Would you be a first responder in your pajamas?
By spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
United States
January 28, 2009 10:17am CST
A little bit ago I was sitting here typing away on Mylot when I heard a loud BOOM! It was loud enough to bring my daughter nextdoor out front, too. Since we live in a small neighborhood in a country setting there's not a lot of things that go BOOM out here so we were wondering what it was...when I saw the smoke coming from down the street. I don't really know the folks at the other end of the block but I do know that there's a young mother living down there somewhere with three little ones so what do I do? Grab my cell phone, my keys and with my little dog tagging behind me, I jummp into my truck to head down there. I'm still in my pajamas and have no shoes on but, if someone's house is on fire every second counts. Fortunately, it turned out that someone was burning trash or something in their back yard and I guess something he was burning exploded. Had a house been on fire would I have gone in or tried to go in? Yes, because I definitely wouldn't have been able to live with myself if those babies had perished while I stood by outside...or anyone else for that matter. I'm not saying that I would have been stupid about it but, if it were possible to get inside to see if anyone was in there, I would have. The fire department isn't close by.
Lesson learned today: Get in the shower and get dressed earlier in the morning.
What would you do if a fire broke out near your home and you were the first one who could possibly get there? Would you just call 911 and wait or would you try to help anyone who may be inside?
7 people like this
21 responses
@moneymommy (3418)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I would rush over to help even if in pajamas while I was dialing 911. My first instinct is always to help.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jan 09
That's how I felt. I'm glad I didn't have to face something like that but I've always felt that people need to stick together and watch out for each other.
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I would help people get out first. There could be kids in the home unable to get out. A few years ago a trailer on our property that was unoccupied caught fire. It was real bad. My step dad had his ride on lawn mower stored in the shed that was next to it. The fire spread to the shed. My step dad knew if the fire got to the gas there may be a big explosion. So he ran in and drove the thing out. He got second and third degree burns. The fire was real bad.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Wow, that was brave of him! He's right, it would have been a lot worse if the fire had reached that gas.
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Oh yes! Many years ago I smelled smoke and looked out my bedroom window and saw my neighbors garage down the street on fire. I immediately called 911 and my son who was about 17 at the time ran out to the house next to the garage and woke that family up as they were less thsn 20 feet from the fire and got them out. The homeowner whose garage it at the end of their property was about 100 feet away was already out by then, and within 5 minutes the fire department was there. If my son were not home, I would hav been the one to run down the street ( but I would have put on shoes, the sidewalk is concrete and it was winter 
)
)1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Fortunately, I'm in Florida or my feet would have gotten cold! We smell smoke a lot down here during this time because it's harvest season for the sugar cane but sometimes we smell a different kind of smoke and I'm always trying to figure out where it's coming from. You just never know.
@KatieDidit (989)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I'm sure I would have done exactly as you did since I've been in the same type of situation before...And I'd go in my pajama's too!
I think it's great your daughter lives next door. My family is a close family too. I live next door to my Mom (and one of my sisters lives with her) and I have another sister and her family that live on the other side of my Mom. The county won't allow us to split the property any further or I'd have my boys build next to me too. Oh well.
I think it's great your daughter lives next door. My family is a close family too. I live next door to my Mom (and one of my sisters lives with her) and I have another sister and her family that live on the other side of my Mom. The county won't allow us to split the property any further or I'd have my boys build next to me too. Oh well.1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Yes, I love having my daughter and the grandkids nextdoor to me. She would have gone down there with me but she had the little ones so there was no way she could have helped.
@sandymay48 (2030)
• Canada
28 Jan 09
Absolutely I would call 911 while i was on my way to help no matter what i was wearing...Im sure if someone is in trouble, they will be greatful for the help and not care what you are wearing..and as for pajamas...I beleive they are worn by teens a lot anyways now so who would really notice!!
@ashley2009 (85)
• United States
28 Jan 09
If a fire broke out near my house I would call 911 then quickly get out and try to help asap. I normally get ready early in the morning so that should be a problem because I wake up at like five in the morning. Because if I didn't help them i would never be able to live with myself I would feel sad if something had happended and i could have helped. so i would def. help them out!
1 person likes this
@ldynimaway (704)
• United States
29 Jan 09
I too would be there as fast as possible in pj's no shoes and so on to help if needed. I would have done exactly what you did. I am noticing in these days and times it seems unfortunately people do not seem to want to get involved and help as they did in the past and this is very sad. I will always be one that tries to help in whatever way I can. I hope my neighbors are like you.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I wasn't exactly a fashion plate this morning. 
These were pajamas with short pants because our warm weather has returned so I know I was a sight. Oh well, at least it turned out to be nothing.
These were pajamas with short pants because our warm weather has returned so I know I was a sight. Oh well, at least it turned out to be nothing.1 person likes this
@phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Yeah, I would be. Pajamas are my uniform, though. For some reason, I can only bring myself to dress in my nice clothes when I'm going somewhere. Otherwise, they're liable to get stained while I'm cooking or doing housework. People might think I'm a lazy slob for wearing jammies all the time, which is really just a t-shirt a cute pajama pants, but they can just deal with it. I like to be comfortable when I'm at home and I don't see the point in getting dressed just to do housework. Anyway, you rock for going to see if anyone needed help. I probably wouldn't go to see what happened, unless it was really close, because I would have to walk all the way there. I would call 911, though, but I wouldn't be worried about it taking long for them to get there because the fire station is about 3 or 4 blocks away and we live in a really small town so they are really quick to respond.
1 person likes this
@squirt051305 (381)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I was talking to Jen on IM on here when that happened. Your a good person for getting up and going to see if anyone was hurt! I bet the mother was very thankful for it!! I would of done the same thing if I was you in that situation.
I use to be in my pj's until mid-day but now that I sell Avon I gotta be always ready to leave just in case so I try to get a shower and dressed by 9am....earlier the better! 
Happy mylotting!
Happy mylotting!@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Hi Tanya! We don't often hear booms where we are, unless the space shuttle is coming in, so Jen and I knew something was up. As soon as I saw the smoke I knew I had to check it out. I know Jen would have rather been the one to go down there since she used to want to be a firefighter but that's what she gets for having those kids! Kiss the baby on his little head for me. 
Kiss the baby on his little head for me. 
@lampar (7584)
• United States
30 Jan 09
No doubt i will be the first to respond to unusual loud sound no matter i am in pajamas or underwear. Once i heard a loud "bang" outside where two car in collision at a traffic light cross road close to my house at early hour of morning, i ran out as quickly as i can to check out and also to see what i can do to help, fortunately this dude suffered only minor injury and the car is not on fire, so i just called 911 for him and help him sit by side for ambulance and police arrival, one will never know a little bit of effort sometimes can go a long way in saving a pleasure life, it makes me feel real good to save life.
@camomom (7535)
• United States
30 Jan 09
I would want to go help but it would depend on whether or not my kids would be left alone or not. I would call 911 either way.
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
29 Jan 09
I've gone to the ER in blood soaked Jammies when my son hurt himself. Didn't think twice... until it was over. Then I kind of did a bit of thinking.
I would be a first responder in whatever I was in. I have a cell phone so I can dial 911 and run.
My hubby helped control a fire that had spread from a burning truck to the neighbors porch while I had their kids with me. He had been in bed. He was out there in Boxers, a t-shirt and untied sneakers.
You did good!
@stella1989 (2274)
• India
29 Jan 09
I would have done the same what you did..
Seriously why would I care what I am wearing or how am I smelling while some one's life is in danger!!
Yes definitely Lesson learnt is.. getting up early and get ready even on an holiday.
Though the first thing to do is call 911 before you get inside that house ..or may be in your way if the sound of explosion was really big.. and then try to help them.
And yes I would also try to take some one with me like my husband or my neighbour.
You are very good woman may God bless you.
happy new year!!
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
29 Jan 09
I'll call 9/11 on the way to it, or atleast as soon as I confirmed there was a fire. Then I'd throw down the phone and run to help.
We've have two housefires. I know what it's like. If you can help and call for help, then you SHOULD, imo. I know I'll always be eternally grateful to those who helped us.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
29 Jan 09
Sure I would go in my night clothes well I mean I guess the weather would play a part in that lol I would try to help if I could and I would call 911 for sure.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
29 Jan 09
Hey spalladino! I think that was really brave of you to jump
into your car and go running over to that house, but I'm
not sure that if there really was an explosion if that would
have been the best thing for you to do! It was a nice thought
that you want to help if you could, but what if there was a
fire, what good would it do if you risked yourself to help
and made things worse by you getting trapped too? Where I live
the fire department is always being called for every little
thing! Luckily it is right down the hill from here, but since
it is always called out for things that don't really need
a fire department it worries me that if they are needed for
something important they won't be able to respond because they
are busy doing the not so important stuff! Please don't try
to be a hero and just call 911 and the go check it out if
you want. Your safety too is most important! I'm sure your
own family would agree!
@flame2000 (99)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I moved to Wisconsin last year and I live in the woods.If something like that happens, I would want to know about it.There are only farms around so if you hear a BOOM,you'd need to investigate....LOL!...Yes,I,d be out of the door in a flash!!
@sahmof2 (274)
• United States
29 Jan 09
If there was a way to get into a burning house without putting my life in danger I would probably go in and help. Especially if there was one adult and mutiple little children because the children would need someone to help them and the adult probably wouldn't be able to help them all and if the fire station is far. Even if I stayed outside I'll catch a child if the people inside had to jump out of a window. I guess helping out is better than just being around doing nothing.
