When the weather turns nasty most of us hunker down and ride it out. But there are those who make their living braving every element thrown at them. EMSA paramedics and EMT’s are in that group. Duffy McAnallen told KRMG news that storms bring many unique problems. “Our greatest fear is people driving in water they can’t get out of” McAnallen said. Duffy told us an EMSA crew had to face a situation like that last year. “Two of our medics made an outstanding rescue of a nurse from St. John who was trapped in her car.” McAnallen was quick to point out that the nurse wasn’t ignoring flood signs or warnings, she simply couldn’t see the danger. “Even someone who would never have the intention of driving into flood waters may not see the water due to visibility.”

Hear the extended interview with McAnallen and medic Chuck Smith.

Michael Garrison is also a medic, he noted that it doesn’t take as much rain as you might think to make things treacherous “just up to a half inch of water moving swiftly can take a car off the road.”

Garrison told KRMG there is danger not only in the amount of water, but in debris as well. “Anything from tree limbs, logs, just about anything you can think of can be flowing in that water” he began. “If you didn’t drown in that water, debris could cause severe injuries” he added.

Click here to listen to the entire interview with Michael.

McAnallen said it isn’t just the rain and runoff that can be fatal, power outages are deadly as well. “Both us (EMSA) and the fire department together run a lot of calls involving respiratory patients that have home breathing treatments and home ventilators that are now out of power and will not run.”

Both men along with medic Chuck Smith rattled off other things that pose a threat. “Blowing dust can irritate respiratory problems, lightning can be an issue and of course falling tree limbs and tornados cause traumatic injuries.”

The good folks at EMSA are ready to go tonight and any night Mother Nature puts on a show but they all ask one thing. “The best tip is, if the weather is bad, stay home” Garrison said as he smiled. Good advice, unless your job requires you go rescue others!