Steven Velásquez - Granting "Sirenity"

by Steven P. Velasquez November 22, 2012 Nicolette, my first born (now 16) When she was a little girl, every holiday was celebrated at her grandparent s' house.  Whether we were up in the Pocono's with Pop Pop and Grandmom or in Rutherford at Abuela and Abuelo's house.  Regardless,  the food was always delicious, the house warm and the family -- beloved. Abuela's Thanksgiving ham When she was a little girl, I used to hold her little hand and cros s her across this street.  Today, for the first time,  I watched her park her mother's car in front of Abuela's house. When she was a little girl, I used to pick her up out of her child se at from my vehicle and throw her over my shoulder with a blank ie. I'd hold her close and li sten to her breathe while protecting her from the col d.  Today, she lets herself in and out of the car on her own, and from the driver's seat (no more booster).

Ambulance Aides Mourn Loss by Steven P. Velasquez, MICP November 20, 201 2 The headline above is a direct  stab at the irresponsible media outlets that have had over thirty five years to learn who we, in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), are.   It appears that even if we sacrifice our lives (or have them taken from us), these drones, who insist on ridiculous politically correct terms for everyone but us, can't get it right. We are not ambulance attendants, ambulance aides, stretcher tenders, ambulance drivers or, as we were so shamefully bunched during the attacks of September 11, 2001 - first responders.  We are your municipalities third service. We are an extension of the hospitals. We are mobile health services. We are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedics (MICP) and Registered Nurses (R.N.'s).  We are an essential part of the trinity of public protection, Police, Fire and EMS.  We have earned ...

MIC 3 Give Me the Air! (pronounced as mick) by Steven P. Velasquez November 11, 2012 "MIC 3 Urgent!! Give me the air!!"  (A paramedic's voice panting and confused, only able to process the name of one of the two intersecting streets they're on)   "I'm on Central and... (long pause)  I'm just east of 1st Street....  (another pause)  MIC 3 I'm on Central Ave...." (radio silence) Dispatcher - "Units clear the air! MIC 3, your location!?  Are you injured!?"  (The sound of a microphone keying up, but only labored breathing is heard).   Dispatcher - "MIC 3 repeat your last!!" This is the kind of radio transmission that no one in public safety wants to hear.  A unit, clearly in distress and disoriented is calling for help but can't clear their thoughts enough to articulate a clear message.  Their vehicle has been struck by another, at a...