Gerry was a volunteer with his local life squad/ambulance service.  One day he heard an accident while raking leaves in his front lawn.  He ran down to the end of the street and started treating the victims, enrolling bystanders to summon the police, life squad and help in other ways.  Two of the victims walked away and two had to be taken to the hospital.

After the run to the hospital, Gerry was at the station helping to clean out the ambulance for the next call when the life squad captain walked in.

“Gerry, I noticed you were on the scene of this accident without your red life squad coat on.”

Gerry explained why he had gone straight to the scene without putting his coat on, going to the station, and riding with the ambulance even though he had been “on call”.

“But wearing your coat is important so people can identify you as a life squad member.”

“Good point.  I’ll be careful the next time"

"Wait a minute.  How did you notice I wasn’t wearing my coat?”

“I drove by.”

 “Are you telling me you drove by the scene of a two car accident, saw that I was the only life squad member there and you chose to come by here and remind me to wear my coat the next time?  How about stopping to help!”

It doesn’t matter what words they actually use.  The underlying Burning Imperative of every life squad, ambulance team, first responder of any sort must be “help people in need”.   This life squad captain was not living the message.  You must.  Be. Do. Say.

[excerpt from The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan – Bradt, Check, Pedraza – Wiley, 2009]