Posted 1/31/01 The saints of emergency --- Opinion by MaryHelen Swanson So, this will be a Monday Night column. It is nearing 11 p.m. and the scanner has been telling of road troubles all evening. The ice storm hit about 6 p.m. and thus started the long line of cars heading into the ditch. The roll-over calls scare me the most. It must be very frightening to have your car turn over and over often landing upside down. My daughter flipped her car when she was in high school. For her part, she was smart enough to use her seat belt or she could have been seriously injured. Still, as she lay dangling from her seat upside down she panicked and was screaming for help because she couldnít get the belt open. Fortunately, a passerby came to her aid, released her and talked her through an open window. My daughter was unharmed. Monday night was a big challenge for our state, county and city emergency people and it is absolutely amazing how they handled all those calls for help with such calm attitudes and patience. Car after car left the icy highways and the treacherous freeway. And Good Samaritan citizens, trying to give aid, often joined them in the ditch. In fact, even a couple of squad cars were hit as they came to the aid of traffic victims. The emergency messages flashed back and forth and yet the voices remained composed. Fire departments were dispatched on several occasions and Iím sure those volunteer citizens would rather have stayed tucked safely in their homes. EMS crews were attending to numerous calls, risking lives to help others in peril. Maintenance workers were out keeping roads cleared and attending to an assortment of issues related to the ice and accumulating water. And tow truck operators (who ever thinks of them as emergency personnel?) were taxed to the limit. It is on such nights that these wonderful emergency people are called to duty and respond without so much as a groan or a moan, at least out loud. In fact, even in the midst of the turmoil, there comes from time to time a humorous comment that breaks through the solemnity of the hour like a stone through the crystal-like ice, and gives everyone a moment of relief. To be sure, emergency people are working hard, and Iím sure they get frustrated at times (when the road is an ice skating rink?), and Iím sure they feel insecure and frightened at times. Once in a while you can hear it in their voices. Yet they carry on with their appointed tasks in the most professional manner, attending to each and every accident victim with utmost care and consideration. No situation is dismissed as insignificant as they faithfully move from one emergency situation to another. They are truly emergency saints, people who should get our gratitude and praise for the selfless duties they perform. The continuing tricky weather this week will put more strain on the emergency workers of our city, county and state. If there is anything you can do to avoid adding to emergency situations, please do it. When the weather is bad, stay home unless you absolutely must be out on the roads. If you come across an accident and conditions are bad, maybe it would be better to get to the nearest phone and call for the trained professionals. They know what to do and how to do it best. And pass along a word of thanks if you see one of these steadfast workers in the coming weeks. If there are saints on earth, itís them. ©Post Review