Fresh Fish Anyone?

[SB 405]

I heard this story yesterday on the news and thought I'd share.....Seems a citizen called in saying a ladder was sitting in the middle of the HOV lane. Upon arriving on scene the Officer didn't find a ladder however he/she did find a whole 200lb. frozen Tuna laying in the lane. Other units were assigned to assist (I'd of loved to hear that radio traffic) and tied a rope around the push bars and ol Charlie's tail to pull him off to the shoulder. Just another day on the job I guess.

[Tom]

My old beat partner and current pilot told me a story one time about when he worked in west LA. They got a call of an 11-25 pig in the lanes. They all said, "yea, sure, whatever" and responded. To their surprise there was a 300 pound plus pig laying in the lane. It had obviously fallen out of a truck because it had some road rash. Well all of their best efforts to move it failed. You can imagine the traffic mess. Well the farmer/rancher guy comes back and starts yelling at the pig in spanish. "Andelez Chico!" Well the pig jumped to its feet and back into the back of the truck. Problem solved.

Tom

[Mac]

...however he/she did find a whole 200lb. frozen Tuna laying in the lane.

Mmmmmmmmm...sashimi!!! :biggrin:

[Capsicum]

Hmm, it's a small world. I was the secondary unit at this call.

Primary unit arrived on scene with the fish partially blocking the HOV lane of I-405 N/B JSO Beach. We tried to physically move it, but this thing was just too darn heavy. So we stopped traffic, primary turned their car around and I hooked the rope to the patrol car's push bumper and the primary backed the fish off the freeway, leaving a nice fishy skidmark across all the lanes. After we left, Cal-Trans had aimed a camera at the location where the fish was left and there was someone trying to pull the thing into their vehicle, without much success. Yet another unit had to go shoo them off. Cal-Trans arrived and cut it in half and removed it.

This is easily the most hilarious call that I have been on.

A few pictures for your enjoyment.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1205/dsc034098yj.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc034098yj.jpg)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1857/dsc034180du.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc034180du.jpg)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5251/dsc034170hn.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc034170hn.jpg)

[16528]

Try posting the pics at http://www.imageshack.us/

[SB 405]

"All right folks move along nothing to see here. It's just your everyday Tuna tied off to the front of a patrol car....come on eyes forward keep it moving"


Maybe you should submit those photos to The California Highway Patrolman (is that still the name of the Patrol's magazine?) I'm sure readers would get a few laughs. Or blow that second photo up and let's play a little game of "Caption This"

[Mac]

I couldn't really see it until I blew the third pic up, but then I noticed the 422 in it's mouth - LOL! :lol:

Maybe you should submit those photos to The California Highway Patrolman (is that still the name of the Patrol's magazine?)
Unfortunately, the magazine became defunct a couple years ago. I don't know how everybody else felt about it, but I was sorry to see it happen.

[redhead]

I couldn't really see it until I blew the third pic up, but then I noticed the 422 in it's mouth - LOL! :lol:

[quote]Maybe you should submit those photos to The California Highway Patrolman (is that still the name of the Patrol's magazine?)

Yeah, I saw the 422 as well, and had a good laugh. :lol:

[Your Mentor]

Yeh, I miss the magazine. It was cool to see pictures of friends dealing with bizarre stuff. I had a few great fatals in it.

[SB 405]

So just what did happen to the magazine? I was a subscriber for about four years and really enjoyed the stories and photos. I'm really sorry to hear it's not around any more. Did the CHP help finance the magazine at all?

[SB 405]

Just so I can be in the the loop is a "422" what you put on a disabled vehicle?

[Mac]

Just so I can be in the the loop is a "422" what you put on a disabled vehicle?
Yep - it's that yellow tag that you see on disabled/abandoned vehicles.

[Your Mentor]

Most of the magazine's advertisers were just local tow companies and such. Ultimately it just became cost prohibitive to operate though I doubt it would cost as much now given current computer systems.

[SB 405]

After looking at those great pics of that fish laying on the freeway I was wondering if most of you guys carry cameras while on duty? Man we could really see some fun stuff here if you did. My brother-in-law who's a Firefighter always carries one of those disposable Kodak cameras in his turnout coat and takes pictures of some of the strange runs he respones too. And man let me tell you,those Firemen sure have a macob sense of humor at times.:shock:

[Tom]

If you are talking about fatal pics, I would say that cops have a sick sense of humor as well. I have a whole bunch of gnarly pics that I wouldn't show 99.9% of the time. I think that cops and fireman have that "sick sense of humor" because it's a way to "vent" and not bring that tragedy/event home.

Tom

[Mac]

After looking at those great pics of that fish laying on the freeway I was wondering if most of you guys carry cameras while on duty?
Yep, my digital is with me at all times....never know when you're going to have that perfect photo op!

...and yeah, cops have that same sense of humor. Like Tom said, I think it's a defense/coping mechanism to a great extent. I try to be very conscious of the company I'm in when discussing such things, because there are a LOT of people who can't/don't see humor in such things and get very offended by it....been there done that a couple of times! :shock:

[Capsicum]

I always have my digital camera in my bag. You never know when you might need it.

[16528]

Hmm, it's a small world. I was the secondary unit at this call.

Primary unit arrived on scene with the fish partially blocking the HOV lane of I-405 N/B JSO Beach. We tried to physically move it, but this thing was just too darn heavy. So we stopped traffic, primary turned their car around and I hooked the rope to the patrol car's push bumper and the primary backed the fish off the freeway, leaving a nice fishy skidmark across all the lanes. After we left, Cal-Trans had aimed a camera at the location where the fish was left and there was someone trying to pull the thing into their vehicle, without much success. Yet another unit had to go shoo them off. Cal-Trans arrived and cut it in half and removed it.

This is easily the most hilarious call that I have been on.

A few pictures for your enjoyment.

Did you or your PAO email those pics to Megan Bucko for the Zenith???

[bcjack]

Yes!!!! Cops, Firefighters, and Emergency Medical Workers do have an interesting sense of humor...It is a well documented fact that it is our coping mechanism for all of the nasty stuff we see every day. Things like "Crispy Critter" for a burned body, "TBC" (Total Body Crunch) for a person with multiple-major injuries are just some of the terms that are part of our coping mechanism...to the lay person, these may seem cruel and uncaring, but we are all far from it.

Maybe we should start a "Public Safety Dictionary" kind of like the Blue Collar Comedy Hour "Redneck Dictionary"???

[x MAIT]

How about DRT (dead right there), or Ped Spread (for a ped hit on the freeway so many times that he/she is spread out for hundreds of feet in hundreds of pieces). I remember one time on I-5, we closed the entire freeway and the coroner pushed his stretcher from Atlantic to Washington and picked up pieces as we went along.

[FuelInjection09]

How about DRT (dead right there), or Ped Spread (for a ped hit on the freeway so many times that he/she is spread out for hundreds of feet in hundreds of pieces). I remember one time on I-5, we closed the entire freeway and the coroner pushed his stretcher from Atlantic to Washington and picked up pieces as we went along.

I've been in a similar situation. Some lady laid herself down on the I-5 at Roxford. To make a long story short, she ended up being turned into hamburger meat. That was the first dead body I've ever seen, and it surprised me that it didn't even make me flinch. I guess all the funny jokes the officers were telling made light of everything. :rolleyes: :lol:

[bcjack]

The nastiest (is that a word???) Ped Spread I ever saw was a Residentially Challenged (Homeless) guy who ran out infront of an 18-wheeler going about 65, northbound 101 in northern Santa Maria (Yep...it was a suicide). He was spread over a 1/2 mile...CHP and Coroner called the fire department to wash down the freeway after all of the big pieces were picked up. (That was before bio-hazard concerns):confused:

[pupdog]

Question about the death stuff that I'd wondered about, but I think it's been answered...so a trip to the coroner's office isn't part of academy curriculum? I wanted to make ABSOLUTE sure this was for me, and when one of my teachers offered to set up a tour, I jumped on the chance. I mean, who wants to go through all the hiring & academy, only to find they can't cope with death? The decedent we saw being autopsied had died in a crash the night before. They determined the casue of death was a burst aorta. Fascinating...the blood vessels are actually white! I was fine, except for THE SMELL! Ooh, that cooler full of unidentifieds!
So, no on the academy field trip then?

[bcjack]

pupdog:

I would suggest you try to do a few ride alongs with a local ambulance or fire department. Most of the time, you will get a touch of the blood and gore and see if this is really what you want to do...I had a volunteer firefighter that was really hot to join us, and then he saw his first "Crispy Critter" (Burnt body)...He was out of there like a flash. His career decision was made right then and there. He wasreally a great guy and would have made a good firefighter, but he decided that was not his cup of tea. :confused:

[FuelInjection09]

Question about the death stuff that I'd wondered about, but I think it's been answered...so a trip to the coroner's office isn't part of academy curriculum? I wanted to make ABSOLUTE sure this was for me, and when one of my teachers offered to set up a tour, I jumped on the chance. I mean, who wants to go through all the hiring & academy, only to find they can't cope with death? The decedent we saw being autopsied had died in a crash the night before. They determined the casue of death was a burst aorta. Fascinating...the blood vessels are actually white! I was fine, except for THE SMELL! Ooh, that cooler full of unidentifieds!
So, no on the academy field trip then?

I'm not sure, but a trip to the Sacramento County Coroners Office would be cool. I'm sure the instructors will show us all kinds of gory photos, videos, and share stories. Remember, the CHP has been producing the Red Asphalt videos since the late 1950s. I think they just came out with Red Asphalt V, but that hasn't been released for public use yet. So I'm sure we'll have hours of fun watching those.

[pupdog]

bcjack--that's exactly why I went. I found myself really fascinated & wanting a closer look! I've been a couple of times now. Trust me, there's nothing subtle about it. You'll never look at a few common household appliances the same way again. I just really dislike the rotting smell! After watching them do their thing, they show plenty of pictures of just about every situation, including one that I'd heard about when I did a ride-along with the officer who responded 1st...unrestrained baby, brains everywhere (mom didn't have a scratch). Grrr, I want to write tickets so bad!

[redhead]

.... videos since the late 1950s. I think they just came out with Red Asphalt V, but that hasn't been released for public use yet. So I'm sure we'll have hours of fun watching those.
More Information (http://www.chp.ca.gov/pdf/05-41.pdf) ;)

[FuelInjection09]

Oh cool, it's out now... I read a bulletin on it a few months ago. We'll have a Red Asphalt marathon at the academy one of these days. :lol:

[chico.medic]

I couldn't really see it until I blew the third pic up, but then I noticed the 422 in it's mouth - LOL! :lol: Can you tow a fish if it's been abandoned for more than 4 hours?

Question about the death stuff that I'd wondered about, but I think it's been answered...so a trip to the coroner's office isn't part of academy curriculum? I wanted to make ABSOLUTE sure this was for me, and when one of my teachers offered to set up a tour, I jumped on the chance. I mean, who wants to go through all the hiring & academy, only to find they can't cope with death? The decedent we saw being autopsied had died in a crash the night before. They determined the casue of death was a burst aorta. Fascinating...the blood vessels are actually white! I was fine, except for THE SMELL! Ooh, that cooler full of unidentifieds! So, no on the academy field trip then?
We were required to do an 8 hour rotation @ the coroners office back in Medic school. Eight hours, and three autopsies later......it was defiantly a learning experience. Best A&P class I've ever taken. :biggrin:

I would suggest you try to do a few ride-a-longs with a local ambulance or fire department. Most of the time, you will get a touch of the blood and gore and see if this is really what you want to do
Jack, before I embark on my little speech, I want to point out that I realize you said, ?Just a touch of blood and gore.?

Ride-a-longs are call killers. I've only had one ride-a-long that has ever seen anything outside of a normal day, you know, been there and saw anything gory or tragic. And by normal day I mean; chest pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, fall, fall, chest pain, take grandma back to the nursing home, fall, ill person, I?m out of vicodin and w/ my Medi-Cal your ambulance is cheaper than a taxi, chest pain..................

I'm amazed at how hypnotized people are by the media and Hollywood. People come up to me all the time and say things like, "Whoa, so you must see some pretty crazy stuff....have you seen a lot of dead people?" And the answer is yes. Yes random citizen who is interrupting my very short coffee break and mistook my uniform for an open invitation to ask a really, really dumb question. I have seen dead people. But the reality of my career is that most days I see people wasting YOUR tax dollars by calling me for a cat scratch, or a hang nail, or God knows what else, and sending the bill to whatever government aid program they might be on or qualify for this week.

I guess the point of that little rant was, don?t do a ride-a-long to see if you can handle the blood and gore. The reality is you probably won?t get any calls like that, but you will more realistically see something much, much scarier and more heart breaking: Like Grandpa living alone w/ no family locally, or at all for that matter, with nothing but a can of beans in his pantry, who fell three days ago, and has been crawling across the floor, saturated in his own urine and feces.

I suppose it would be like speculating that all LEO?s are involved in the equivalent of the North Hollywood shootout every shift. Firefighters pull small children from burning building?s every time they put on their turnouts. Paramedics shocking every person who is flat-line and getting a pulse back. People don?t realize that our lives are simply not as exciting as explosions and gunfire and mangled cars on the freeway. Sure, it happens, but rarely.

[CGMK]

Chico, funny you mention chest pain. When I did my 12 hours in an AMR rig in Oakland for my EMT-B, I was stoked. I thought I would be pluggin holes, "high flow 02 and go", doing CPR going 75 to the ER, nope. No trauma, all medical. All chest pain. And "I ate three of theese, five and theese, two of this kind, and then I took a nitro; now my chest hurts... is that bad?' Not the excitement I thought I would see as a rookie in EMS.

[AyatollahGondola]

I'm not sure, but a trip to the Sacramento County Coroners Office would be cool. I'm sure the instructors will show us all kinds of gory photos, videos, and share stories. Remember, the CHP has been producing the Red Asphalt videos since the late 1950s. I think they just came out with Red Asphalt V, but that hasn't been released for public use yet. So I'm sure we'll have hours of fun watching those.

I applied for the local sheriff's volunteer program and they sent me to DART since I was a diver. One of the training programs requires a trip to the coroners office to make sure you are up to the task of recovering bodies underwater.

Also, back in the '60's One of my friends had two brothers in the patrol. I remember hearing them laugh about this macabre stuff once while the older one related an accident experience in which a man had been decapitated. The rule was, if the ambulance was on scene and the victim was alive, the medics were to take them obviously. But if there was an 1144, then the officer had to wait for the coroner. So in a lighthearted manner, the officer who didn't want to wait on scene for the coroner went to the headless body and said "Hey!...I've got a pulse" to the exiting ambulance team, who were stunned for a minute and said "...wwwhaaat?......wait a minute....naaaaw. they were both chuckling over this for several minutes.

[chico.medic]

Chico, funny you mention chest pain. When I did my 12 hours in an AMR rig in Oakland for my EMT-B, I was stoked. I thought I would be pluggin holes, "high flow 02 and go", doing CPR going 75 to the ER, nope. No trauma, all medical. All chest pain. And "I ate three of theese, five and theese, two of this kind, and then I took a nitro; now my chest hurts... is that bad?' Not the excitement I thought I would see as a rookie in EMS.

LOL, yea......."I just finished my eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns with gravy, biscuits & gravy w/ extra gravy, and a bucket of gravy and now I have chest pain, is that bad? Oh yea, and I just took 15 of my nitro tabs and I cant figure out why my blood pressure is 60/30."

[CGMK]

Chico, you a good cook?

[FDandH]

I can't believe nobody has said this yet:

Those pictures look a little fishy....

[chico.medic]

Chico, you a good cook? I get by......Thank God my diet is nothing like that though. You want an apple or a carrot? :biggrin: