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And then you realize how much you've learned.
On the way to work today, I was slowed up by a traffic accident - briefly. An ambulance came out from the driveway to the funeral parlor (right at 99W and 217, almost - a gas-station width away from it), lights on, crossed 99W, and went down the ramp. At the bottom of the ramp were two cars with warning flashers on, and a station wagon that had gone pretty fair sideways onto the grassy divider, right down by the metering lights (which weren't on; they shut off at 8, and I was running late). I hope no one was badly hurt - it wasn't clear whether either of the other cars were involved in the accident or not.
Once the paramedics were out, I eased past the ambulance (one of the two stopped cars had stopped opposite the station wagon, and with it and the ambulance, there was enough room for that and then a little, but it definitely narrowed what's normally a two-car-wide without-shoulder spot).
What interests me more than anything is my reactions and thoughts throughout this relatively briefly sequence. I didn't know there was a post by the funeral home (why would I? I don't know where any of them in my city are!), but it makes sense - they have a good driveway for that, they're on a highway and very, very close to the entrance ramps to a freeway. Perfect access; perfect post.
Wonder if it was ALS or BLS. I hope only BLS was needed, but it would make some sense to station an ALS unit at that point.
At which point I paused, and realized I was using knowledge from my job. I wouldn't've used the word "post" to describe that location, I would have just said I didn't know there was an ambulance there four years ago. I wouldn't've known, as I do today, how much ambulances move around compared to fire trucks - and how little compared to police. Ambulances are, generally, posted somewhere - but that somewhere is a lot more flexible than a fire engine's station, and they shuffle them around for maximum coverage. ALS, BLS? Advanced life support, basic life support. Easy enough acronyms, and yet before I came to work here, I didn't even know there were different types of ambulances. Though it makes such sense I find it hard to believe I didn't, in one way; many calls don't need all the (expensive!) gear.
Either way, I hope the injuries were minor - or nonexistent. Whoever called it in, either called it in as injuries or unknown injuries; if it were a traffic accident without injuries, only the police would have gone. I wonder if the fire engine showed up a bit after I left? He had a mile more to go (if he came from the closest station - I do know where that is, because our apartment is between it and the freeway access!) than the ambulance. They might not've sent him, since the ambulance was so close.
Morning babbling. Hey, my job is educational. Like most jobs, I guess.
Once the paramedics were out, I eased past the ambulance (one of the two stopped cars had stopped opposite the station wagon, and with it and the ambulance, there was enough room for that and then a little, but it definitely narrowed what's normally a two-car-wide without-shoulder spot).
What interests me more than anything is my reactions and thoughts throughout this relatively briefly sequence. I didn't know there was a post by the funeral home (why would I? I don't know where any of them in my city are!), but it makes sense - they have a good driveway for that, they're on a highway and very, very close to the entrance ramps to a freeway. Perfect access; perfect post.
Wonder if it was ALS or BLS. I hope only BLS was needed, but it would make some sense to station an ALS unit at that point.
At which point I paused, and realized I was using knowledge from my job. I wouldn't've used the word "post" to describe that location, I would have just said I didn't know there was an ambulance there four years ago. I wouldn't've known, as I do today, how much ambulances move around compared to fire trucks - and how little compared to police. Ambulances are, generally, posted somewhere - but that somewhere is a lot more flexible than a fire engine's station, and they shuffle them around for maximum coverage. ALS, BLS? Advanced life support, basic life support. Easy enough acronyms, and yet before I came to work here, I didn't even know there were different types of ambulances. Though it makes such sense I find it hard to believe I didn't, in one way; many calls don't need all the (expensive!) gear.
Either way, I hope the injuries were minor - or nonexistent. Whoever called it in, either called it in as injuries or unknown injuries; if it were a traffic accident without injuries, only the police would have gone. I wonder if the fire engine showed up a bit after I left? He had a mile more to go (if he came from the closest station - I do know where that is, because our apartment is between it and the freeway access!) than the ambulance. They might not've sent him, since the ambulance was so close.
Morning babbling. Hey, my job is educational. Like most jobs, I guess.
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And it is interesting to realize what one learns from a job. Scott and I have both gathered bits and pieces over the years. He knows a lot about making plastic bottles, and I know a lot about technical services at a large research library. We keep hitting topics that one of us thinks are basic taht the other views as esoteric.