#firefigher

Jade Konkel

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Lesbian

DOB: 9 December 1993

Ethnicity: White - Scottish

I close commissions for a while, because I need to prepare for exams and other stuff Those who took commissions from me before this day - do not worry, I will do it on time I also need some time to rest, so don't worry I'll let you know when they're open again (Also I need to update the information sheet)

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Middletown Firefighter Rescues Woman Trapped in Blaze

Good News Notes: “Without any proper gear or back-up, an off-duty township firefighter ran inside a burning house in North Middletown to rescue a senior resident trapped inside. A call came in to the fire department in the morning hours of Jan. 29 for a reported dryer fire, according to John Waltz, first assistant fire chief. As the first chief on the scene, he said he found smoke coming from the…

Im one for one in terms of one alive.....one dead.

I love my job. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to be on the side of reality where I was helping out someone one way or another. Come highschool, the idea of me being a physical therapist really, really set in. I’ve seen people struggle with their bodies after an accident or an explosion down range. I wanted to be the guy to tell them, “I will do whatever I can, to help you”. 

Later on after high school, I take a year of uni at Penn State striving for a degree in Kinesiology to pursue my interests in physical therapy. But half way through, I realize what a bureaucratic system that Universities use to steal money from their aspiring students and I didn’t want any part of that. So thats when it finally set it to join the Air Force. I was going to join one way or another I mean shit, I’ve been a military brat my entire life and that’s all I know, so what better way to deal with it than to join up?

I do not regret any decisions that I’ve mad up to this point. I love being a firefighter. Never in a million years have I seen myself driving a fire rig to a medical call or suspected on scene fire, smoke showing. The thrill is exhilarating and nerve racking but whenever I get on scene, I feel like like a lightning bolt has hit me and I am where I need to be. Granted, I’ve never had enough fires for holding the title “firefighter” to really set it but I’ve had more than enough medical calls for me to question why I belong on this planet

Like I already said, I always wanted to be on the side of reality where its me, looking eye to eye with another human being and say, “ I will do whatever I can, to help you”.... I can tell you from experience, no matter what you say, what you do, what you think... nothing is completely in control by your hands. 

She was a 60 year old patient who has had symptoms of stroke and heart attacks for a year and that day was the day that good ole death had to creep in and set the tone. It was me, my crew chief and driver during the afternoon of a gloomy saturday, as if Earths climate was already showing signs of another being walking among its edge was ready to go. We had been continuing with CPR for 30 mins before ambulance services showed up to take over. It was a long hour before they decided which hospital would have been best to take her too(which was only irritating me more). I helped load her into the back of the bus and off she went 30 mins away to the nearest level 4 hospital. A day later I find out that she lasted 5 hours after she got there before she went cold. The only solace I could find in the entire situation was that it was long enough for her husband to say his final goodbyes. The final words he could say to his beloved before she departed up above, to another life, another world, whatever it may be. 

I lost a patient that day and played it off like it was another day on the job. I took me months to realize that...... that was another human being, flesh, blood, brain, just like me, that was no longer conscious, was no longer looking at her home, kids, or sky. Everyday in one form or another, I see her face in front of me as if I just ran into the room, fully kitted out, medical bag in my hand....

Soon after I get another call to a dorm resident who had a girl stay in his room(For reasons we all know), he leaves for the store, comes back and finds the girl lying on the floor face up, very pale.... and still.

Once again, I roll on scene, hear the speal from the clueless cops and make my way in with my usual gear, jacket, pants, and O2 bag. I see what was described to me and immediately do my initial protocols of CABs(Ciriculation, Airway, Breathing) and my on scene incident commander comes in, feels for a pulse, and says(....Start CPR now, ‘Dispatch, we have an unresponsive 18 year old female, firefighters on scene proceeding with CPR’”. 

Long story short, we ended up bring her back to consciousness, breathing, and talking after a couple minutes of CPR.  

On the very busy corner of Queen’s Park Crescent and College Street stands a very quiet memorial to Ontario’s fallen firefighters.

Happening upon it gave me pause since I’d never known it existed until then.

It made me remember and reflect on the reverence that New Yorkers pay to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.  Fallen heroes are commemorated on the sides of firetrucks, in station houses and with street signs and statues.  Rudy Giuliani, former NYC mayor, once made me weep while listening to a news conference he held, only hours after a fatal fire.  He repeatedly referred to the firefighters that lost their lives as heroes who made the “ultimate sacrifice”, saving others while putting themselves in peril.  His veneration was palpable. 

In Toronto, we don’t demonstrate our appreciation quite as much, though it is as strongly felt.   As such, Ontario’s monument is deeply moving.

Based on a large red Maltese Cross, the international symbol for firefighting, the centrepiece is an over-scale bronze statue depicting the rescue of a child by a modern day firefighter. 

Surrounding, are granite walls engraved with the name, year, location and rank of every firefighter lost since 1848.  There is a grim story behind every tragedy and sadly, new names are added every year.

A Fire Fighter’s Prayer most often credits “Author Unknown”, but indeed there is a real person and a harrowing story behind the oft recited prayer.