HomeMy WebLinkAboutletter to ij editor larry saulsgiverTO THE EDITOR:
I HAVE SERVED WITH ENFIELD'S FIRE AND RESCUE CO FOR NEARLY 25
YEARS AND IN THAT TIME THE CHANGES IN EQUIPMENT,TECHNOLOGY,AND
PROTOCOL HAVE BEEN ASTOUNDING.
ONE NIGHT YEARS AGO I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE OF A SINGLE CAR
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE WE WERE FACED WITH EXTRACTING A
YOUNG WOMAN FROM HER VEHICLE AND ADMINISTERING LIFE SUSTAINING
FIRST AID AS WE WORKED AT THAT TIME WE HAD NO JAWS -OF -LIFE AND
BEGAN OUR JOB WITH HAND TOOLS WHILE REQUESTING A "JAWS" TOOL VIA
MUTUAL AIDE FROM A NEIGHBORING COMPANY. IT WAS FRUSTRATING
WATCHING THE YOUNG WOMANS' CONDITION DETERIORATE AS WE
STRUGGLED TO FREE HER. THE TOOLS ARRIVED,SHE WAS FREED,RUSHED
INTO A WAITING AMBULANCE AND TO THE HOSPITAL. IT HAD TAKEN MORE
THAN 45 MIN..! WE WERE AT THE STATION PUTTING GEAR AND EQUIPMENT
BACK IN SERVICE WHEN WORD WAS RECEIVED FROM THE HOSPITAL -THE
YOUNG LADY HAD DIED!
ON A RECENT NIGHT A SIMILAR SCENARIO OCCURRED A TWO CAR
HEAD -ON -CRASH. WITH A SET OF JAWS WORKING ON EACH VEHICLE AND TWO
HELICOPTERS CALLED TO THE SCENE SIX PERSONS WERE TREATED,ONE
AIRLIFTED TO A TRAUMA UNIT AND ALL SURVIVED.
THE OLD FIRE SCENE OF FIREFIGHTER POURING WATER INTO WINDOWS
IS REPLACED WITH FIREFIGHTERS IN INSULATED SUITS WEARING AIR PACKS
ENTERING THE SUPER HEATED INTERIOR TO FIGHT THE FIRE AT ITS
SOURCE,UNHEARD OF 25 YEARS AGO.
THESE PRACTICES AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ARE NOT CHEAP A
PRICE MUST BE PAID TO SAVE PROPERTY & LIVES AND DECISIONS MUST BE
MADE WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE. OFFICIALS CAN AND SHOULD SAVE TAX
DOLLARS WHERE POSSIBLE BUT MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO REDUCE OR
CURTAIL SERVICES THAT COULD COST LIVES OR PROPERTY. BUT ALSO THE
PROVIDERS OF THESE SERVICES ARE OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED
LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE FASTEST AND SAFEST WAY NOT ONLY FOR THE
VICTIMS BUT FOR THOSE RESPONDING TO HELP
THESE TWO PHILOSOPHIES OFTEN CONFLICT,AS THEY DO TODAY IN
THE TOWN OF ENFIELD. THIS IS NO TIME FOR HIDDEN AGENDAS AND
PERSONALITY CONFLICTS. THE TAX -PAYERS DESERVE BETTER!
APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS AGO A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED IN THE
TOWN AND THE FIRE CO PROPOSED THE TOWN ESTABLISH A "FIRE DISTRICT'
WHICH WOULD SHIFT THE
DECISION MAKING TO A BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS ELECTED BY THE
TAX-PAYERS,THUS ELIMINATING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO BOARDS,
THE TOWN BOARD AT THAT TIME TURNED DOWN THE PROPOSAL PERHAPS
NOW IT IS AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME!
LARRY SAULSGIVER
ENFIELD