Copes's Blog - 2old2play

8-04-08

Kinda hard to explain this one...........

I know this is a blog about fire calls that I have gone on and some expierences that I've had in the Fire Service. Well, I can't talk about this one right now, Its hard to explain, and I really like turning to friends at 2o2p for support on tought calls, but the rules about talking about stuff like this are hard to get around sometimes.

I found some support in a song from the movie "The Guardian". Its a song from - "Brian Adams" - "Never let go". If you dont know this song and have an extra minute to listen to it or to read the lyrics to it - PLEASE DO. I posted the words below - but you really need to hear the song.

Sorry - I know it sounds stupid, but if you knew what kind of day I had you would understand. "Making a decision on who lives and who dies is the worse one you can ever make".

Thanks for the time to read this,

Copes

Can you lay your life down, so a stranger can live?
Can you take what you need, but take less than you give?
Could you close every day, without the glory and fame?
Could you hold your head high, when no one knows your name?
That's how legends are made, at least that's what they say.

We say goodbye, but never let go.
We live, we die, cause you can't save every soul.
Gotta take every chance to, show that you're the kinda man who;
Will never look back, never look down,
and never let go.

Can you lose everything, you ever had planned?
Can you sit down again, and play another hand?
Could you risk everything, for the chance of being alone?
Under pressure find the grace, or would you come undone?
That's how legends are made, at least that's what they say.

We say goodbye, but never let go.
We live, we die, cause you can't save every soul.
Gotta take every chance to, show that you're the kinda man who;
Will never look back, never look down,
and never let go.

Never let go, Never let go, Never let go

Gotta take every chance to, show that you're the kinda man who;
Will never look back, never look down,
and never let go.

We say goodbye, but never let go.
We live, we die, 'but you can't save every soul.
Gotta take every chance to, show that you're the kinda man who;
Will never look back, never look down,
and never let go.

Will never look back, never look down,
and never let go.

Never let go

[1 Comments]

Good Bye - My Friend

Matt,

Thank You for all you have given us and sacrificed for us. You are a TRUE HERO. You will be missed. Your memory will never be forgoten.

"Good Bye" My Friend

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6868776&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

The Copeland Family

(Andy, Kathy, Austin, Joshua, Connor)

[3 Comments]

6/23/08 - House Fire

Monday 6/23/08, my crew and I responded to address listed on news article for a lightning strike and house fire. As the news reported we got quick and saved the house from burning down. It was a quick attack and we all did a great job - even one our new probies got his cherry popped (his first fire) and actually got to be on the lead line in. He is the one in the picture on the roof (at top)

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEWS13/80623008/1030

As for me - I was the lead engine driver that day and really did not get to do any "cool stuff" - I just got to drive fast, get everybody there, and pump the truck. An important job but not so fun like the other guys. It was a good save of the house because we prevented it from spreading to the house from the garage.

Oh ya - did you notice the news reported we were there in 1min - I drive fast - - - ha ha ha

Good Day @ Work

Copes

[0 Comments]

01/07/08 Suicide by shotgun

My new partner (on 01/08 we changed stations and crews - just a yearly change), and I responded to a attempt suicide at a residence. We arrived and were quickly flagged in by police (on scene). I was the first to enter and found patient in basement with shotgun lying next to him still smoking. Patient was a terminal cancer patient who (im thinking), just had enough with all the pain and decided to just have a good x-mas & new yr. then end it all. Sad thing was that at the time he did it - all his family was upstairs and he just got up and walked down and put it to his chest and ......pulled.

Really cant get into much else at this time, but can say he was still alive and breathing. We did everything we could and got him to the E.R. Trauma ctr. "still" alive. Which was a miracle itself after 45 min of CPR and other life support treatment. We did everything we could and we did get a "Good Job" from the trauma surgeon and my Capt./supervisor. patient was prounced dead in hospital after approx. 10 min. Just to much damage to repair that fast to save him.

This was the worst medical I have ever had to date (14 yrs). For my new partner (2 months off probation, 1 yr on F.D.) it was a great learning experince and one he"ll never forget. We had a good debriefing after and I know that there was nothing we could have done differently.

Monday was a tough day for me.

Copes

[2 Comments]

12/14/07 Fatal Car Accident

http://www.novi.org/news2/2007-12-14c.htm

My crew responded to this accident on Friday and I was on the first engine co. that arrived. It was a tough one and all I can say is we did everything we could. The impact was very hard and even ripped her door shell panel off from the outside, upon impact.

Friday was a tough day. These always suck right before X-mas

Copes

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12/7/07 2nd story Suicide Attempt

On Friday, my crew responded to a attempt suicide where a female decided it was a good idea to dive head first out her second story window. We got the call approx. 11am, which was 1hr after she did it. She was found by a maint. worker lying in the grass. It was a miracle she did survive because the temp was only 20 deg. outside.

Tis the season - for this kind of stuff. I would rather blog on stuff like my last two - fires and stuff, but this stuff is my job day in & day out.

Copes

[0 Comments]

11/19/07 Water Tower Fire (late entry)

This is a late entry, from 11/19/07, 4 days before the last post I had (Thanksgiving Day Fire), but we just got the pictures back and it was very cool.

On Monday 11/19/07, I had one of the most interisting fires EVER. I've been a fireman for apporx. 14 yrs and have only read about 1-2 other fires like this one.

We had a fire inside a 125+ ft - Water Tower.

Contractors were spot welding and sandblasting the inner tank for repairs and started a small fire with some rags and towels they were using for cleanup. Everybody got down quickly when the fire got out of control - it spread to the inner lining and spray linner they use for insulation. When we arrived it looked a lot worse that it really was. Heavy black smoke was coming out of the top and we really did not have anyway to get up there - our ladder truck is only 100 ft. So the only way to get up there was to climb a ladder (no cage or protection) 125+ ft straight up.......

Well to make along story short, we made it easy as possible and just had to turn on the tank pump and fill the inner tank. It took like 1 hr. but did put out the fire without risk to anybody. The contractors will be cited by the state inspectors for other job safety violations. The lift they were using was cited and pulled off site due to it being weight restricted and not safe - we could not use it for fighting the fire.

I attached some pictures below - I was one of the coolest runs I have ever been on. One of the pictures, I'm standing with my air pack on, looking at the tower in the back ground with our fire marshal on my left (in blue coat). http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#223390279-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#223391365-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#223390821-A-LB

Copes

[1 Comments]

11/22/07 Thanksgiving Day Apt. Fire

Yes......some of us firefighters & police do have to "Work" on Thanksgiving Day. The following pictures were taken from a fire, me and my crew had at approx. 3pm Thanksgiving Day.

Oh did I mention that it was right after we ate a huge meal then had to fight a fire - Holy PUKE.....ha ha ha

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#224450228-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#224449925-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#224449577-A-LB

No one was hurt and the family was not home at the time when it started, but did loose everything. We made a great stop - preventing the fire from spreading into other apts. No fireman were hurt and I had the great job of driving that day so it means that I was the engineer (pumper). So I got all the boring stuff but still an important job - I froze my ass off. The life of a fireman, working 12 hrs on holidays and puking from eating to much right before a holiday meal - I LOVE IT.

Hope everybody had a good holiday

Copes

[0 Comments]

8/8/07 - Zamboni fire

One of the most unusual fires I've ever seen. Very cool day at work.

Repost from "Off Topic" see link below.......

http://www.2old2play.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=335493#335493

Copes

[0 Comments]

7/13/07 Patient saved today on

Just wanted to let everybody know that FRIDAY 13 can be a good day.

Today, my partner (another "probie") and I got a good save. It was on a 80 yr old female in total respitory arrest. Upon arrival we found patient "very" blue in color but with a pulse. We started all usual care and life saving stuff. After approx. 6-7 min female was responsive, talking to us, and on her way to the hospital. Female would have been dead, if it not for a nurse - making rounds, doing her job, and calling 911 right away. This nursing home patient was in was one of the better assisted living homes in our city and today proved it.

I thing about all the varibles which could have led to this going very bad - nurse missing the room, nurse not actually "looking at the patient", 911 call being delayed, or routed wrong, Us making great on-scene time and having all our equpiment work correctly, sct........................ There is so many things that could have gone wrong, but today it didnt. If any one of these million things went just the smallest way "the other way", this patient would not be here today.

Friday the 13 (7/13/07) was a great day for me, and my "probie" partner - with his first ever SAVE.

Copes

[3 Comments]

6/18/07 - Saving a child from vehicle.

I have run on thousands of car accidents in my job. I can now say that there is no better feeling than saving a 3 yr old from a back seat during a accident. This little girl was the bravest kid I have even run into.

As we arrived, we found mom slumped over the wheel in a Diabetic coma. Vehicle crashed into several other ones as she approached the intersection. Now can you emagine (as a 3 yr old) seeing 4 fireman, 3 cops, and 2 medic's pounding on the windows and having your mommy injured and sleeping in the front drivers seat.

As we broke the window, my partners started treating mom, while I (thinking of this little girl) climed into the back seat and got her out. This little girl must have had a "heavenly helper" with her this day because as I (the stranger) grabbed, her she opened her arms and climed right to me. Thank god my "Daddy Instincts" kicked in beacuse I was able to keep her attention away from all the medical crap that we had to do to mom and I truely think that she kept me calm (I really thought we would loose mom and now I had this little girl in my hands). This little girl was so brave and really kept me from think of that, sure she cried and all of that but she was able to give us more information about mom, who she was, and her daddy's info better than most adults can.....

To make a long story short - we were able to save mom (who was also 22 weeks pregnant), and little girl. All are doing well and should make good recoveries.

I on the other hand - havent felt so good about this job in a long time. I can honestly say that I (and my whole crew) really felt like I (we) made a difference today.

Thank you for those little "Heavenly Helpers" that are with us on any given day.

Copes

[3 Comments]

6/8/07 - Fireman get a new microwave

What do you get when you buy fireman a new microwave ? - Lots of trouble when they expirement with the old one.

We tried some "objects" in the old microwave and had a blast at work on friday. Firemen and extra time on their hands can lead to some of the most interisting things.

Lets just say that most of the stuff we tried, you can see done on YouTube by searching "microwave". The only thing that caused the real fun was the "shotgun shell" (slug). I can tell all of you this - it takes 1:45 sec for it to.................................................

What a great day at work........

Copes

[1 Comments]

5/28/07 - Finally a good day @ work

After the week I've had at work (see previous blog entry) it was finally nice to have a good one. Driving a fire truck in the holiday parade and having a city of 50,000+ actually claping and thanking us for a good job was a nice change this week. Even though Memorial Day is ment for military it still is nice that people thank us too. We really dont have a day for fireman so today is nice for us.......Well the triple time is nice also........ha ha ha (for just driving in a parade).

Thank you to all who served and died for me. I hope I can give a little back to your families here at home, by serving them to the best of my abilities.

Copes

[1 Comments]

5/25/07 Suicide by shoe string.

I would not think that a common shoe string would be able to hold a 190lb 23 yr old in a hanging suicide attempt, but let me tell you - IT WILL.

****Sorry but I have to censure this one a bit*****..............

I saw it first hand today as I was the first fire/medic on scene. Myself and my two partners arrived and were directed to the basement of the residence to find victim hanging from I-beam. I've seen hanging victims before but not in this mannor - cant really get into it to much at this point (news might get involved), but never would I think a common shoe string would be able to hold that kind of weight - in the "mannor" which it did.

I guess the end result was what the victim wanted but this must not have been quick for them. There is a correct way to do it and a wrong way, if you can believe that.

This was the wrong way---------------------------------------

I guess I can buy the fact if you wanted to go out quick and painless, but I cant understand if you wanted to go out "suffering and very painful". I'm sure the victim was not thinking straight and did not know how to do it right (quickly).

One thing as Fireman - we never get to hear the end story or the why a victim may have done it. Sometimes it would be interisting to find out why people do things the way they do.

[2 Comments]

Suicide By Train follow-up from 3/11/07

For thoes of you who read my last blog.......here is the follow-up

This was the "official" version my City put out as a media post..........interesting how they are so careful not to give away to much and censure the public......

http://www.novi.org/News/2007-03-10c.htm

Copes

[4 Comments]