Morning.
What brings you in so early this morning?
I had to work an extra shift yesterday.
Is that something to be mad about?
I'm just angry about what happened last night.
What was?
We were on a run, a cardiac, and some fool ran right through the intersection.
Didn't pay any attention to the siren and almost wiped us out.
Did he hit you?
It wasn't a he, it was a she.
And she piled herself right into a telephone pole.
We had to call for a rescue squad to go back and get her.
Is she okay?
Yeah, she's just scared.
I'm telling you, the way these civilians are getting in our way, we're gonna have to send
a squad with a squad while we're on our run.
Or something.
You know, one of these days, somebody's gonna...
Squad 51, person injured at the football field at the college.
1837, East Fountain.
Cross Street, Morro.
Title 857.
Watch it.
What's the problem?
Steve was working out with the rest of the squad and he just collapsed.
He seems to be in terrible pain.
Was he unconscious?
Well, he was until you guys just got here, but I've been trying to wake him up and he
just won't move.
Have I had a seizure before?
He's been playing for me for two years and he's never had a problem.
At least not like this.
Fireman, what's happening, man?
Steve, you passed out.
Watch it.
Well, I'm okay now.
No, no, no, you better just take it easy.
There's gotta be something wrong.
I'm all right, I tell you.
I'm all right.
Leave me alone.
I gotta play tomorrow.
You're not all right.
Hey, now, you got a problem.
Why don't we take you into the hospital and get it checked out?
No hospital!
Now, look.
Now, there's an ambulance here.
Now, we'll get you into Rampart General, find out what the problem is, and maybe we'll
relieve the pain.
Now, what do you say?
You're gonna have to have a little help, friend.
I'm not gonna let you go.
You say they really could get rid of this pain?
Well, there's no promises, but it won't go away without any medical attention.
But I gotta play tomorrow.
Best quarterback I've had in 20 years.
I guess that takes care of the season.
My pro career.
If I let you take me to the hospital, there'll be tests and x-rays and all sorts of nonsense.
I'll never make it out of there in time.
Oh, you're not gonna be able to play like this.
How are you?
Hold me in the wheelchair, I guess.
Engine 18, see the man in the first and the cabin regarding the hazardous situation.
Assistant 1, repeat the phone number.
The, uh, coach says he suffered a syncopal episode.
No idea whether the onset was before or after the fall.
Go and check his head for hematoma and then get the vitals.
All right.
Oh.
I'm gonna get a blood pressure here.
Okay, you can lay him down now and I'll take it over here.
Rampart, rescue 51.
This is Rampart, 51.
Respiration's, uh, 18 and shallow.
Rampart, we have a male, 21, who's unconscious.
He has apparent back injury.
His blood pressure's 145 over 80.
Respiration's 18 and shallow.
He's complaining of pain in his lower back area.
Uh, no apparent head injury, though.
51 is the patient conscious now.
Affirmative. Conscious and in pain.
Transport as soon as possible.
10-4, Rampart.
All right. I'll ride in with you.
All right, you guys, let's get back to practice, huh?
All the time one has been notified.
Hi. Hi, Doc.
What's the problem?
My back. It's killing me.
Do you have a history of back problem?
Me? You gotta be kidding, Doc.
Until this morning, I never had any problem with anything.
Is there any soreness or warning before it hit?
Nothing at all. Hit me like a bolt of lightning.
What were you doing when it happened?
The same thing I do every day, working out with the team.
Now, why all these crazy questions, Doc?
I gotta play tomorrow.
Can't you just give me something to get rid of this pain?
Carol, take his shoes off, please.
Did you do anything unusual during your workout this morning?
Unusual for you, that is.
No, no, no! Do you have to?
We have to take them off so we can check neurological responses.
Carol, 50 milligrams of Meparigin.
Yes, Doctor.
I'll be the ease of the pain.
He faints easily.
I'll be the ease of the pain.
How are you doing, fellas?
How are you?
What's the prognosis on that star quarterback?
There's every indication that it's a muscle spasm.
Could be a disc.
How do you treat it?
The first thing we do is make sure there's no trauma or neurological injury.
We administered a muscle relaxant for a start.
Not to change the subject or anything, but we heard that the paramedics of it won 10s
had a case involving Dr. Parsons.
He used to be our instructor. He's a very nice man.
Yeah, they did.
How are you guys fixed for time right now?
We're not doing anything.
I got the tape in my office if you want to hear it.
Let's go.
Dr. Parsons was having dinner at the Byzantine and choked on a piece of meat.
Nobody in the place knew what to do, so the man who owns the place
started looking through the yellow pages to find a doctor.
One 10s will get a late call?
Yeah, a real late.
Dr. Parsons was clinically dead when the paramedics got there,
but they stuck with it.
That's why I want you to hear the tape.
I think you can learn something from the way they handled it.
How's he doing now?
Well, his EKG showed substantial heart damage,
apparently due to the lack of oxygen during the period of cardiac arrest.
He's presently stable, but comatose.
We're going to run an EEG on him tomorrow.
There's a chance the heart damage may trigger a cardiac arrhythmia
within the next 24 hours.
Rampart, rescue 110.
Rescue 110, this is Rampart.
Rampart, we have a male, approximately 45.
Pulseless, non-breathing, cyanotic.
We are administering CPR and preparing to defibrillate.
Stand by, Rampart.
Those guys at 110 deserve a lot of credit on that one.
Yeah, they do.
We better hustle.
We'll have to be in Tonopah Canyon at 11 for that CPR demonstration.
Oh, that's right.
Hey, you want me to drive?
No, thanks. I can handle it.
Tonopah Canyon, huh?
Yeah.
Paramedic office got a request from the Tonopah Ladies Club for a CPR demonstration.
Training squad over at Harbor is going to cover our area while we're gone.
Ladies Club.
You mean there's going to be wall-to-wall grandmothers?
Well, you know, maybe this group will be younger than the last one.
Anyway, you got no right to complain.
Grandma just paid taxes, too.
Yeah, you're right.
You're not going to do that thing with the guy in the spinal fluid, are you, doctor?
A myelodrome?
No, we only do that when there's evidence of nerve damage.
Well, does that mean he's going to be here for a while?
I'm afraid so. We've administered a muscle relaxant.
We'll have to keep him under close observation for at least 24 hours.
24 hours?
That means he won't be able to play tomorrow.
Listen, doctor, isn't there anything we can do?
I mean, this game means a lot to Steve.
It's his chance at a pro draft.
Hmm.
That anxiety may have had something to do with the occurrence of an involuntary muscle contraction,
if that's what we're dealing with.
Maybe in any case, I couldn't release him for at least 24 hours, possibly longer.
Well, will you tell him then, doctor?
I'll tell him. Why don't you go on home now? He's being well taken care of.
Oh, by the way, doctor, when can I visit him?
Why don't you come back tomorrow morning?
Okay, thank you.
I just wanted to tell you boys how much we enjoyed the demonstration.
It's just wonderful what you're doing.
Thank you, ma'am. We appreciate that.
We, all of us, feel so safe knowing we have firemen like you.
Oh, well, thank you. Thank you very much.
Bye. Bye-bye.
Boy, you cute little devil, you.
You ever thought about going into politics?
The only thing I'm thinking about is my empty stomach. Come on, let's go.
Patrol 69, LA.
Patrol 69, go ahead.
Patrol 69, respond with engine 69.
Unknown type rescue at the Powderhorn Ranch.
Powderhorn Ranch.
Informant will meet you at the lower gate. Timeout 1327.
Patrol 69 responding.
Be advised that I'm on Buzzard Peak Road. ETA will be about 15 minutes.
Patrol 69, this is Squad 51.
We're in Tonopah Canyon, just leaving the community building.
We're available to respond to your rescue call.
10-4, Squad 51. The Powderhorn Ranch is on a hump, Mr. Road.
About a mile down canyon from your location.
LA, Squad 51 responding to the Powderhorn Ranch with station 69, over.
10-4, Squad 51.
Is that your boy?
No, I don't know who he is or how long he's been in there.
I went into town about three hours ago to go shopping, and I don't believe he was there then.
Look, there's some baby owls in the tree, and my kids have been talking about them at school.
I think that's what attracted him, whoever he is.
Son, can you hear me?
There's no response.
He's wedged in here tighter than a drum.
We won't be able to pull him out.
I figure we're gonna have to cut the tree up in order to get him out of here.
Can you get a hold of 69, see what their ETA is?
All right.
Station 69, truck 69, what's your ETA?
Over.
ETA's a couple of minutes.
Do you want me up there?
No, just get a hold of Rampart.
The skin's wet and clammy.
Shock?
I don't know, it's hard to tell.
I think so.
I can't tell yet whether there's any body trauma or blood loss in the upper portion.
Rampart, this is rescue 51.
Pulse rate's 95 and 30.
Systolic and diastolic are both low.
90 over 60.
Rampart, this is rescue 51.
51, this is Rampart, go ahead.
Rampart, we have an unusual problem involving a male child about 8 to 12 years old.
He's trapped in a tree in an inverted position.
The BP is 90 over 60, rate 120.
Skin wet and clammy.
51, can you give us more specific information?
Is there any blood loss or trauma?
Rampart, the child is climbed into a hole in the crotch of a large tree.
All that's visible are his legs.
We're unable to check his upper body.
How soon will you have him out, 51?
Well, Rampart, that may pose as a problem.
It may be as much as an hour.
51, do you have access to the patient's legs?
Affirmative, Rampart.
51, try to establish an IV, Ringer's lactate.
Continue to monitor the vitals and report all changes.
Rampart negative on the IV.
We don't have parental consent.
Rampart, the police department has just arrived.
See if he can't help us find the parents.
Stand by.
10-4-51.
What do you think, Joe?
Well, the vitals would indicate shock from any cause.
The IV is your best bet if they can get parental consent.
Yeah, but if the condition worsens, we'll have to go with the IV even without consent.
We have a little boy hurt.
We need to start an IV.
But we don't have parental consent.
We can't find the parents.
Can you help us find her?
Yeah.
If you talk this lady here, I think she'll be able to help us.
I want to get back with my partner.
Ma'am, may I speak to you for a moment?
Yes.
Where do your children go to school, ma'am?
Tonopah School.
It's the only one in the canyon.
Well, what I want you to do is go to the school with me,
and we'll check and see if they're missing a 10-year-old boy.
If they are, I want you to guide me to his home.
You know most everyone up here, don't you?
Oh, yes.
I've lived here in the canyon all my life.
What the firemen need, ma'am, is the parents' permission before they can start treatment.
Will he be all right?
Well, I understand he's in shock, but they want to give him treatment right away,
and they can't do it without a parent's permission.
Do you know the way to the school?
Yes, I do.
Would you get in the squad car and go with me now?
And six and 36 return quarters.
Cappy's wedged in here real tight.
I figure we're going to have to cut this tree up to get him out.
That tree's been dead a long time.
Pretty rotten.
If we cut off too much from one side or the other, the heaviest fork's liable to give way.
Yeah, we're liable to crush him right in the middle of the trunk.
Get the ladder.
Let's get the saws up the squad.
How's he doing?
He's not doing too good.
The legs were moving before, now they're not moving at all.
No worries, Maze. He's wedged in here so tight, I don't know if he's getting enough air.
I can't be sure how big this cavity is or whether or not it's airtight.
What do you think about drilling some holes into the trunk so we can get into the cavity, you know, to ventilate it?
Yeah, but the problem is that this tree's so rotten,
we start drilling holes in this trunk, we're liable to cave the whole thing in on him.
Johnny, what about one hole?
And then we can put the oxygen through that.
Yeah, that sounds pretty good.
Hey, you better get on the phone to Rampart.
His BP's gone down to 80 over 50.
Rampart, this is rescue 51. Rate has increased to 128.
There seems to be less voluntary movement in the legs.
10-4-51, do you have parental consent yet?
Negative, Rampart. We still haven't identified the patient yet.
Police officer's working on it for us, though.
10-4-51, keep us advised.
Code blue, intensive care unit. Repeat, this is a code blue.
Dr. Parsons.
V-5 count.
Patterns, Carol. How much sodium bicarb do you have?
Two amps.
400 watts seconds.
400, doctor.
Clear.
No conversion, recharge.
400.
Clear.
Again.
400.
Clear.
How long ago did he arrest?
Three minutes ago. I called you immediately.
Have an effort.
Come on, man.
Hope that cop's on appearance.
Oh, thank God.
Is that your son?
I think so.
You want to come up here and check just to make sure?
Is that him?
We contacted the hospital.
We're going to be able to give him any emergency treatment he needs,
but I'm going to need you to sign a parental form.
Please, just get him out of the tree.
Okay.
Help.
Wait a minute.
Hold it.
We've been pumping pure oxygen into this cavity.
Kill that saw.
Well, even if you cut the oxygen off now,
the wood inside that cavity is still impregnated with it.
The spark was created by that saw chain.
The wood inside that cavity is still impregnated with it.
The spark was created by that saw chain.
The wood inside that trunk will burn in a flash.
Have we got enough time to cut the rest of it up with handsaws?
No.
His blood pressure's dropping.
Time is very important to his cap.
All right, we'll have to take a chance then.
We'll cut grooves in the trunk and pull it apart with the rigs.
Check that trunk real good.
Make sure there are no nails that'll cause a spark.
When you cut the grooves in the trunk, oxygen may seep through.
The carburetor that saw motor picks it up, it'll run wild.
So be ready to turn it off in a hurry.
Get a line off and stand by just in case.
Okay, Captain.
Here, I got the consent sign.
This is gonna take too long.
Cap, what do you think about chiseling him out of there?
All right, go ahead.
Hey, give him a hand with this ladder.
Okay.
Cap.
Where'd you go?
Boys will have Tony out of there in just a minute.
He's gonna be okay.
I want you to come over here and sit down.
Let me go.
Rampart, this is rescue 51.
This is Rampart 51, stand by.
51, this is Dr. Brackett. Go ahead.
Rampart, we almost have his child out.
We have parental consent.
We're preparing to establish IV now.
What are his vitals, 51?
Rampart vital signs are BP 90 over 60, rate 125, respiration 21.
We're unable to view his head and his upper limbs at this time,
but he appears to be unconscious.
Now, there's no evidence of trauma or blood loss.
10-4, 51.
Establish IV as soon as you can and report any change in vitals.
Can you transport as soon as he's free?
Affirmative, Rampart.
Ambulance is here.
Let me hand down, I got it.
Okay, watch out below.
All right, I got him.
You want to bring in that gurney?
Thank you.
You bet, we'll see you.
Yeah.
Do you have any trouble on the way in?
No, he stabilized right away.
I knew we were out of the woods when he said he was hungry.
Out of the woods.
Hi, fellas.
Hi, Nick.
Fine, Dix.
How's the boy doing?
Dr. Gray said he should be all right.
That's good.
He's going to be fine.
Dr. Gray said he should be all right.
That's good.
Excuse me.
What's wrong with her?
Hey, Johnny, what happened to the baby else he was trying to get?
Oh, one of the firemen up at 69 said he was going to take care of her.
What's wrong with Dix?
She's pretty upset.
You know, she used to work with Dr. Parsons in pediatrics.
She thought a lot of him.
Parsons?
Just a little while ago.
Cardiac arrest.
Dr. Brackett's going to tell his wife.
It's rough.
We're going to have to tell the paramedics over 110.
Yeah, I know.
We heard that tape this morning.
They gave it the full shot.
He was one of our lecturers when I went through paramedic training.
I know he was.
Well, excuse me, guys.
Yes, sir.
I'm sorry.
Man, that really bugs me.
You know, if they had had that call about three or four minutes earlier,
Parsons would have had a chance.
Yeah, you're right.
But what are we going to do?
Engine company's been canvassing the area, phone stickers,
ever since we went into service.
But blissey doesn't seem to sink in.
Doctors have been eating with that Byzantine for years.
All of a sudden, a medical emergency occurs in a place no one knows who to call.
Squad 51, standby for response.
Station 127, Station 36, Station 51, Squad 6 and Truck 106.
Fire alarm ringing in the cafeteria at Ardmore Junior High School.
Ardmore and Vinson.
Ardmore and Vinson, Thailand 1612.
Come on, come on, pull over.
Truck 106, this is Squad 51 approaching Pacific and Main.
Truck 106.
All units responding to Ardmore Junior High School return.
Battalion 14, 127 reports false alarm.
Squad 51, 10-4.
Hey, Gage, I didn't know you knew how to write.
Don't tell me.
A letter home to Mother.
A memo to the Chief.
Hey, this is serious, huh?
You bet it's serious.
I'm gonna do something about the jerks who won't pull over for our siren.
Something like, uh, Dear Chief, uh, respectfully request a special police escort for Squad 51.
Oh, get serious, Chet.
Now, you know what a problem it is.
I mean, every shift, we almost get hit by somebody at an intersection.
And it never fails.
We'll always pull up right behind somebody and they won't pull over.
Now, they're breaking the law.
The law says you have to stop and pull over to the right, right?
Well, we don't have that problem on Big Red, Gage.
When they see that big crown roaring down the road, they just pull over anyway.
Well, that doesn't really help solve our problem on the squad, Chet.
But you have a solution, right?
Right.
I'm gonna recommend to the Chief that a camera be mounted on the squad.
And when they won't pull over, we'll just snap a picture of their license and turn it into the police.
Squad 3, what is your status?
Unit 10-8, identify.
Look, the banks and the liquor stores, they do that when they get robbed.
I mean, breaking the law is breaking the law.
And the violator ought to be punished, right?
No.
Can you believe that?
Look at that.
Get out of here.
You can't do nothing, Ron.
Charlie, what brings you here?
Oh, you do, Gage.
Meaning what?
Your letter to the Chief.
He got on my Chief about the near misses you guys have been having.
And I wind up playing nursemaid to your squad.
Supposed to tail you around when I can, picking up violators.
Well, it's about time.
It's getting positively dangerous being a fireman lately.
Try being a cop for a change.
No, thank you.
Station 51, engine 42, engine 5.
Unknown type fire.
211-29, Pomona Boulevard.
Cross Street, 212.
Time, 0046.
Station 51-10-4, KMG-365.
It's a trash fire.
Engine 51.
All units responding with engine 51, return.
Squad 51-10-4.
Trash fire.
It's a good way to ruin a good night's sleep.
Well, at least we'll get five minutes more sleep than the engine company.
Squad 51, standby for response with engine 29.
Engine 29, engine 51, engine 37.
Engine 105, truck 8, battalion 14.
Structure fire at the hotel.
221-23, Flores Boulevard.
Cross Street, 221st.
Time out, 0056.
Squad 51-10-4.
It's a couple blocks away, the old Atlas Hotel.
This could be a bad one.
Squad 51, truck 8.
Engine 29 has been involved in a traffic accident.
You'll be first in.
Squad 51 is matching engine 4 in place of engine 29.
Help!
Help us, please!
I called as soon as I smelled the smoke.
The place went up in seconds.
I don't know how many didn't get out.
L.A. Squad 51, we have a four-story hotel.
People are hanging out of the windows waiting for a rescue.
We started a second alarm.
We can't talk no matter, Jim.
All right, now stay where you are.
Stay where you are and don't move.
We're going to have an engine company.
We're going to put a light out here for you.
Ma'am, get back.
Stay where you are.
Close your doors.
Close the door.
Take the bed and spread it off.
Stuff it around the crack of the door.
All right.
Stay close to the floor.
You understand?
Stay close to the floor.
Johnny, look out above you.
That woman.
All right, let's see where you are.
Stay where you are.
You'll be all right.
Truck 8, this is Squad 51.
All right, sir.
I've been tracking in front of the building.
All right.
Over here, you guys.
Get me out of there.
Battalion 14, this is Squad 51.
We're on the third floor.
Fourth floor is fully involved.
We can't get through by the stairway.
Battalion 14, search the lower floors.
The engine crew is right behind you with lines.
10-4.
Engine 23, increase your pressure 50 pounds.
You're supplying two 2 1 1 2 to the third floor.
Now, Battalion 14 will need additional traffic control.
Come on, man. Keep going. Keep going.
Check the west roof. Check for flying brands on the south side.
Battalion 14, lay doos from an hiding at the border of the road to the rear hotel.
All right, here. I'll come through with you.
Get all the engines coming. Tell them we're going to need our gear up here.
Keep going.
Battalion 14, Squad 51.
We need our gear up on the third floor, room 310.
Squad 51.
Hey, Chet, Marco, get Gage and DeSoto's gear and get it up to them right now.
Assistant 4, Battalion 14, this is a four-story hotel.
Fourth floor well involved.
We're going to move the guys through the roof. We remove five persons from the third and fourth floors.
This guy's better hurry up. This is getting worse.
If we move him now, we're going to lose him.
Is that Skull?
Stay here.
You want to do it again?
Yeah.
Okay, let's defibrillate him.
Clear.
Give me a hand. Clear.
All right, we're starting to get something now.
All right, you're breathing really slowly.
Punch the other foe. I'll set up the cratches.
Rampart, this is rescue 51.
Come on. Come on.
51 is in Rampart. Go ahead.
Rampart, we have a male.
About 60 suffering from apparent smoke inhalation.
He was pulseless, non-breathing, receiving CPR on our arrival.
We've defibrillated twice. He seems to have normal sinus rhythm with frequent PVCs at this time.
51, do you have your EKG hooked up?
10-4, Rampart will send you a strip.
Now, this is going to be lead two.
Rampart, rescue 51.
Did you receive?
10-4, 51, start an IV. Two amps sodium bicarb, 100 milligrams lidocaine.
Rampart, the victim is in danger of a fire right at this location.
Can we hold off on the drugs until we get him moved into a safer position?
51, that's affirmative, but get that lidocaine started as soon as possible.
10-4, Rampart. Let's get him out of here. Down the ladder is less smoke.
Italian 14 is squad 51. The patient's ready to be moved.
Can we get truck 8 to evacuate from this location?
10-4, squad 51. Truck 8, lower to third floor.
Thank you!
12-2, 36 in turn, Robert.
L.A. Battalion 14, fire under control.
All units out over an hour.
Are all stations covered?
10-4, Battalion 14.
What you got here, fellas?
Smoke inhalation, cardiac arrest.
Those ambulance can be rolling soon.
Yeah, they're on their way.
Hey, that's old 2K Tommy.
I knew the wine would finally get him.
He's got a rap sheet as long as your arm.
Common drunk arrest, clear back to 19-4.
Last I heard, he was drawing out at some drunk farm.
Must have been released.
Thanks to his neighbors, he's not ready to cash in.
It's pretty stable now.
We'll get some drugs into him.
We'll send some more EKG transmission to the hospital.
We're ready to go now.
I'll slow him up.
Engine 30, engine 30.
Pull over.
Engine 30, engine 30.
Pull over.
Engine 30, engine 30.
Pull over.
This guy, he's one of the old man's neighbors, I guess.
Goes in to smoke and finds an alcohol.
Not only that, he started mouth to mouth while this chick...
Who was that girl, anyway?
Beats me.
Anyway, she did a darn nice job of external cardiac massage.
We finally relieved him.
They just disappeared.
We couldn't even find him and say thank you.
Dr. Parson sure could have used a couple of helpers like that.
Yeah, it's just not right.
What's that?
That old wino inhales a fatal dose of smoke.
Saved by two complete strangers.
Dr. Parson chokes on food at a place where he's been eating for years.
And they just flat let him die out of ignorance.
No, it's not right, Johnny.
If you let things like that get to you, this business can kill you.
Yeah, he's right.
Let's see.
Mr. Chalmers, reception is...
Morning.
How are the days off?
Fine.
The girl troubles again?
Don't be smart.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Do you mind if the father scrounges you some coffee?
Help yourself.
You aren't still mad, are you, Johnny?
I didn't want to talk about it.
Talk about what?
None of your business.
Nothing gonna find out sooner or later.
Do you want to tell him or should I?
Go ahead, tell him. I don't care.
I can't stand the suspense. Tell us already.
You know how this fanatic got me assigned to tell the squad for violators?
You'll never guess who I picked up last night for not pulling over for a siren.
Gage?
Mr. John Gage himself.
All I was doing... I was coming home from a date and a squad went by on a run...
and I just naturally...
Went after it, right?
Right.
And then before I knew it, my friend here...
Pulled you over. I was right and you knew it.
Look, all I was trying to do was see if I could help.
Now, what's wrong with that?
Well, nothing except that hot rod of yours and not a red light and a siren.
You know something, Charlie?
What?
You're absolutely right.
I can't stand the suspense. Tell us already.