Always Be Prepared

Date:: November 7, 2023

As an EMT, I had just finished another long night shift, a routine I had followed countless times. But this night was about to take an unexpected and thrilling turn. My nightly ritual included a visit to the local doughnut shop for a cup of coffee, something I had done more times than I could count.

This particular evening, the atmosphere in the doughnut shop was no different from any other night. I walked in, ordered my coffee, and was ready to enjoy a few moments of relaxation. However, fate had other plans. A recent tragedy in our community had prompted me to purchase a carbon monoxide detector, a small device I carried with me everywhere. Little did I know how crucial it would become.

As I sipped my coffee, my carbon monoxide detector suddenly sprang to life, emitting its unmistakable, urgent alarm. The piercing noise echoed through the quiet shop, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.

I approached one of the doughnut shop employees. With a sense of urgency, I inquired about any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. The employee claimed to feel perfectly fine. My initial instinct was to dismiss the alarm as a malfunction, but an inexplicable sense of caution compelled me to double-check.

I carefully examined the detector. After ensuring it was in working order, I turned back to the employee and asked for permission to investigate the area near the ovens. I took the detector with me. This time, there was no room for doubt – the device confirmed that the entire shop was indeed flooded with carbon monoxide.

With a swift yet calculated sense of urgency, I sprang into action. Evacuating the shop was my top priority, and I dialed my dispatcher to report the dangerous situation. It would have been easy to dismiss the alarm as a mere malfunction, but my instincts, sharpened by countless emergency calls, screamed at me that something was terribly wrong.

As I reflect on that extraordinary night, I’m filled with a sense of pride and gratitude. It was my instinct, my commitment to the community, and the quick thinking that prevented a potentially tragic outcome. The doughnut shop employee’s life was spared, and the path of my night had taken an exhilarating, unexpected twist, making me more convinced than ever that being an EMT is not just a job, but a calling that can change lives in an instant.