As the first to reach a young man in a particularly brutal single-vehicle collision on Highway 500 (mile marker 1.8) on the afternoon of May 24, I had dripping, shaking hands as I tried to keep pressure on the driver’s open chest. This is when I saw the most glorious sight: A Vancouver Fire Department truck rumbling to a stop at the scene in an unbelievable four-to five-minute response time. Of course they were the first responders — this is often the case. They jumped into action, mercifully relieving me of my duties and, if the young man survived, it was because of them.
And yet, in some elections, the firefighting pride of our community is forced to ask for fractions of a penny to keep their paramedic contingency on scene for life’s most critical moments. It could happen to anybody. I am not affiliated with the fire department in any way, but I do know that it is vital that we keep this anchor of our community healthy so that they can do the same for us.
