The Deity, in his infinite wisdom, prefers we take the fight outside his blog, which is probably the best thing. He runs a classy blog and isn’t much for haters… So, all you haters are welcome here if you curb your profanity.
For those of you who aren’t aware, it all started when The Diety posted the following and I made a comment several people got upset over.
Ambulance helicopter crashed at Wise Regional hospital in Decatur. No life threatening injuries.
Then, I left the following comment:
Denney Crane said...
So much for the new paint job and uniforms. Sounds like there were a few other changes as well... ambulance jockeys!
3:46 PM
First, I have prayed for those who were injured in the accident. If you haven’t, please do so.
Second, I apologize to all EMT/paramedics who are not ambulance jockeys, you know who you are...
Next, my first thought was that it may have been better if the new company had spent money on the power plant of the aircraft than on new uniforms and a new paint job on the aircraft, which is probably accurate. I just said it in a way to provoke thought and controversy. I succeeded on the second part.
I think the riff came when I used the term “ambulance jockey”, which is not a nice way to describe EMTs and paramedics. For those unfamiliar with the insulting term, this guy explains it as well as anyone.
After reading The Deity's post, my thoughts created questions when I remembered the following news story:
December 23, 2009 ~ While her injuries were not life-threatening, … was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth by helicopter. WCM
-
Who made the life saving call on this one?
- What would have happened if there was a real emergency while the crew was out on this (unnecessary) call?
- Could it have cost a life?
- What would have happened if there was a real emergency while the crew was out on this (unnecessary) call?
Due to recent news reports, I have several questions and so should you. Are these people above reproach? How can anyone acknowledge this new company as sinless saints without knowing the rest of the story? There is only one way to pay for that machine and its crew, and as users of the service, I don't think I'm out of line for having a few questions.
But go ahead and label me “stupid ignorant bastard, pathetic, miserable, a waste of oxygen, smartass, you suck, you trash talk them, cranial rectalitis, sad pitiful little man in so many ways, a ignorant fool, you are a fool, We will dance on your grave". Even a friend described my comments by saying the following: ‘normally "solid citizens", fairly ridiculous and dark hearted comments, nasty attitude’, and then compares me to Terry Ross.
Please forgive the comparison Commissioner, you didn't do anything wrong but ask questions in a public forum. It might as well have been the Pope.
I erroneously made a statement about carburetor ice, that is not a factor on a turbine engine, which I didn’t know the aircraft possessed. Moreover, the point was that operator error is 90% of aircraft accidents and weather is very much a factor. I also said "new crew" which was also wrong. I can always be wrong; which, by the way, I'm not afraid to admit.
I was taken to a Metroplex hospital by air ambulance one time. The emts/paramedics didn’t want to drive me there so they called for the aircraft. It helped to know I had good insurance. My life was not saved by the aircraft ride, no other ambulances were on out-of-county calls; I was in no position to argue with someone who had control over my pain medication.
I have the highest respect and admiration for those men and women who choose to save lives as a career. The pay sucks, the hours are terrible, the conditions are less than optimum and almost the lowest rung of the health profession ladder. There can only be a few reasons anyone would choose doing it:
1. saving lives/making a difference
2. more training for a higher position
3. pride/ego/uniform
4. drama
5. money (or lack thereof)
Yes, after this accident and the recent news of its use, I question the practices and motives of the air ambulance in Decatur. Profit is one of them. If you don’t, we live in a different America… (non-profit organizations included). I am not against profit, but safety comes first...
Aircraft flight regulations are written in blood, which is one reason they're still being written. If we mix profit with blood, the mixture tends to increase and decrease at a similar rate.
but, as always, I could be wrong...
Denney Crane
It's 2009 Now-Whatever Happened to the FBI Investigation into Air-Evac Helicopters? Somerville County Salon
EDIT 9:05 PM: Straight from the NTSB website
3 comments:
Denny, go back and read the last few comments on Barry's blog.
Nice job Denney. That initiated alot of BS. I have never witnessed as many self important asses as I have on BG's blog. A lot of them are experts, without any experience. As my prior conversation with mzchief mentioned, I have 28 years of experience as a firefighter/paramedic. Personally, I dont care for the term ambulance driver or jockey, but I understand everybody gets labeled something, sometimes in humor, sometimes in anger. Your remarks do not bother me. What bothers me is the remarks to my profession, you know,that we are not risking anything, just collecting a paycheck. I admit that I love the job because of the adrenaline rush, and I would rather be in the middle of the action, than watching. But when the comments come about that we don't endanger ourselves, I wish people could be there next to us. I wish they were there when you pull up in the hood on a shooting where a man has just shot his wife and 8 year old daughter, and still has the rife in his hand. Or the stabbings out in the county, without police protection. Or the crazed junkie on PCP that you have to wrestle to the ground. Or preforming CPR, while trying to deal with the family watching. Or extricating someone from a motor vehicle accident, with traffic whizzing by at 50 miles per hour. Or going down in a hole 30 feet below the ground to rescue a 3 year old. Or climbing thru a window, facing dogs that are hell bent on protecting their owners who dialed 911 and can't come to the door. Or picking up amputated body parts, to take to the hospital in hopes of reattachment. Or go with us to the next hurricane, going door to door looking for dead bodies while coming across snakes and gators. Obviously I could go on, but I won't. Should we talk about what firefighters do? I dont expect thanks, because that is what we do to earn a paycheck, but a little respect would be appreciated. And Denney, sometimes you get air lifted because we prefer to air on the safe side. Also, alot of people are law suit happy. Good Day.
Excellent post Mr. Crane. It amazes me the number of people who are sooo bloody busy self-aggrandizing what it is they have ELECTED to do to draw a paycheck that they believe their job is somehow sacrosanct and it is a mortal sin for someone to point out the fact they are just doing a job. None of the people in health care are "good Samaritans" they are people doing a job for which they are being paid.
BTW...It was nice to see someone else drawing fire from the feces flinging chimps on Barry's Blog.
Keep up the good work.
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