June 16, 2014

Every Day Heroes in Our Midst

Sitting in on the race track rescue training session with noted race track rescue official Jay Masur at the Slayton Fire Department last weekend led me to reflect and contemplate the countless individuals who deem it their responsibility and duty to provide emergency assistance whenever it is needed.

These volunteers take their jobs seriously and should be considered every day heroes.

Fire department, police officers and ambulance crews know that when they are summoned, their assistance is needed and they do not hesitate to act.....immediately.  At any hour of the day or night they must be willing to jump to attention in what may well be a life or death situation.  

A comment once heard from a local fire fighter sums it all up:  When that pager sounds, someone is in trouble and that's all I think of.  Thoughts of personal safety are put on hold whenever duty calls.

While racing is an enjoyable sport for the spectator, it is equally dangerous for those involved, including pit crew members, track officials and drivers.  In the blink of an eye a lively competition can turn tragic with the flip of a car or shattering crash between two or more race cars.  

And first on the scene assessing the situation are the emergency crews who put their training and expertise to the task in order to assist those involved.

Never mind that there may be fire, or noxious fumes, or other hazards involved.  These things faze not the trained volunteers who every week put their lives on the line in an effort to ensure safe rescue measures at the race track or at a vehicle crash or house fire.  

They are prepared for and expect the worst.  And hope that it never happens.  

But sometimes it does and when that happens, it can take a toll on our emergency service providers.  They're only human after all, and if they weren't deeply caring individuals then they wouldn't be doing what they do.

I consider you all my heroes indeed.  And I thank you for volunteering your time and for sacrificing your personal lives in order to keep us all safe.  Take a minute sometime to thank one or two of them.  It's the very least that you can do after all.