The tones go off, the fire station fills with light and the message comes over the PA system: “Attention Rescue 1 and Engine 13, respond to 1 Broad Street for an elderly female with difficulty breathing.”
Engine 13 is in quarters and is out the door in 25 seconds. Rescue 1 responds from the hospital, five miles away. The man who called 911 waited three minutes for the first company to arrive, then four more minutes for us. He glared at us as we approached, then folded his arms across his chest.
“More people? This is ridiculous!” he scowled.
“Excuse me?” I replied, not quite sure what he was getting at.
“Why don’t you bring the army next time? She just needs a ride to the hospital!”