11/11/11

It's the eleventh day.
Feels like the eleventh hour.
Long day today.

Came home from work to find my dept out at a structure fire.
I spent the next five hours there.

Not what I had originally planned, that's for sure.
I was already exhausted, and planned to take a nap. Forget that plan.

How is it that we dig deep and find that extra energy, extra whatever, when it really counts?

Emergency Service agencies are filled with people who have the ability to do that. Work hard, then work harder. No matter how tired, now matter how little sleep, no matter how horrific the scene, we have to just get it done. And mostly, we do.

I overheard a college student today, complaining to her friend, about how she didn't know how she was going to make it through her class, since she had only gotten SIX HOURS of sleep.
I don't remember the last time I got a solid six hours.

But it isn't just the ability to function while tired. There are other aspects, too, that I find interesting, or puzzling.

Like how I don't usually need to pee during a scene. Something about the adrenaline, or the need to focus, I don't know what it is, but while I generally run to the bathroom more frequently than average (sorry for the overshare!), it doesn't happen on scene.

Another example is my daughter, who has a history of passing out at the sight of blood.
But she's an EMT. And on scene... she's fine with it. Maybe she only passes out at a little blood? Or maybe only her own? I don't know- but it hasn't been an issue on scene, ever.

One of the reasons I always wanted to be involved in the Fire Service and EMS is that I tend to stay calm, and remain functional, in emergency, high stress, situations.
Now, I know lots of people like that.
What I don't know is why. What makes people able to do that? Where does that come from?