March 18, 1989

Time, lives can be saved

       In regards to the White River Fire Station: I am a firefighter but I am also a resident and taxpayer living on County Line Road.  The people who do not live in the vicinity of the property may feel that this doesn’t concern you but it does.  It takes our vehicles approximately seven to ten minutes to respond to this area if road and traffic conditions are good.  A couple of weeks ago I responded to a child run over by a car in the trailer park.  As I sat in the middle of a large puddle and comforted the hurt, crying child, I had to wait what seemed like forever for additional help to arrive.  It took the rescue unit seven minutes to arrive.  That’s a long time when someone is hurt or dying or to watch a house burn.

         A person who is not breathing will start to suffer brain damage in 4 to 6 minutes and will suffer irreversible brain death after 10 minutes.  I have two grandchildren who live off County Line Road.  If something happened to them, I want help there immediately.  And most people who call for help end their conversation by saying, “Please hurry!” That’s one reason the vehicles have red lights and sirens.  Doesn’t it make sense to have the help close to the areas that need it?  People in Indianapolis and other areas have actually picketed and had strikes to prevent their fire stations from being taken from their neighborhoods.  How long do you want to wait for help?  How much is your family’s life worth? 

Patricia McDaniel, Greenwood
 
 

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