When things go right.

In all of my limited years of being an EMT, trauma codes seem to be my forte. Well not really my forte, but the card I get dealt most. The fact that we have more bars per capita and long open roads with unsuspected stop signs help rotate the trauma card through the deck often. This night was no exception.



We were dispatched to a single vehicle MVA. Unknown occupants, unknown status. For my area this could mean that it is a simple call with a few releases and a quick return to the station or it is a long drawn out extrication that gets ended with either Flight or a coroner; the coroner being the usual.

Upon arrival at the scene, we all stopped. The jeep was completely upside down in the steep ditch. There were many officers surveying the surrounding area, unsure if there were more than just the single occupant that ended up lying in the fetal position just outside his door. The crew that arrived first was bagging him and strapping him to the spine board. Flight was called and all five of us crammed ourselves into the back of the ambulance. Supplies scattered through the air, being tossed back and forth as there was no way we could maneuver inside the cramped space. Amy settled into the airway seat and started scribbling times, medications and whatever else we happened to shout out. I reached down and all I felt was the cold, sweaty skin. There was no smooth rhythm from his heart to direct the symphony of our movements above him. Instead the cracking of his ribs beat out a new song; a desperate and coordinated attempt to save his life.

The tube went in, like a bow across the strings; smooth and deliberate. We amped up the tempo when the epi and atropine went in. Finally he decided to join the chorus. His heart started out slow and timid, unsure of the tune we were dancing to. Little by little, it gained steam, becoming more sure of it's place in the ballad.

Before we knew it, the song ended. His heart couldn't keep up and the drum of his chest resumed. All the while, we passed around instruments and encouragement like notes passing on the score. It was coordinated and jagged all at the same time. It sent our nerve endings into a flood of pain and pleasure.

Before we knew it, he joined in again. His heart a little stronger this time, but it still left us wanting more. We were satisfied and terrified all at the same time.

Our story was relayed to the Flight crew, our work given in cliffs notes and off he went. We sat in awe as the helicopter took off, dancing into the sunrise. The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming. Smiles and handshakes coupled the pats that landed on our backs. We stopped and surveyed the scene. It was quite a view.

We wiped the sweat from our brows and headed back. There was more, less exciting work to be done.