Yesterday, I worked a shift at Four Oaks EMS. As usual we ate breakfast at King's Restaurant. While eating I was shocked to see an old EMS friend come in the door with his wife. It was Larry Hobbs. Larry was a member of Elevation Fire Department for over 21 years, a charter member of 50-210 Rescue Squad and a former Assistant Chief of both! Larry was always known as a down-to-earth country fella who had a heart of gold and always went above and beyond to help others. Larry was one of the two first full-time employees at 50-210 EMS along with Sharon Roberts - both were EMT-I's at the time. Larry worked in the ER at JMH (Now JMC-Smithfield) for many years, and also worked with MidSouth Ambulance Service.
Larry is doing GREAT! He works as the draw bridge operator at Surf City, is happily married and is loving life. He returns to his homeplace in the Elevation community regularly to take care of yardwork, etc. He says he hopes to retire in April of next year! He loves life at the beach, loves his Lord and his wife.
What a pleasant surprise to run into someone who I consider a big influence in how EMS evolved in Johnston County in the 1990's. Larry was present for the transition of 50-210 from EMT-Basic Level through EMT-I Level and got out of EMS just prior to the squad becoming paramedic level.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
New Website! www.jocofire.com
I hope this blog post finds everyone doing well. I wanted to take some time today to let you know about my new website. I have been working very hard over the last few weeks to develop a comprehensive website that covers Emergency Services in Johnston County. The site is www.jocofire.com and I developed it with the hopes that it is somewhere that all Police, Fire and EMS folks in Johnston County want to visit EVERYDAY to get updates and see new photos of their departments in action and not in action.
I have my camera with me at all times now and intend to take as many photos as possible with the focus being on personnel and apparatus. One of my biggest regrets in the last 20 years of my career in 911 and EMS is that I have very few photos. I especially lack photos from the 90's. I wish I had a picture of EVERY ambulance I ever rode on, every police officer that worked with us, every partner I ever had on the EMS unit and every Fire Engine that responded with us. I have had the honor of riding on some awesome and not-so-awesome pieces of apparatus and wish I had a photo of the extierior and interior of each. I also wish I had photos of some of our equipment as well.
I hope you all will visit my site, and visit it regularly! I also hope each of you will dig through your old files, records and drawers and find me photos!! No matter how insignificant the photos are, I would love to have them if they involve any type of emergency service in Johnston County or one of our mutual aid departments. I especially would love to have photos of JAS, Midsouth, Metro and the Lion's Club Ambulance Service of Smithfield. I also want to collect histories and apparatus rosters from each department that currently operates in Johnston County. I have a brand new vest with "Photographer" on the back and I hope to see you at your incident scene soon!!
I have my camera with me at all times now and intend to take as many photos as possible with the focus being on personnel and apparatus. One of my biggest regrets in the last 20 years of my career in 911 and EMS is that I have very few photos. I especially lack photos from the 90's. I wish I had a picture of EVERY ambulance I ever rode on, every police officer that worked with us, every partner I ever had on the EMS unit and every Fire Engine that responded with us. I have had the honor of riding on some awesome and not-so-awesome pieces of apparatus and wish I had a photo of the extierior and interior of each. I also wish I had photos of some of our equipment as well.
I hope you all will visit my site, and visit it regularly! I also hope each of you will dig through your old files, records and drawers and find me photos!! No matter how insignificant the photos are, I would love to have them if they involve any type of emergency service in Johnston County or one of our mutual aid departments. I especially would love to have photos of JAS, Midsouth, Metro and the Lion's Club Ambulance Service of Smithfield. I also want to collect histories and apparatus rosters from each department that currently operates in Johnston County. I have a brand new vest with "Photographer" on the back and I hope to see you at your incident scene soon!!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Updated Ramblings...
Well, as most of you know, it's about time for an update!! I've not blogged in a while - and honestly, I've not had time. That's finally changing and you'll see updates from me more often now.
So, what's new? I left the 911 Center in late August to go to work for a local hospital in the cardiac catheterization lab. Wow, whan an experience. I learned more in just a few months than I have in YEARS about cardiology and worked with some top notch cardiologists and met some great people. Y'all know there is a "but" in here somewhere, so here it goes. But, I just didn't like it. In the particular cath lab I went to work in, I was the only paramedic employed there. There were a couple of former EMS people, but they have since long been out of the field and I just didn't fit in. I didn't spin nor get excited when patients coded or became worse - I responded like I do in the field - calmly - and well let's just say that my calm demeanor didn't fit in with the rest of the crowd. My primary motivation for leaving Johnston County was the money and for a change in pace. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and I should have stayed and explored options within the county government.
So, effective this month, I am returning to Johnston County to work in the field again as a paramedic. I know the county well geographically, from my years of 911 and EMS time. I love shift work, especially night shift, because that's what I have primarily worked most of my career in the 911 industry. I think it was definitely time for me to make a change, but in hindsight I should have made it within JoCo instead of leaving completely. I am thrilled to returning to the field and most appreciative to Selma and Four Oaks EMS for giving me the hours and ability to work. I love this County, the citizens, and my coworkers and look forward to each day at work now serving the citizens.
Now for the next biggie! I ran a successful campaign this fall to win a seat on the Clayton Town Council! Serving on the town council has been a life-long dream of mine. I used to joke with my schoolmates about being the mayor one day - well I'm not the mayor, but I have joined him in serving our wonderful town. For the last 20 years I've responded to calls from citizens and entered the homes of those who often times could not help themselves. I've responded to the elderly who can't afford to run their air conditioner in the summer because of high electricity rates and I've responded to the poor who cannot afford medications. I've delivered babies in houses with no electricity at all. Now, I feel like I am in a position to do something about it! My primary motivation in filing for town council was to put myself in a position to help those people out who can't help themselves. I want to be a voice and advocate for the elderly who are on fixed incomes. I also want to be a voice for the minorities who often have nobody willing to speak up for them. EMS has given me a unique perspective, as it is a profession that CANNOT descriminate. Whether you have insurance or not, are rich or poor, foreign, minority or American, EMS will respond to your call and provide assistance. Working in EMS has afforded me the chance to serve EVERYONE and see their needs. Now I want to be a voice for those people who have never had a loud voice before. I am super excited to begin this new adventure and be a part of the management of the best town in the United States.
Anyway, that's enough of an update for now. Thank you for listening and look for frequent updates from this point forward.
So, what's new? I left the 911 Center in late August to go to work for a local hospital in the cardiac catheterization lab. Wow, whan an experience. I learned more in just a few months than I have in YEARS about cardiology and worked with some top notch cardiologists and met some great people. Y'all know there is a "but" in here somewhere, so here it goes. But, I just didn't like it. In the particular cath lab I went to work in, I was the only paramedic employed there. There were a couple of former EMS people, but they have since long been out of the field and I just didn't fit in. I didn't spin nor get excited when patients coded or became worse - I responded like I do in the field - calmly - and well let's just say that my calm demeanor didn't fit in with the rest of the crowd. My primary motivation for leaving Johnston County was the money and for a change in pace. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and I should have stayed and explored options within the county government.
So, effective this month, I am returning to Johnston County to work in the field again as a paramedic. I know the county well geographically, from my years of 911 and EMS time. I love shift work, especially night shift, because that's what I have primarily worked most of my career in the 911 industry. I think it was definitely time for me to make a change, but in hindsight I should have made it within JoCo instead of leaving completely. I am thrilled to returning to the field and most appreciative to Selma and Four Oaks EMS for giving me the hours and ability to work. I love this County, the citizens, and my coworkers and look forward to each day at work now serving the citizens.
Now for the next biggie! I ran a successful campaign this fall to win a seat on the Clayton Town Council! Serving on the town council has been a life-long dream of mine. I used to joke with my schoolmates about being the mayor one day - well I'm not the mayor, but I have joined him in serving our wonderful town. For the last 20 years I've responded to calls from citizens and entered the homes of those who often times could not help themselves. I've responded to the elderly who can't afford to run their air conditioner in the summer because of high electricity rates and I've responded to the poor who cannot afford medications. I've delivered babies in houses with no electricity at all. Now, I feel like I am in a position to do something about it! My primary motivation in filing for town council was to put myself in a position to help those people out who can't help themselves. I want to be a voice and advocate for the elderly who are on fixed incomes. I also want to be a voice for the minorities who often have nobody willing to speak up for them. EMS has given me a unique perspective, as it is a profession that CANNOT descriminate. Whether you have insurance or not, are rich or poor, foreign, minority or American, EMS will respond to your call and provide assistance. Working in EMS has afforded me the chance to serve EVERYONE and see their needs. Now I want to be a voice for those people who have never had a loud voice before. I am super excited to begin this new adventure and be a part of the management of the best town in the United States.
Anyway, that's enough of an update for now. Thank you for listening and look for frequent updates from this point forward.
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