Back in the middle 70’s to the middle 80’s I had decided to volunteer to be a EMT-M with the local Medic Unit that was in my area. I did this because I enjoyed helping other people in a time a need. However, it was not just going to the Medic Station & asking if I could join and start volunteering. There was a lot more to it. The picture above shows me in the center kneeling with fellow Medics.
First thing I had to do was sign up to take a 1st Aid Course to learn basic First Aid. The course lasted about a month. Learning the ABC’s of First Aid. Airway, Breathing, & Circulation were the basic’s of it. Then on to CPR where I learned how to treat a Heart Attack. After all this I had to take a test to show the Instructor that I knew how to do what I was taught. I did all that, and passed the course with a A+ Grade, I was then assigned a Crew to be on duty at certain times of the day or week. It was usually a 8 hr. shift or more. Depended on how much time you wanted to give. In between this I had a family to support and keep a job. It was not all that hard.
The very first call that I had to respond to was a bad one. Real bad. I will never, ever forget this one.
In the town of Leesport there was a bar not far from the Medic Station. The call came in as a “person down” at the Washington House just up the street from us. All of us climbed into the Ambulance and went up there. The Police were already there. When I got out of the Ambulance, the cop said to me “I hope you have a strong stomach. Your gonna need it!” Oh crap! What am I getting into? I found out real fast.
The Owner of the Bar we found laying behind the bar with his head blown off!! He had committed suicide with a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun! His head was gone! Parts of it were splattered all over the mirror behind the bar. Plus all the gore. He was dead, to say the least. Nothing we could do for him. It was a horrible thing to see. We also found the top of his skull by the doorway! Darn. That was bad. This was the very first suicide that I ever saw. Not good. All we could do is have the Coroner arrive, put the body in a plastic burial bag and take him to the Morgue. Our job was done.
What I saw for the first time, didn’t bother me much until after the Call was over. Then it did. You relive what you saw over and over. I found as I continued to volunteer there was going to be a lot more that I would see.
Thanks for stopping by.
Les
PHOTOJOURNAL OF CORKER2 
I can’t imagine! That sight would probably have turned me off of that volunteer gig forever.
In a sense it did, John. However, being in the US Navy over in Vietnam I’ve seen things that most others never will. They were not too good, either. There are a number of other stories that I’ve never told about while being a EMT-M. 1 or 2 of them are heart breaking.