By Andrew Hyde, MS, NREMT
Do you have a creative work about your experience as a first responder you鈥檇 like to share? Email us at editor@ems1.com.
鈥楾was the night before Christmas, when out in the bay
The truck check had truly been done on that day.
The monitor hung from the seatbelt with care
and gloves, meds and blankets were stocked and prepared.
That shift had gone by without even one call,
so per superstition, tonight we鈥檇 be mauled.
But uniformed medic, and I in my boots,
we settled down anyway, tried for a snooze.
When out from the speaker the tones made a clatter
I stumbled from bed for a 鈥淯ncoded鈥� matter.
Away to the unit I bumbled and crashed
鈥淩esponding鈥�, I aired and made cheery lights flash.
And lurching from bed with himself fully clothed,
my medic arrived half-asleep and said 鈥済o鈥�.
But all I could do was just sit there and stare:
a blue stocking cap had consumed all his hair.
Some stubble had prickled itself on his face,
and into the passenger seat he climbed dazed.
Another command came more forcibly now:
鈥淲ake up, release the break and go鈥�
That jarred me enough, into darkness we rode;
with me in my boots and my medic in tow.
鈥淣ow zofran, now dextrose, now narcan and shocks!
鈥淥n O2, on IVs, on four-points and chalks!鈥�
He shouted these things then he fell fast asleep.
In my consternation, I made not a peep.
On scene at location, a lonely road fork,
were folks on the blacktop, their plates read 鈥淣ew York鈥�.
Three figures were huddled on knees on the shoulder,
a fourth lay between them on ground getting colder.
鈥淗elp us! Please Help! I don鈥檛 think he鈥檚 breathing!鈥�
Were jumbled up words quite convicted and feeling.
I reached for the jump-kit and moved towards the group,
but floods from our unit fast stay鈥檇 me en route.
For out of the cab only then he appeared:
the EMS Santa in all of his gear.
With bristling scruff and reflective coat lit,
the stocking cap bellowed: 鈥渢he heck is this bit?!鈥�
鈥淥h Santa, we鈥檙e sorry, we drank too much cheer;
and then we ran over a tiny reindeer鈥�.
We stood there in silence, we had no rebuff
for the three Upstate drunks and their dead 5-point buck.
鈥淩ight. Back in the rig鈥�, said Dear Santa with bile,
鈥渁nd call for PD, they鈥檝e got charges to file鈥�.
鈥淏ut Christmas!鈥� said one man, the second agreed.
The woman unsteadily rose from her knees:
鈥淲hy won鈥檛 you help us?鈥� Her voice loud and slurred,
鈥淵ou鈥檙e dressed up as Santa but act like St. Jerk!鈥�
Dear Santa ignored her, we staged out of sight:
鈥淢erry Christmas,鈥� he muttered, 鈥渁nd go straight to jail.鈥�
About the author
Andrew Hyde worked for 12 years on transporting 911 and fire service units in Colorado and Pennsylvania. He is currently a part-time EMS mentor and instructor while attending medical school. His goal is to become an EMS medical director.
