
What was it?

What was it?
Smaller emergencies, yes. Nothing apocalyptic.
We had a fire and an evacuation in an office building I worked at, and I was on the emergency team, so that was kind of a big deal. The fire started in another company's space and didn't cause much damage to us, but we had a big server farm in the basement that was a concern beyond getting people out of the building - which we did quite quickly. For us, it was mostly a nuisance in the long run. It could have been much worse.
I've encountered 2 vehicle fires, and one got a little exciting. A lady driving a big early 80s car was hit by a truck that ran a light, and it bent her hood and must have broken a fuel line (probably didn't take much with 30+ year old rubber lines), so after about 10-15 seconds of smoke coming from under the hood, some flames appeared. The problem is that the lady was stuck. The driver's door wouldn't open because the accident jammed it shut. She'd been pushed towards the center of her bench seat, and was sitting on her seat belt buckle so she couldn't unlatch it, and neither could I when I tried to get her out of the passenger side. Luckily I always have a knife on me, so I cut the seat belt and pulled her out. She was really upset that I cut her seatbelt, not understanding that a car can be an inferno inside 30 seconds.
Luckily, guys from 2 directions - one from a motel and one from a big-rig - showed up with full-sized fire extinguishers and sprayed down the engine compartment and got the fire out. Police and fire were there 2 or 3 minutes later - fire department being half a mile from the crash site - and that was the end of that drama. That also could have been worse.
The other car fire, the car was a total loss, but there was no crash - presumably a broken fuel line on the freeway - and they pulled over and everyone got out immediately.

I've pulled at least 4 cars out of ditches and one out of mud when I had my pickup, and broke 2 straps in the process. Only minor drama there.
What year was your truck? 95-99?

No, it was a 1990. They changed to the Toyota symbol badge in 1992 - this still has the word spelled out. But it was the same truck until the Tacoma was released in 1995, which was a completely new design. Prior to '95, you either had a "Toyota Pickup" (i. e., 2 wheel drive) or a "Toyota 4x4" - there was no official name in the US, though it was called the Hi-Lux internationally.
The old 80s and early 90s Toyotas are highly sought after by off-roaders, because they have full box frames rated for 1+ tons of payload capacity - the same trucks were made as small box trucks. Tacomas, while tough, have C-channel frames and aren't nearly as strong in extreme circumstances.
I had a poster of your truck on my wall (in dark grey) lol I miss the Toyota written out like that.
Handling, as in: being in charge - only once.
I organized the ''rescue'' of a yacht crew who had severe damage on their own boat when no one else was near enough.
The other relevant emergencies were just first aid contributions in traffic accidents; there were others around as well.
Irrelevant emergencies: I often got more beers in during parties.
Hope their insurance was up to date. Sounds like you are a good man to have around.
It's about comradeship among sailors (and among beer drinkers as well :D ) And thanks.
That boat lost the rudder and was unable to maneuver with winds towards the coastline. Towing wasn't possible. So we anchored the boat and later it was picked up by a local fisherman.
Oh good. 👍🏻
Thanks, Dusty :)
You’re welcome.
When I used to live in the Philippines, I often volunteered to participate in relief efforts in calamity-struck zones. During one of those missions, a face section of a hill broke loose and slid onto our triage tents and buried us underneath. My husband (then boyfriend) encased me with his body and helped me out of the mud that engulfed the relief center. Soon after, we rushed to pull more people and rescued animals out as many as we could. Drenched in mud in the pouring rain, I repeatedly called out for help on my handheld VHF radio while running several kilometers to the nearest village to get help where I rounded up a fleet of vehicles and volunteers to serve as emergency transporters. Meanwhile, I asked some villagers to help me set up a elementary school basketball court to be the makeshift emergency center and shelter.
Thank you @dustybiker for the MHGirl pick. :)
You’re welcome.
Thankfully not yet. At the restaurant I currently work at we had a customer have a seizure. I called 911 but so was everyone else in the building lol.
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A team of "professionals" was breaking up and hauling concrete on our property. One (seemingly inexperienced) guy tried breaking a chunk of concrete about the size of a big bushel basket by hitting it with a hunk of re-bar. Of course, the concrete stopped the rod cold, the sudden stop reverberated up the rod, into the guy's hand, bucked backward, and broke his arm. The guy was getting faint, so I put a cloth tarp around him and had him sit down in the lawn. I ran to get parts for a makeshift splint: 2" gauze and tape from the bathroom, and a box of chopsticks from our pantry. I had "McGyvered" a splint just as his boss pulled up in the company pick-up truck to check his progress. I explained what happened and the boss drove him to the local hospital about 2 miles away. I didn't hear back from the contractor or the hospital, so, I guess I passed.
Sidenote: I've taught First Aid, Phlebotomy, Medical Terminology, Anatomy, Massage Therapy and Kinesiology courses at the college level, but this was the first time I really had to put any of that into action.
Excellent work!
Don’t hit anything with a metal bar, noted. 😱
He would have done better by throwing the bar at it and running for cover! I have really had just about enough of (supposed) "professionals". Give me a good amateur any day of the week. I am currently redoing what a "pro" did to our bathroom tile: totally ignored my schematic drawings, ID markings on the tiles, etc.
Best of luck with that. We had to hire four electricians to finally fix a simple problem ourselves with tips from Lowes. lol
Too many to count. One time I was standing in line at the unemployment office when somebody comes over the PA ans saus there was a Ford Bronco in the parking lot that was on fire. I realize that I was parked next to it so I run outside and see that I am parked next to it and it it's fully involved. The tires were on fire and flames were coming out from under the hood. I have to unlock the door and I could feel the heat on my back. I hoped that the gas tank would not explode. I got in and backed out just as the fire dept showed up.
Did it damage your vehicle?
Did they ever say what started it?
Ah. That will do it.
I saved my little brother from almost drowning once and fought my heroine withdrawing roid raging step brother when he snapped on my mom and started throwing shit at her while screaming. Another time my step father and I got pulled out by strong currents in the ocean and he pulled something trying to swim back. I had to go back to shore to get the lifeguards so they could get a boat to get him out. I was too young at the time to pull him behind me. There was another time where my little brother slipped on a plastic playmat and split his head open on a cabinet. Ahhhhhh, memories lmao
That time in the ocean was pretty rough though. Even though I was young and full of energy, my limbs were noodles by the time I got back. I could barely walk once the adrenaline wore off. The rip currents were crazy. There were moments where I was swimming so hard that it hurt and was barely moving at all
Not trying to be a wise-arse now - but this extra detail may save a life:
Rip currents normally go perpendicular to the beach, and are quite 'local'. So: if you swim across it (or in a diagonal line) then you get into less current where swimming will be easier.
A roommate unconscious from falling down basement stairs in a small town where there was no 911 service and trying to find the number to call an ambulance.
They were lucky you were there!
Meant to be. Very lucky.
Yeah... really depends on the situation no emergency is the same. If you're asking someone whose worked in a office their whole lives or a factory they may have only dealt directly with a few emergencies in their lives and what many people consider to be a emergency really aren't.
If you're a law enforcement officer, firefighter/ fire personnel, or EMS or if you're a doctor or a nurse then you have dealt with more emergencies then you can even remember all depends
Fought fires and some flooding on ships when I was in the Navy
Thank you for your service. 😎 That must have been a bit scary. Were you at sea at the time?
Thank goodness!
Very true.
Car accidents, runaway horse, “the guy that’s not breathing”
That is a lot. What was the story with the runaway horse?
Oh… yikes!
Good man. That could have been far worse.
She wasn’t alone though. She’ll always remember you helping.
A few times. But most recent is an elderly lady that needed medical assistance who I ran into outside my local shop.
Good man! I hope she was okay after.
Thank you! Yeah she was fine afterwards, and later I got a letter from her saying how thankful she was. ☺️
I was wondering if you have one you would like to share? :-) Would love to hear any!
The letter was so thoughtful. What a sweet woman!
I have been through a few. Vehicle accidents stand out the most. One was pretty dramatic as the driver was drunk and it took several people to block him in and run after him when he fled. I stayed with the victims. Turned out to be the police chiefs daughter (injured knees) and her husband (complained of neck pain). Don’t think the drunk had a good time with that outcome.
She was really sweet! Hope she's been fine since.
Oh wow! Yeah bet if he wasn't regretting what he did before that he certainly did when he got his sentence! Hope everyone got out of them okay without serious lasting injuries. And thank you for all that you've done.
I have the same thought to everyone, and you too!
I have had so many in my lifetime like my wife going in labor, my daughter choking on a piece of meat, a fire in the dumpster that was in the driveway of my parents house. There are so many more but those are the ones that came to mind quickly.
I drived a bus full of passengers while the driver had a heart attack and I carried the bus hospital till other driver came to job
Great job, you!! I hope the driver survived?
Yes he did
Oh good.
Just pulling a drowning man out of the sea 🌊
😯 That is big.
Yeah the guy tipped out of a motorised dinghy which sailed away. He was unable to climb up or reach up to the deserted dock to get out of the sea. Luckily for him I saw what happened and the adrenaline kicked in so I was able to pull the wet fully clothed bid French guy out of the water to safety
Right place right time. Lucky man.
All the time, I'm a volunteer fire fighter in my community, unfortunately I can't mention specifics, there's things like HIPPA laws preventing me from doing so.
Fires, fatalities, machinery injuries, stroke, heart attacks...
Lots from being an Operations manager.
Yes, all the time, that is my job.
Thank you for your service, too.
I had wanted to be a paramedic, but couldn’t separate myself from others pain. It takes a special person to do anything like that regularly.
I have saved the world a good four times now.
But can you prove it?
No... that's why there won't be a 5th time. I'm done.
So you’ll just let us all die next time? What was all that effort for then?
I'm only venting...
I won't let everyone die. 😫
@sirderpsalot123 Knew it. 😎
I did almost get into a fight with this guy at a Dunkin the other day.
After listening to him yell at the employees who were short-staffed (it was only two of them working) for a good 10 minutes, this lady waiting in front of me told him to relax and he got in her face and started screaming at her. I thought he was going to hit her so I got in between them and pushed him. He then called me a pussy and left, lol.
I don't know if this counts as an emergency but that happened...
What an ass. Good for you! You are that womans hero. Totally counts.
Poor woman was terrified. I felt bad..
But I did leave with a free frozen coffee 😎
@sirderpsalot123 Yes! *breakfast club sky punch*
Yes, neighbour having a heart attack.
No never a day in my life.
Stopped a school shooter once
Hope you didn’t get hurt?
Nah not really lol
Ah good.
Yea fires
Did you get hurt?
Nope I put them out 😈
Whoop!
Who hasn't
I know a few who would pass.
I agree.
Yes.
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