When I was a little boy, I watched the show “Emergency” every single week. I carefully took in every rescue call that characters Roy DeSoto and John Gage took in “Squad 51.” The idea of paramedics serving as first responders at a fire department was a relatively new concept in 1972, when the show originated. My neighbors Colleen and Maureen Burke along with their younger brother John often stopped their playing with me long enough to take in an episode of “Emergency.” I wonder today if that show had some kind of impact on the careers each of us chose. Colleen is a juvenile probation officer. Maureen is a nurse. I chose ministry. One of my specialties over the years has been law enforcement chaplaincy. And John is a firefighter.
Some of the “Emergency” episodes were based on actual events, but it was still a typical television drama in the early 1970’s. Many of the harsh realities of the life of a firefighter or that of a nurse working in a trauma center were never addressed. And that is probably a good thing! I have indeed discovered such realities in my profession along with my lifelong friends, whom I watched Emergency with in 1972.

Firefighter John Burke was called to a scene this past week where a young man purposely drove his vehicle off a steep embankment into Lake Michigan. Good training paid its dividends. John and his partner were able to get in the water and rescue the man from the sinking vehicle. He was critically injured. The link to the news report is as follows: http://www.wisn.com/video/24264532/index.html

As I watched footage from a Milwaukee news channel, I was very proud of John. He was always the little brother whom we were forced to play with everyday. I am sure we played firefighters on some of those lazy summer days in the late 60’s and early ‘70’s. Now he is a first responder of the finest caliber. His mother passed away recently. She would have been extremely proud of her son.

I don’t recall Roy or Johnny going on any attempted suicide calls. But unfortunately that is not an uncommon call for service that fire departments around the nation must fulfill in their role as first responders. While John and his partner were pulling the attempted suicide victim out of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, a similar tragedy was taking place not far from my home. The mayor of Coppell, TX shot her daughter and then in turn killed herself with the same weapon this week.

Every year I assist law enforcement agencies here in Hood County with both attempted suicides and cases where individuals go on and take their own lives. It is a crisis that strikes both the poor and the wealthy. Suicidal people are often educated individuals who are pillars of our communities. And yet Suicide is an often misunderstood phenomenon The following list is just a few ideas that I have jotted down over the years to use in training sessions for new law enforcement chaplains. They are concepts I have borrowed from a variety of sources. In light of this week’s events, I thought it might be good to share it.

1. Putting things in order

2. Writing a will

3. A withdrawal from usual activities

4. Being preoccupied with death

5. Having experienced a recent loss

6. Feeling hopeless, helpless, and worthless

7. Increased drug or alcohol abuse

8. Giving hints…”I am of no use to anyone”

9. Showing agitated depression

10. Isolation

11. Suicidal Threats

Suicidal people have a real emergency going on in their life. In many cases, there is nothing we can do to prevent it from happening.  In such cases, there is little if any warning.  We may not be able to serve at the level that John Burke and his partner did this week, but perhaps our ability be alert will keep first responders from having to go out in the first place. Let’s be willing to serve those among us who are facing the emergency of depression or acute anxiety.   I am grateful today to be surrounded by heroes, who are willing to serve where they are needed.