Page 58 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Summer 2022 - Online Magazine

MARK HAMPTON
“ hat is
911, W
911, What is

YOUR
g
r
nc
e
Eme
Emergency? “
y?

by Gayle Willson at Grand Hearing Center

e must begin by saying training (First a person is
a big THANK YOU to Aid). When endangering
Wevery First Responder policies themselves or
who serves our communities in changed, he another person,
the South Plains area; many are became a first as well as in
volunteers, giving up personal and responder, incidents like
work time to answer emergency EMT. When a vehicle accidents.
calls. At Grand Hearing, we often 911 is called in,
cross paths with people in civil an ambulance Mark remembers
service. We want to especially give and fire engine an occasion when
a tribute to the husband of one of both respond. the EMT system
our patients, Mark Hampton. Mark was first being
and Lynda have been coming to our Mark has implemented. A
office for many years, as Lynda has a numerous person suffering
hearing deficit that we have treated stories of with PTSD
with hearing aids. Mark is a retired situations he was feeling
Lieutenant in the Lubbock Fire was called threatened, and
Department. to, some the police, the
extremely firemen, and the
Mark began in the department in dangerous. EMTs all came
1993 and worked at several of the Some of us remember when the LCU to aid, with everyone trying their
stations in Lubbock. Becoming dorms were on fire. Mark was on best to help in a little tiny house, and
a firefighter is a long process, that call, and Lynda remembers the everyone seemingly going in circles,
beginning with an application, a fear of realizing that her husband all with good intentions. Because of
written exam, and an agility test. was one of those getting that fire his training and experience, it was
At the time, only about ten of the under control. Lubbock firefighters Mark who was finally able to calm
400 who applied for civil service also respond with the police to the person down and get him the
positions were hired as firefighters. situations, even those that don’t help he needed.
involve a fire. First Responders are
When Mark began his career, he was the ones on the front lines when Mark and Lynda both experienced
a hoseman, with an ECA in medical a very frightening event when

58 Lubbock Senior Link