Signal-C
07-16-2004, 07:52
Several months ago I responded to a call "Handle the wreck at ...... Vehicle struck a pole, vehicle on fire, occupant trapped inside, Fire and EMS in route."
Well, I made the scene first and sadly had to watch dude get cooked inside his car, Just too damned hot to get him out. There was nothing I could do but stand there and listen to him die. Luckily I did not watch him, because I occupied myself with keeping the gawkers back. It scrambled me a bit and I took couseling.
I don't wake up in a cold sweat and hear the blood curdling screams at night any longer. Nor do I get images of his charred remains in hy head every time I hear a call go out for a "vehicle into a pole".
The lingering aspect of this is I can no longer stand the smell of pot roast. That smell just brings back all those nasty memories and can, if I don't control it, trigger a panic attack.
I used to love pot-roast, I even have a special antique cast iron dutch oven for making it. My relatives know that if I 'm coming over for a holiday dinner it is turkey, pork, veal or fish, no roast beef.
When I mentioned it to him the first time he chuckled and said "ahh yes, Fireman's syndrome". The shrink say's it's perfectly normal and I _may_ get over it someday, and I should eat more BBQ to help me get over it (seriously). Start with hot dogs and burkers and work my way up to brisket and roasts. Sounds odd but if I means I get to buy a gas grill, I'm all for it!-)
He said "Why do you think every firehous in the City has a smoker and BBQ grill out back?" I thought it was just because Firefighters like to eat BBQ, I didn't know it was for therapy?????
Well, I made the scene first and sadly had to watch dude get cooked inside his car, Just too damned hot to get him out. There was nothing I could do but stand there and listen to him die. Luckily I did not watch him, because I occupied myself with keeping the gawkers back. It scrambled me a bit and I took couseling.
I don't wake up in a cold sweat and hear the blood curdling screams at night any longer. Nor do I get images of his charred remains in hy head every time I hear a call go out for a "vehicle into a pole".
The lingering aspect of this is I can no longer stand the smell of pot roast. That smell just brings back all those nasty memories and can, if I don't control it, trigger a panic attack.
I used to love pot-roast, I even have a special antique cast iron dutch oven for making it. My relatives know that if I 'm coming over for a holiday dinner it is turkey, pork, veal or fish, no roast beef.
When I mentioned it to him the first time he chuckled and said "ahh yes, Fireman's syndrome". The shrink say's it's perfectly normal and I _may_ get over it someday, and I should eat more BBQ to help me get over it (seriously). Start with hot dogs and burkers and work my way up to brisket and roasts. Sounds odd but if I means I get to buy a gas grill, I'm all for it!-)
He said "Why do you think every firehous in the City has a smoker and BBQ grill out back?" I thought it was just because Firefighters like to eat BBQ, I didn't know it was for therapy?????