The main message in this episode was a big issue at the time. Firefighter paramedics in Los Angeles couldn't be promoted unless they were willing to give up being paramedics.
DeSoto is approved for promotion to engineer, meaning he would drive the fire truck and operate it at the scene. But he couldn't be a paramedic anymore. He's not sure which way to go, although it should be obvious to the viewer that good old Roy isn't going anywhere.
Still, his angst in reaching a decision is well played, as Roy balances the additional money he would make as an engineer with his love for paramedic work.
The gang's first call is interesting. Multiple cars have crashed in the fog on a freeway. Gage and DeSoto crawl into wrecked cars to treat victims, Rampart is getting slammed, and Kelly gives CPR to a 2-year-old girl.
Although I didn't see any commercials while watching this on DVD, they went to a commercial break as Kelly was giving CPR to the girl; a great hook to bring viewers back on the other side.
Once the paramedics reach Rampart, DeSoto talks to Brackett and Early about possibly leaving paramedics. They won't advise him either way but say he's the best paramedic in Los Angeles.
A subplot involves father and son victims of the freeway pileup. Turns out the teenage boy was told he has a weak heart and has led a sedentary life as a result. Brackett tells him it's more a matter of his heart working hard because it's not quite keeping up with his growing body, and the situation will correct itself with age. Still, the boy has grown accustomed to his lifestyle and resists believing Brackett.
Gage and DeSoto just sit down to dinner and get a call: Attempted suicide. They have trouble finding the address, but once there discover that the "suicide" in question only took six aspirin. Roy falls into the swimming pool, which was pretty funny. The marquis run to cap the episode is a building on fire. Gage and DeSoto go inside to rescue a security guard and barely make it out. DeSoto, in fact, gets blasted out of a second story window by an explosion. Great special effects here, and it looks like they really did blast Kevin Tighe out of the window.
Later, DeSoto tells Gage that he will turn down the promotion, and maybe in a year the rules will be changed and he can be promoted and still be a paramedic.
DeSoto is approved for promotion to engineer, meaning he would drive the fire truck and operate it at the scene. But he couldn't be a paramedic anymore. He's not sure which way to go, although it should be obvious to the viewer that good old Roy isn't going anywhere.
Still, his angst in reaching a decision is well played, as Roy balances the additional money he would make as an engineer with his love for paramedic work.
The gang's first call is interesting. Multiple cars have crashed in the fog on a freeway. Gage and DeSoto crawl into wrecked cars to treat victims, Rampart is getting slammed, and Kelly gives CPR to a 2-year-old girl.
Although I didn't see any commercials while watching this on DVD, they went to a commercial break as Kelly was giving CPR to the girl; a great hook to bring viewers back on the other side.
Once the paramedics reach Rampart, DeSoto talks to Brackett and Early about possibly leaving paramedics. They won't advise him either way but say he's the best paramedic in Los Angeles.
A subplot involves father and son victims of the freeway pileup. Turns out the teenage boy was told he has a weak heart and has led a sedentary life as a result. Brackett tells him it's more a matter of his heart working hard because it's not quite keeping up with his growing body, and the situation will correct itself with age. Still, the boy has grown accustomed to his lifestyle and resists believing Brackett.
Gage and DeSoto just sit down to dinner and get a call: Attempted suicide. They have trouble finding the address, but once there discover that the "suicide" in question only took six aspirin. Roy falls into the swimming pool, which was pretty funny. The marquis run to cap the episode is a building on fire. Gage and DeSoto go inside to rescue a security guard and barely make it out. DeSoto, in fact, gets blasted out of a second story window by an explosion. Great special effects here, and it looks like they really did blast Kevin Tighe out of the window.
Later, DeSoto tells Gage that he will turn down the promotion, and maybe in a year the rules will be changed and he can be promoted and still be a paramedic.
