Listen to the old-Timers! In the very early 1970s, I was a member of a rescue squad in Trenton, New Jersey, and busy wasn't the word for it. We essentially ran nonstop 24/7/365--and at that age, I was in paradise! From EMS runs to crashes to water rescues to fires, we ran to them all, and I loved it. It was also back when services were a bit rogue--in other words, training and enthusiasm were about equal, and sometimes training took a far back step, but that's okay. We cared, REALLY cared!
One of the absolute greatest things about being a part of that squad, and something that has NOT changed today, was the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade from those who know. In this specific case, I had been told one thing specifically by "old-timers" that directly apply to this story (and, again, still apply today): Always lift the patient using the sheet when moving from the stretcher to the hospital bed.Sometimes, the weirdest, wackiest calls are the ones that can define your career. Here's a few from the archives of the Yenta.