An anonymous donation during a harrowing shift is a great reminder to look out for others.Being a paramedic is a tough vocation. These men and women have to cope with crises and life and death situations, as well as the physical exhaustion of shift work. To top it off, in more recent years they’ve also had to contend with inconsiderate members of the public not pulling over to let their ambulances pass, or complaining that these life-saving vehicles are blocking driveways. As one British ambulance driver, Gary Turley, said to the BBC: “At the moment there’s lots of negative notes on windscreens. Unfortunately it’s the nature of the job.”
So when Turley and his crew returned to their ambulance after attending to a patient recently, they were surprised and delighted to find a note attached to their windscreen, along with a £10 note (that’s about $13). It stated: “You’re blocking our drive … No worries. Buy a coffee when you can.” Turley said the crew’s first thought was that it was another complaint. However, they found the thoughtful act of kindness “really uplifting and [it] restored our faith in humanity.”
The anonymous donation came during a “busy and emotional shift,” explained Turley, and we loved that the donor was thoughtful enough to recognize that the crew might not even have time to have that cup of coffee. Turley also pointed out that paramedics do their best to park their ambulances in convenient places, but saving lives has to be their priority.
The thoughtful gesture is a timely reminder to us all to look out for others, even — or especially — when we feel inconvenienced.
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Grocery store worker creates a “miracle in action” with his act of kindness
