An EMS Night before Christmas

Reprinted with permission from Firehouse Magazine.

’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town
Firefighter/paramedics stood prepared to respond to any person down
Dispatchers stood ready to dispatch any calls
As the fireplace crackled within our fire station walls.

As the snow fell on the ramp outside our fire station door
My rookie partner jinxed us by saying he was bored.
We all turned and gave him a look.
At that point, he knew his goose was cooked.

The turnout coats and helmets were hung all neat and straight
And the ambulance and engine lined up side by side with their shiny red paint.
The monitor/defibrillator was plugged in to charge.
The back of the ambulance looked cozy and large.

As the firefighters settled in for some sleep
We found ourselves dreaming and hoping the radio would not beep.
No sooner had our eyes closed, the radio sounded the alarm.
It was an auto accident near the Bakers’ farm.

The dispatcher gave us more information than we requested.
She advised us that Route 5 was congested.
But what caught us off guard was the additional information she gave.
She said it a car versus sleigh, and the caller’s name was Dave.

We got into our ambulance and buckled ourselves into the seat.
The doors raised and we turned into the street.
With sirens blaring and lights flashing, we raced to the scene.
I’m glad I mopped the floor of the ambulance because it is pristine.

The way my rookie drove my teeth were gnashing.
All I could think of is that my life before me was flashing.
We made it to the address and what to our surprise did we see
A sleigh with eight reindeer was resting against an oak tree.

Scene safety was a protocol I forgot
As I began to realize this call was not for naught.
There in the lane between the tree and center of the street
Stood old Saint Nick, looking all nice and neat.

Toys were strewn all over the ground
As a police officer stopped traffic because he was not messing around.
The driver of the other car looked in distress
As he realized he was the one who created this mess.

Our initial assessment of Santa told us he was alert.
His Glasgow Coma Scale told us he was not very hurt.
He had a bump over his eye that looked like a knot
But otherwise he was OK and was the best of the lot.

The driver of the other car said he only had two beers
But we’ve heard that same story for many of years.
His speech was slurred and his gait was weak
And you know of what he reeked.

We tried to stop the engine that was en route
But they continued on because they wanted to see what it was all about.
Upon their arrival, they took a blocking position
And to see what they saw was better than the price of admission.

After an assessment that included neurological checks
Santa said something we did not expect:
“Where do I sign an AMA?
I am not about to go to the hospital this day.

“I have toys to deliver to every house this night
To good boys and girls who always do right.
I cannot delay for I know that many hospitals are on diversion.
I cannot be driven around in ambulance on an excursion.”

We cleaned the wound on his head.
We wanted to make sure that he no longer bled.
As we stood face to face I glanced into his steely blue eyes.
I was thinking this is one I will have to tell the guys.

The twinkle of his nose and kindness of his face
Told me this man could not replaced.
A minor fender bender could not keep him from his appointed rounds.
When it came to making boys and girls happy this Christmas Eve, there was nothing out of bounds.

He signed against our medical advice.
He scrolled his signature right on our device.
The police officer witnessed his mark
Even though it was tough to see in the dark.

Santa walked to his sleigh.
It certainly was not a Chevrolet.
He hopped into the seat and to our delight
He raised his hand and wished us a goodnight.

He took the reins into his hands
And then he gave the command
“Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen,
Come Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen!”

Away he went up over the trees
Sailing along as light as a breeze.
We could see from a distance as he
touched down on rooftops delivering toys,
Dropping gifts for good little girls and boys.

We walked back to our ambulance parked near the scene.
We need to let the Chief know the call we went on was unforeseen.
The whole experience seemed serene.
What we witnessed was not routine.

I picked up the radio to put us back in service.
I looked over at my rookie partner and he looked totally nervous.
I told him our good deed was done this day
So Santa could continue to roll with his sleigh.

We heard Santa in the distance as we rolled away with our ambulance with lights
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”