Short stories by featured EMS writer and La Crosse paramedic Crystal Wallin

It’s so far. I come from this rural county asking for mutual aid, and as we get the call for a motorcycle accident, my first thought is, “it’s so far out”. My partner jumps in the passenger seat as I drive. Often the EMT will drive but this time I do, partly to give her a break and also because I know exactly where it is.

We aren’t far out of the small town we’re based out of today, when updated dispatch information makes my mouth tighten. “CPR in progress”. Sirens are wailing, LED lights are staccato, lighting up the signs facing us, even on this sunshine-y day. Traffic parts on the two lane road and we continue on. My partner and I discuss the roles and steps we’ll individually take upon arrival, in our choreographed dance thru the chaos. Our local air medical helicopter was initially on a pad standby but they’re now making their way to the same scene we are. I ask my partner if she’s comfortable with a King airway and she answers definitively, “yep!” I’ll work on IV access and medications, she’s got airway.  >> Click to read more.