one.

Well, 1st thing this morning, Randy learned what a dragging bowline is … LOL you shoulda seen the look on his face. Shortly after that, we shipped him off again. This time he rode around with our EMS Supervisor to chase ambulances in order to catch some BLS transports. The rookies have a set number of EMS runs and skills that need to be preformed before they are “checked off” to ride / drive the ambulances.

I he finished up around 9pm tonight and I received a positive report on his performance.

Our little “Rookie Randy” is one step closer to becoming a Doctor!

He’s back Lucky #13 with us tonight and for the first time in a LONG time, we’re riding with 4! I don’t want to have to work, but if we gotta … I’ll take riding with 4 over 3 ANYDAY.

So, A quick catch up on last day includes a MVA with  a “mutual-aid ” ambulance.

They actually ran up on the incident and stopped to help.

This ambulance company is owned and operated by our Level 1 Trauma Center. Generally, they handle pt transports for the Hospital only but occasionally run mutual aid in the city when our Medic Units are “dumped”.

What was neat about running with these guys is I knew the Medic (Dale Thacker). I worked for this Ambulance Company before getting hire on the Fire Department and Dale and I were partners on the mid-night shift. I haven’t seen him in a while. The other neat thing was what his partner said to me as they were leaving .. “Hey Capt… love the blog… keep up the good work”. I still can’t get used to folks coming up to me and talking about the site out of the blue. I say it all the time and again, it is truely humbling.

Rhett put a post up tonight over on the Fire Critic about how us Fire, EMS and Police Bloggers are becoming more popular and kind of “spokesperson” like.  It’s a good and interesting read … check it out  HERE .

We took in several more runs on top of the MVA with our friends from Carilion. It was a busy day.

Thunder storms rolled through town in the evening so once again, everybody was on the road.

It’s been just as busy (and HOT) at home on the farm. That made for good and bad news for the Buckaroo.

The good news is that a creek runs through the farm and I often stop by to let the Buckaroo play and cool off a bit.

The Bad news was that he didn’t have a bathing suit.

I think he may grow up to be a trail lawyer ….

You should have heard the argument he gave me on how and why we needed to go for a dip …

No Suit???

NO PROBLEM !!   LMAO

I turn my back for a second and the little fella is stripped down!

How could I say no to that?

I’m gonna wrap it up for now. We’re already sitting on several runs and have a long way to go before shift break.

I’ll check back in tomorrow or Wednesday. Until then, Stay Safe and In House!

Captain Wines