Strange and Bizarre Calls: Experiences of a First Responder
Every day, first responders handle a wide range of emergencies, from routine calls to the bizarre and even bizarre incidents that challenge their skills and sense of humor. Here are some memorable and often humorous incidents that highlight the untold stories of these professionals:
The Dripping Car (A CPR Call Gone Wrong)
One memorable call came while we were just leaving the hospital after performing CPR. Dispatch provided a strange description: a woman in a pool. Given that it was mid-November, a potential drowning didn't seem very probable. When we arrived at the address, there were several police cars but no sign of an accident. The police officer directed us to a backyard where a very intoxicated woman was sitting in a lawn chair, having driven her car directly into a pool covered with a partially drained vinyl cover due to seasonal maintenance.
The car was floating in the water with its lights still on, and we checked the driver. Besides alcohol intoxication, there were no other injuries. The intoxicated woman refused transport by ambulance and was arrested and taken to a detox center.
The Biting Dog on Camelback Ave
Another strange call involved a stray dog that was hit by a car while crossing Camelback Avenue against the light. A Good Samaritan had stopped to help the injured dog, which surprisingly bit the rescuer and then ran away. This situation was particularly amusing to the first responders as it was hard to maintain a straight face while treating the injured Good Samaritan.
The Sasquatch and the Mufferaw
We also received a call regarding a sasquatch on the front porch of a house during a rainstorm. This was undoubtedly one of the more interesting calls we've responded to. However, the funniest incident was when a fellow officer, known for being a bit of a teaser, received a call about a naked woman at a donut shop. The officer, standing at 5'9" and weighing just 130 pounds, was completely overmatched by the woman, who weighed in at over 400 pounds. We pulled up outside the donut shop to watch the situation unfold, and it was quite the spectacle.
Our officer tried to control the naked woman like an octopus, dodging and weaving to avoid her advances. You can imagine the hilarity of the scene; it was so funny that we laughed until our eyes watered. He was never in any real danger, but the situation was undoubtedly comedic.
The UFO Call and the Follow-Up
Another curious call involved a UFO. The next night when the officer showed up, he had a message to call a specific number. Little did he know, it was the number used to report UFO sightings to MUFON. The entire squad room erupted in laughter when they found out what had happened. As it turns out, these incidents are part of the day-to-day reality for first responders but certainly add an element of humor and surrealism to their lives.
We hope you found these stories entertaining and possibly even gave you a chuckle. The exciting and often bizarre nature of first responder work keeps things interesting and reminds us why we do what we do. If you have any similar stories to share, we'd love to hear them!