I've been really lucky so far at this job

[HEyHEY]

Yet another fatal MVA in my area...there have been five MVA deaths since I began on Dec 17th. Luckily I for one reason or another have not been on scene for any.

Today it happened again. At 9:30 we got a call in about a MVA. It ws just barely out of our range. My boss flat out said. "Do you want to go or not it's up to you." I said no because I didn't want to drive a half hour to get a pic. But I told my bos "I don't especially feel like starting the day by seeing a dead body."

The freaky thing is I would have arrived before the police. Their dispatcher screwed up and sent them the wrong way, so I would have been on scene, with one dead victim and another injured on a snowy highway with no parameds yet. It chills me to think about it, I would have had no idea what to do.

We figured it wasn't going to be serious, but I just got the police report on the fax machine, now I'm thanking my lucky stars I didn't feel like getting out of the office.

But now I'm spooked, in two weeks I will drive said highway to attend my sister's wedding.

[Rowdyboy]

1. Jesus, man, that would be an unbelievable experience....

How would you react? I'm assuming you're not EMT certified and even if you were, without equipment, you'd be pretty much helpless. Could be a really shitty situation.

Anyway, glad you got the job and glad you seem to be okay with it. i would imagine your field is pretty tough to break into and the more practical experience you get, the better.

[bratcatinok]

2. After commuting 35 miles one way

in between downtown Dallas and Ft. Worth, I put together an emergency kit. There were too many times when I was either the first at the scene or saw the wreck happen. My kit isn't anything real elaborate because it's only to be used until help arrives.

Flares
Flashlight
2 space blankets (can't remember the right name for them right now)
package of adult diapers
couple of my old sheets

I've had to replace the flares a number of times because they come in handy whether it's night or day. Of course, every car should have a flashlight and they're also good at getting people's attention when it's dark outside. I used one of my space blankets once on someone who was laying injured on the freeway and it was just a thing I could do to offer comfort until help arrived.

I had the adult diapers in my car because my (then) husband had ulcerative colitis and sometimes he needed them. They're good for applying pressure to a bleeding wound since they're absorbent and they also have the plastic lining to keep blood off of you. I had to use one once for me when the freeway was shut down because a cop had shot someone who tried to run him down. There was absolutely nowhere for me to go pee and I'd already been sitting there for 2 1/2 hours so I pulled out one of the diapers and got some relief.

In the same wreck I used the space blanket, I also used one of my old sheets since it was obvious the person was dead. I noticed it helped to speed up traffic a little because people weren't stopping to gawk and the sheet was a universal symbol.

I've also taken CPR but have never had occasion to use it thankfully.

Eventually I suspect you'll have to be on scene to cover an MVA whether fatal or not. If you're like me the image will haunt you for several days and then will slowly fade.

As far as having to drive on that stretch of highway, practice your defensive driving and I'm sure you'll be okay.