First Responders

Recently I found myself in a life-threatening event where I was totally unprepared to respond adequately.  A man was driving down the road when he had what appeared to be a stroke.  He lost the ability to drive his vehicle safely and veered off the road into the trees.  I had the sense to immediately call 911 for assistance but I thank the Lord for sending others who knew what to do from there. 

The people on the phone asked all the right questions and put the right people in action while in the meantime a few other passersby also seeing the incident jumped into action.  The man’s truck had been stopped by the trees but was still in gear with wheels spinning.  All of the doors were locked and we were unable to get to the man to help him.  One individual who appeared to be a construction worker pulled a hammer from his truck to break a window but to no avail.  The windows were too solid. 

One of the people who pulled over to assist was a nurse and she could tell looking in at the man that he was in serious trouble possibly stricken by a heart attack or stroke.  Within only a couple of minutes a police officer drove up and he too immediately jumped into action.  He took the hammer from our first helper and knew exactly where to hit the vehicle window to break in to access our victim.  Although the man was trapped in the front seat they worked to free him and bring him out of the vehicle and onto the ground where they could begin to assess and assist him. 

Within a couple more minutes an ambulance pulled up.  Every time a new resource pulled up to help there was this incredible synchronization of people and skills taking place to help in the best way.  I stood mortified and in awe of those who were far better prepared to help this man in his plight to save his life.  All I could do was pray for our victim and also those who worked so hard to save this man. 

I still tremble to think of what we would do without these people who have invested themselves in training and experience for any and all types of threatening circumstances.  In talking with my own family members who are policemen, firemen, and nurses it is incredible to me to gain a deeper understanding of what I really don’t know about handling these types of situations. 

They have all moved to my prayer list as do those who are being carried away to medical centers when I hear the sirens of the ambulances.  But I have added to my prayer list those who criticize and condemn our first responders.  Woe to you. 

I think to myself how anxious I felt through this event of a man in serious trouble.  Then I think how anxious those first responders had to feel in taking on the responsibility to act to save his life.  There was an anxiety but there was also a confidence on what steps to take and what to do to help him. 

Then I think to myself what about the first responders who respond to help people being assaulted and then they the responder are being assaulted.  How much anxiety is present with them and what unreasonable expectations do we have of them?  Is there any doubt if we are put in those positions that we too would be filled with anxiety?  Is there any doubt that if we were put in those positions that we too could err or something horribly unexpected could occur? 

How easy it is to judge and assume the worst of even those who put their lives on the line.  How easy it is to believe the worst when someone with an agenda twists the truth or leaves out some important facts.  With the technology available to our world today even pictures and videos can be doctored to fit an agenda. 

It has long been known that the news world has chosen to sell the news.  We can also expect that they will provide their spin on things and promote their opinions.  I say woe to them.  I pray for those people who make the evil good and the good evil.  I pray for those who promote defunding our first responders who have been trained to react to life-threatening situations when us typical citizens have no idea what to do.  I especially pray for those first responders who are front line people to the danger and evil in this world.  I pray for God’s protection of them and those they engage with in those situations. 

I pray that we citizens respond to them with the respect and honor they deserve and that we support them.  Let you and I act in love to all and especially to our first responders who respond in love even when their lives are on the line.  Let us Shine Like the Son, and do what Jesus would do.