- First, there may have been a real emergency where they were needed and yet they had been dispatched to our house.
- We obviously only want to have them assist when there is a true need/emergency.
- We don't want to be a burden and overuse their expertise.
It is a very scary experience to have any involvement with Fire and Rescue for any reason! But these crews were all professional, casting calm in the wake of our anxiety. In our situation, Russ wears Life Protect, a small devise worn around his neck. When the button is pushed, the alarm calls central control that triages the call. If Russ cannot speak clearly or does not respond, the whole shebang (fire truck and ambulance) arrive via GPS signals. But if Russ responds and lets them know he fell and needs a lift assist, the mobile non-emergency unit steps into action.
All the folks who have arrived to assist have been amazing. Even the last 'false alarm' call sent out by Life Protect did not fluster the crew. (Note: I have made multiple calls to them in hopes this does to happen again) Instead they proved, by example, to love their job and we thank our good fortune that there are men and women who not only have an aptitude for this work, but nurture it constantly with training to ensure competence and excellence.
These folks have very little clue what they will come upon when they leave the station. Yes, they know lift assist, but not accessibility or the mental status of the patient. They do not know if the person is alone, scared & distraught or comforted by a companion. Any yet, they arrive with a can-do, 'I know how to handle this' attitude. They stride in exuding calm and composure; we are truly grateful.
After a recent visit I sent a thank you note to these folks expressing our relief they are a part of our community as well as our thanks. Well, guess what? We got a thank you note for our thank you note! You see? These people just keep on giving... the energizer bunny in the guise of Fire and Rescue.
Durango Fire, Rescue & Ambulance
Dear Russ & Linda,
I was humbled today to read your
thank you letters related to our
crew's response to your home. You
can imagine the pride I have in
these men and women that serve
our community through our
organization. I am so thankful
that our crew was able to provide
help and care in your time of
need. I hope and pray that your
struggles are bearable and you have
the gift of family & friends to
bring you comfort. Please know
that we are always just a phone
call - or button push away.
We are glad to come to your
aid and help in any way
we can. I hope you have
a joyous holiday season.
- Yours in service
Hal Doughty
Fire Chief
Durango Fire Rescuse
We have a tangible, visual reminder not to become complacent, but to value the services and impact others have on our lives.
PEACE and GOOD WILL