So there is no rest for the wicked! I landed in Peru at 6am local time (6 hour behind the UK) and was picked up by Captain (for those who dont know this is my friend in Peru) and taken to his flat by taxi. The streets are chaotic to say the least. Traffic is worse than London, you have to get close to car or you will not get anywhere. In addition, no one wears seatbelts ! No wonder why I have heard about so many fatal accidents in Peru! When in the flat there was sleep for an hour.
The day started by going to the closest a tation to Captain's home. As Captain is good at mechanic , it was his task to try and fix the only fire engine there. Although the station is less than a year old, it is worn down and not built well. A layer of dirt covers the station and furniture that also covers the whole of the
country. A station dog is there who was rescued by the staff before. He has his toy shoe that people throw for him. Guess what I done for a few hours? Captain has diagnosed the issue with the fire truck and as a result needs to return to his own station to get the tools to fix the issue.
We head to the shop to buy a drink and bottled water for myself. A Peruvian drink called Inca Kola seems to be very popular here! Not sure what it is but it does taste amazing. Goodies bought we head across to Station14 - the station that Captain is the chief of operations for. I am treated to a guided tour of the place. First, this place is much bigger and better built than the other station. There are several trucks, most of which need fixing.
One ambulance out the back needs a new engine that the station staff are making themselves in a workshop out the back. Speaking to Captain he advises me that he wants to build a new 2 story workshop to work in. They have the plans and are now in need of the equipment and materials. Again the gentlemen at the fire station
will build this themselves as it is too expensive to hire people in. Next was the fire engine . First, a 1952
Bedford that was shipped to Peru from the UKwhen it was made. This has been restored and painted red/white to match the others. This is not in service but will be donated to a museum that will look after it.
There are 2 working fire engines. One that I will always refer to as "the beast". This truck is enormous! So much so that if stood next to it I do not even reach seat height! I know I am small but really?! This can hold 4 tonnes of water and is the most common and newest truck. The other truck is the "favourite." This truck is the one people like to drive. Although smaller, the truck handles better and is more reliable. It also sounds more like a truck than the Beast. There is also one operational ambulance. The kit on the ambulance is minimal and some items that we take for granted in the UK are reused. It is cramped in the back, with just about enough room for a Paramedic and the patient. I was then shown around the station. There was the recrational area which housed a TV and some sofas to relax and socialise. Attached to this was a little "study" where a computer and a radio were kept. There is a fully stocked first aid room where non-emergency patient are able to come and are given pain medicine etc.
This area has their defibrillator machine that currently has no 12 lead function as it needs to be purchased. Above this is the Captain's office. it includes a desk and a computer plus printer and many Furbys!! furbys are apparantly the good luck charm, in the sensee that if they put it in the truck on a call they always
get a big fire! Next to this is their stores. They get some donations in the form of bandages and some medicines such as IV tramadol. However many of the ALS drugs are not in stock. Some of the money I raised are going towards these drugs!
There are 3-4 AEDs that all need repaing in some shape or form. Going back to the main station, up stairs there is a training room, a mini museum of the hitory of the station and several fire poles. After many introductions and many words spoken in Spanish I was taken out to lunch to experience Peruvian food. Postt return there was more chatter and a fire was reported. Not in the area however. Looking at their system,
there were several stations that were not in commission due to no staffing or broken vehicles. Station 14 itself had no driver (apart from captain who was not in uniform). We then went via a shop to buy a phone back to the other station. Here, there was more attempts to fix the broken (only) vehicle and it was decided that it would need to be sent to the garage to fix the cylinder as well as the ambulance which the gear box was broken on. Then it was home time about 1730.
Speaking more to Captain I learnt the reason he came out here. As a trained Paramedic in Ireland, he came out here to experience life here. As he was about to leave saying he didn't like it he was asked to help at an incident that had involved the Chief's driver. Realising he was able to communicate well enough in
English he was able to lead the team and was asked to stay to teach the team some Paramedic skills. He was paid for three months by Ireland then wanted to stay. He has been able to work his way up the ranks to Captain and this needed a lot of work to get to!hence he now seems happy in Peru.
So to sum up only one day. Ive learnt loads of how they work and am looking forward to experiencing their work. I know I am a little behind but day 2 and 3 will come probably tomorrow.
Adios.
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