The First Code

On April 1, 2007, my life changed forever: I accomplished the unimaginable. As an official member of my local first aid and rescue squad, I confronted my first life or death situation. This event was, certainly, difficult to endure emotionally at the relatively young age of sixteen.

I was hanging out at the first aid squad, enjoying the company of my fellow members, when the 9-1-1 call came in. As the alarm sounded, the voice of the dispatcher came through over the radio announcing, "EMS to squad number two. Please respond immediately to 16 Crescent Lane; a 76 year old male is unresponsive but currently breathing at this time." As fear overtook me, my adrenaline began to pump and the sweat poured from my body. It was my turn to react and possibly save a life. Was I up to the challenge?

The lights flashed and the sirens screamed through the neighborhood as the ambulance responded to the cry for help. When we arrived at the location, the dispatcher came over the radio again and stated, "EMS to ambulance number two: be advised that the patient is no longer breathing at this time." Upon hearing this information, I froze in terror with the knowledge that I would soon be required to perform CPR in order to potentially resuscitate a stranger. This was my "First Code."

After grabbing the automatic defibrillator, the first aid kit, and the suction unit, I ran into the house and discovered that the patient on the couch was not breathing. My ambulance crew and I flipped the coffee table over and placed the man on the floor, finding negatives for pulse and breathing functions. After administering CPR, we rushed the victim to the local hospital, hoping that he would ultimately survive.

Later that evening, after several other calls, I discovered that our patient did not survive the heart attack. I was filled with questions and mixed emotions. Who was this man? How did his family take the news? Would I