Johnny came to work feeling tired and rundown. He had been fighting nasal congestion for a couple of days and now his chest was beginning to hurt. As he entered the locker room, Roy and Chet were dressing in front of their respective lockers. Roy looked over at John and noticed his haggard look.

“John, is everything okay? You're looking kind of tired.”

“I think I'm developing a cold. My head has been plugged up for a couple of days and my chest feels a little congested; throat's a little sore too. I don't think it's too serious...I don't seem to be running a fever. I'll just have to work through it.”

Chet made a suggestion. “There's a really good new decongestant I picked up the last time I was sick. It really helped to keep my head clearer."

“Chet, nothing could keep your head clear! Oh well, I think I'll pick some up the next time we're out. I feel like my head is stuffed with cotton.

Just then the klaxon went off. The rescue was nothing too exciting: a kid with his head stuck in a wrought iron fence. John and Roy stopped at the drugstore and picked up some of Chet's miracle cure.

John lay back relaxing on the couch as he waited for Mike to get lunch ready. The medication was making him drowsy, but it did seem to be helping the congestion at a little bit.

“Lunch!” Mike called as he put the stew he had made for lunch on the table. Everyone came and sat down.

Compliments were passed around the table as everyone enjoyed lunch. John was really enjoying this as the flavour of the stew seemed to be penetrating through the reduced sensation of his taste buds. Suddenly, his nose felt itchy. Without any warning, he blew a mighty sneeze that sent millions of bacteria and other less than pleasant particles all over the table, his coworkers and their lunches.

Chet was the first to respond. “Man, Gage, you're absolutely disgusting!”

Cap put in his two cents. “Gage, haven't you ever heard of covering your mouth?” The rest of the crew contented themselves with throwing John dirty looks.

“I'm sorry, guys. I just don't know where it came from.”

Roy made suggestion. “Johnny, I really think you need to get some Kleenex and you may want change your shirt.”

John looked down. “Oh, gross!”

The afternoon continued quiet. A couple of minor rescues, and was John ever glad. Despite the cold medicine he was starting to feel a lot worse. He was starting to feel some shortness of breath, and the congestion in his head seemed to be as bad if not worse. He took another dose of the cold medication and he lay out on the couch. He covered himself with a blanket as he was starting to feel cold.

Roy and Captain Stanley found him lying there seemingly asleep.

“Roy, I wonder if you should take Johnny to Rampart and get him checked out?”

“Cap, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him and he seems to be getting worse we'll go in. I think it's the medication that's making him sleepy.”

“Well, we'll let him rest between runs if it seems to help him out.”

“Station 51, Structure fire, 2503- 232 Street. Time out 15:47”

“KMG 365”

The guys were responding in the squad. John let out another gigantic sneeze smacking his forehead on the dashboard as he did so.

“John, you'd better watch those sneezes before you knock yourself unconscious.”

“HA! HA! HA!”

They arrived at the scene to find a playhouse engulfed in flames. A woman came running to the engine.

“My daughter and her friend are trapped in there!”

Roy and Johnny went to get their breathing apparatus. “Johnny, I think you should stay outside because of your cold. I'll hand the girls out to you.”

“I think you're making too much of a fuss, but okay.”

The guys went to a window. The two girls were huddled just inside. John broke it with his helmet and Roy slid inside. He handed the first girl to John and the second to Chet who came to assist in the rescue. John seemed to be having more trouble catching his breath. The two firemen started the girls on oxygen while they waited for Roy to arrive.

“Rampart, this is Squad 51. We have 2 females aged approximately 12 suffering form smoke inhalation and some minor burns. Vitals on victim number one: BP 94 over 60, pulse 70 and thready, respiration 15 and shallow. Second victim: BP 85 over 55, pulse 67, respiration 18.”

“Squad 51, start IV D5W on both victims, wrap burns in sterile dressings, and continue on oxygen”

“10-4, Rampart”

John rode in with the victims. While in transport he started having severe bouts of coughing. The spasms were pretty bad. He brought up a small amount of phlegm. He figured he had probably inhaled a bit of smoke and thought it would clear up with something to drink.

John told Dixie to tell Roy that he would wait in the coffee room for him.. Dixie was concerned when she noticed John seemed a bit breathless. She enquired how John was feeling and he told her it was nothing serious, that he had just inhaled a bit of smoke at the last fire. Dixie decided she would talk to Roy when he came in.

“Roy, did you notice how haggard John was looking? He seemed to be having some trouble breathing.”

“He has been sick all day but it just seemed to be a head cold. If he's starting to have difficulty breathing, I think he should be checked out.”

"He's not going to like that.”

“If there's any complaints, I'll contact the Captain. Then he won't have any choice.”

John started to have a bad coughing spell. The spasms were incredible and he couldn't get his breath. He was finally able to bring up a large quantity of phlegm. He took several breaths as deeply as he could and lay down on the couch exhausted.

Dixie and Roy went to the coffee room. John was lying on the couch, sleeping, showing definite signs of respiratory difficulties.

“I'm going to call the Captain. I don't think Johnny can continue his shift.”

“I'll call some orderlies and we'll get John into a treatment room.”

There was very little protest from John. He was feeling like hell. He was actually glad to wear the oxygen mask. Dixie was taking his vitals as Dr. Brackett came into the room. Dixie filled him as to what had happened.

He took out the stethoscope and listened to John's lungs. There seemed to be some congestion and he was wheezing.

“Well, Johnny, I hear you're not feeling too well.”

“I've had cold symptoms for the last couple of days, but I'm feeling a lot worse.”

“Could you give more specifics?”

“My head is totally plugged up. All that seems to come from my nose is water and small amounts of blood. I've been coughing up a lot of phlegm, but it's really painful.”

“I understand that you took some cold medication earlier today. Did it seem to help?”

“Not really.”

“There doesn't seem to be any sign of fever. Have you ever had any allergies?”

“Yes, I used to have sinus allergies when I was little, but I haven't had any problems in years.”

“Given the symptoms of the two complaints are similar, I would like to give you a small amount of antihistamine to see how you respond.”

A couple of hours later, Dr. Brackett checked on John. His breathing seemed a bit easier and he seemed less groggy.

“You seem to be doing a bit better. How are you feeling?”

“My breathing isn't as hard and my sinuses seem to be a little less congested.”

“We'll continue the medication and keep you overnight for observation. I'll phone and let Roy know. He'll probably stop by the next time he's in. By the way, have there been any changes in your lifestyle that could have caused the allergy?”

“The only thing that has changed is my brand of laundry soap.”

“Does it have a scent?”

"Yes.”

“Well if it is your laundry soap, everything you're wearing that has been washed recently is probably aggravating your allergies. I would recommend you try changing your soap. If that doesn't work we'll have to send you to an allergist. Once out of here continue the antihistamines until your symptoms disappear.”

“Thanks, Doc!”

The End