Saturday, April 19, 2008

Graduation Time

Some time ago I expressed to you my satisfaction that I had approved all the required tests to graduate from Law School. Today, the graduation ceremony took place.

Though I had no high expectations for this event, but a formality that had to be fulfilled, it turned out to be a very satisfying and enjoyable morning. Lots of people from different careers were graduating, and it was good to see some people who took courses with me, but then separated, and were finally there graduating as I was.

The event made me think about people's own desires and aspirations, and reminded me that everyone has dreams and goals to achieve. This morning was a great event for everyone of us, our relatives and our families, since a goal, a big-league goal, had been achieved. Now, the future of our careers and life lays in our hands. Which one of us will continue studying and excel? Why ones are overperformers, which ones will just "play along", and which ones will fall in the mediocrity trap of underperformance? We are fortunate to have the answer to those questions in our hands.

Related to this recognition that I have achieved, I have a lot of people to thank. My first gratitude goes to my family, and specially my mother. Even though one's achievements become a reality because of one's own efforts and sacrifice, there is always people out there encouraging, giving support, and pushing you to expand the limits you thought were your last boundaries.

I must also express my gratitude to Federico Malavassi. You see, Federico is a huge personality. A very respected politician, he has occupied the seat as congressman, and he can be remembered by his strong and fierce political stands. On the academic arena, he is a marvelous teacher, more than a teacher, a mentor. He is one of the most literate people I have ever met, and along with him I have learned a ton of invaluable wisdom. Along my entire studies he was my tutor and mentor, and this victory would have probably not been possible without his help and support.

So, I am now officially a Law School graduate with a Bachellor's Cum Laude Probatus ("with honors", in latin) degree. But there is more to come, actually, much more. You'll find out soon, but in the meantime, you can enjoy the graduation pictures here:

Graduation UACA


Regards,
Luis.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

The unforgettable experience of sailing the jungle

Tortuguero National Park, located in the caribbean coast of Costa Rica, is one of the best parks to visit. This is confirmed by the fact that it is the third most visited park in the country, even though you can only get there by plane or boat.

We made our reservations at a place called Turtle Beach Lodge (http://turtlebeachlodge.com/). Most of the hotels located in Tortuguero offer full packages, so you don’t have to worry about anything during your stay. In this case, the package included 5 days/4 nights, transportation from San José to Caño Blanco (breakfast along the way), fast-boat transport from Caño Blanco to the hotel, all meals, free coffee and cookies whenever you wanted, 4 tours, and transportation back to San José (with lunch included)...

More on my travel blog

Thursday, March 20, 2008

First trip: Manuel Antonio

Having Susanne around here in Costa Rica is always a great joy for myself and my whole family. And of course, one cannot miss the opportunity and do some traveling across the land.

Costa Rica is a fairly small country, only 51.100km2, but there are lots and lots of wonderful sites to check out and see.

This time, we decided to go to Manuel Antonio...

More in my Travel Blog

Sunday, February 24, 2008

PAC y su fraude legislativo

Hoy quiero hacer mención sobre la situación política de Costa Rica con respecto a la aprobación de la agenda del Tratado de Libre Comercio con los Estados Unidos.

Es despreciable la posición del Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) de utilizar técnicas deplorables para trabar la gestión de los proyectos de ley que darán implementación al tratado. El PAC se ha inmiscuido en una actitud que es anti-constitucional y un claro irrespeto a la voluntad del pueblo costarricense que ya se pronunció a favor del tratado.

Bajo la teoría moderna del estado, la soberanía de la nación descansa en los ciudadanos, y estos, por razones de escala poblacional, la han depositado en sus representantes, que vienen a ser ustedes, los diputados de la asamblea legislativa. Así lo indican claramente los artículos 2, 3 y 4 de nuestra Constitución Política. Esto quiere decir que ustedes no son más que intermediarios, portadores del sentir del pueblo que los ha elegido y toda desviación de esa visión es traición a ese pueblo, como claramente lo expone el texto constitucional. Este principio tiene además otra consecuencia: cuando el pueblo ejerce directamente su soberanía, ustedes los diputados han sido suplantados por el pueblo, y no les queda espacio para ejercer su voluntad personal, sino que deben someterse indiscutiblemente a la decisión de la nación. Por este argumento sólo es que su posición ante el tratado es una burla directa al marco constitucional del país y por ende, un irrespeto a la soberanía absoluta del pueblo.

Es importante recordarle al PAC que la cantidad de diputados que tiene en la asamblea legislativa es consecuencia de la gran cantidad de votos que obtuvo su candidato presidencial Ottón Solís, pero no porque el pueblo lo apreciara como potencial presidente. La mayoría de los votos que obtuvo Solís fueron de ciudadanos que protestaron por la manipulación que hizo Oscar Arias de la Sala Constitucional y que le permitió ser candidato. Esto significa que políticamente, el PAC es un partido débil, pues el apoyo a sus personeros y su ideología es mucho menor de lo que imaginan.

Pero fuera de los argumentos jurídicos con que fácilmente se demuestra la falsedad en el actuar del PAC, hablemos por un momento de un tema caliente en Latinoamérica. La posición del PAC es consecuencia de la actitud soberbia y ebria en ego de su líder Ottón Solís, quien derrotado en el referéndum, no acepta que el pueblo considera que se ha equivocado. Por esto, se ha enfrascado en una discusión político-ideológica. La verdad es que el partido no piensa en el crecimiento económico del país, sino en defender sus ideales perdedores. El tratado es una pieza clave de inserción de la ínfima economía costarricense en un mundo que, nos guste o no, ya está globalizado. Y mientras perdemos tiempo, países como la China comunista, Irlanda y Polonia, entre otros, ya han logrado índices de crecimiento económico y reducción de la pobreza admirables. Desde su apertura económica, China ha sacado a 250 millones de personas de la pobreza. Irlanda, en 12 años, ha pasado de ser uno de los países más pobres de Europa, a tener un PIB por cápita de 32mil dólares (2.66 veces el de Costa Rica). Polonia, hasta hace poco un pobre país del ex-bloque soviético, aumentó la inversión extranjera en un 100% entre finales de los 90 y el 2004 y el fenómeno de crecimiento económico no es ajeno a los demás países de Europa del Este.

¿Por qué? La respuesta es sencilla. Mientras nuestros países se hunden en un círculo de pobreza, desempleo y delincuencia, estos otros países han tomado a la globalización con los brazos abiertos, haciéndolos cada vez más Investor Friendly, incorporándose a mercados multinacionales (como China en Asia y los países de Europa del Este con la Unión Europea, o México con el NAFTA). Porque no importa cuál es la ideología gobernante (el comunismo en China o el recién estrenado capitalismo en el Este de Europa), lo importante es una visión generalizada de hacer a los países cada vez más competitivos para atraer inversión extranjera.

Al Sr. Solís y sus sirvientes, un mensaje claro: en lugar de irrespetar al pueblo costarricense, de alejarnos cada vez más de la inserción en la economía mundial, y de enfrascarse en un debate ideológico-populista inútil, dediquen el tiempo a pensar en cómo hacer de este país un músculo de competitividad y eficiencia, que atraiga a los inversionistas extranjeros, y que nos ayude a progresar en un contexto mundial que se torna cada vez más competitivo y exigente.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Germany bullies Liechtenstein

Recent European news headlines had a very shocking topic: supposedly, thousands of German citizens are being investigated by federal authorities for a tax evasion scandal that could amount into the hundreds of millions of euros. Apparently, these people had fortunes invested into financial institutions of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

But what is more troubling is Germany’s position towards the Principality. Traditionally, Liechtenstein has been a European tax haven with a strict bank secrecy code. Germany is now accusing Liechtenstein of actively encouraging tax evasion for European citizens, and threatens the tiny country with sanctions and isolation.

Prince Alois of Liechtenstein has stepped up, protecting his country, businesses and customers, accusing Germany of a persecution and publicly denouncing Germany’s stance over the issue.

Now, let’s talk a little bit about this topic. Even though Germany is presenting itself as a deeply wound victim, the matter of fact is that it is known that the German government obtained the information causing the scandal by questionable means. The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), a German spy agency, obtained the information by buying it from an ex-employee of LGT Treuhand AG, one of Liechtenstein’s financial institutions. If this were true, it would mean that the Germans obtained this information not only illegally, but also violated Liechtenstein’s jurisdiction and sovereignty by conducting secret-investigative operations into a foreign country. Furthermore, under modern legal doctrine, the way this evidence was obtained is not legal, thus causing its immediate invalidity under the principles of fairness, justice and equal opportunities of legal defense.

But even more troubling is Germany’s current position against Liechtenstein. Called already a battle between David and Goliath, Germany is bullying the tiny principality, taking advantage of its size and influence in the European Union, to manipulate Liechtenstein into changing its jurisdictional framework and the core principles of its financial center. That, under any circumstance, has a name: it is called “abuse of power”. The current aggressive stance of Germany against the principality reminds me of Condolezza Rice and the USA’s frequent policy of international confrontation, lately used against North Korea, Iran and others that simply do not abide to American tastes.

It is truly a deception to see the German government engage into such practices of foreign policy. The Germans must understand and respect that every country has its law system that must be respected, such as they want their own to be. The road to resolve this conflict does not reside on bullying Liechtenstein: it is not the principality’s fault that German citizens want to evade taxes. Instead of falsely accusing and threatening foreign countries, it is the cause of the issue that the German government should really be examining and resolving.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Super Bowl 2008 - Favorite Ad

This sunday was Super Bowl XLII, and as usual, I didn't miss it. Today I want to share with you the ad that I liked the most.

You all should know that the Super Bowl is famous for the game but also for the high quality and creativity of the TV ads that are presented during the game. Sure, advertisers that pay $3 million for 30 seconds of TV space definitively want to present a super ad that will make the greatest impact, therefore, we find them to be perhaps the best ads of the whole year.

So here it is, my personal big winner:

Bridgestone
Squirrel




Flashback:
Favorite Super Bowl 2007 Ad

Bud Light
Carlos Mencia

Carlos Mencia Superbowl Commercial Bud Light Immigrant Ad

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CIA used waterboarding

During the last days several news pieces have appeared confirming that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) tortured several prisoners with a method called waterboarding. According to CIA director Michael Hayden, three terrorism suspects were tortured using this technique.

Even though acts of terrorism are despicable by nature, and individuals engaged into terrorist activities are a threat to the stability of our societies, that does not mean that the civilized world should move back and engage into activities that are today widely condemned and considered barbaric.

Throughout the western world torture is considered a crime. It is not a figure with exceptions, but rather a generally condemned and punished act.

But now that the world's most powerful country has admitted torturing terrorism suspects, will the figure of torture continue to be prohibited, or will it be now generally allowed for certain special cases? Let us remember that several important political figures of western civilization have faced judiciary processes related to torture: Augusto Pinochet faced detention in London and permanent legal persecution until his death; Alberto Fujimori is now facing several charges that are, in one way or another, related to questionable ways of handling political opponents, and lots of people of old dictatorial regimes in Brazil and Argentina have gone to or are currently in jail for the same reason.

Mr. Hayden tried to reduce the importance of the incident by acknowledging that the waterboarding technique was used on only three suspects. Does this mean that torturing few people is acceptable, and only wide-spread torturers are to be legally prosecuted? I don't think so. Analogically, we all know that both murderers and genocides are processed for killing, with the latter generally receiving heavier sentences than the former, but in the end, both are incarcerated for the crime of assassination. Period. Both are criminals. Period.

The United States of America should not allow their image to be stained under the national security threat excuse. It is true that after September 11th, 2001 attacks, the topic of security is top priority for the USA and many other countries, but for that very same reason is it important to act impeccably and honorably, demonstrating the world that progress and our way of life can be defended without having to resort to acts and techniques that make us resemble a little bit to the enemy we want to avoid and extinguish. Torturing suspects is something I expect to hear someday from the security forces of forgotten African regimes or dictatorships, not from the United States of America.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Adee!

One of the worst and inevitable characteristics of traveling is that the end is always sad. I have never met someone that said "I am so happy that my vacations ended!"

But vacations must end, and today it is my turn to say goodbye...

http://murdockcrc.whereareyou.net/index.php?intMessageId=67606

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Switzerland's prettiest barroque city

Solothurn advertises itself as the prettiest barroque city from Switzerland. Well, I'm not an expert on barroque cities to judge that, but Solothurn managed to call my attention.

The history of Solothurn dates back to the year 14 - 37 AD, with the foundation of the celtic Salodurum, around the time when Tiberius was the emperor of the Roman Empire. That means that across almost 1000 years, what today is Solothurn is heavily influenced with the architecture of several epoques, something that is quite unique for such a small place. And the fact that this place has managed to survive almost 1.000 years is simply fantastic!...

http://murdockcrc.whereareyou.net/index.php?intMessageId=67589

Monday, January 21, 2008

Buongiorno Lugano!

Going to Lugano from Zurich means crossing the country from north to south. Even though the journey takes almost 3 hours to complete, and that it costs CHF 118, I wanted to see and meet the Italian part of Switzerland. I also was a little bit intrigued: was the Italian Switzerland just as the Italy I knew? Just because they speak the same language doesn’t mean they are equal, but they must share some of the culture, shouldn’t they?...

http://murdockcrc.whereareyou.net/index.php?intMessageId=67444

The endless Lucerne

For those staying in Zurich and having one day to spare, the visit to Lucerne is mandatory.

The trip from Zürich Hauptbahnhof (main train station) to Luzern takes around 50 minutes with an InterRegio train from the SBB. The train tickets price is around CHF 46, not expensive for a Swiss train...

http://murdockcrc.whereareyou.net/index.php?intMessageId=67429

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Top of Zurich

In one of my previous posts, I told you about a place where one can see the best panoramic view of the city of Zurich. Well, this is the place...

Read the rest on my travel blog:
http://murdockcrc.whereareyou.net/index.php?intMessageId=67285

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Tour around Zürich

I am a true believer that city tours by bus are one of the best ways available to get to know a city, at least the most important landmarks. So, as always, I took a city tour from "Best of Switzerland".

Now, in a wonderful display of my endless intelligence, I forgot to take my digital camera with me. Therefore, I had to take the pictures with my cellphone. Please, pardon the bad quality of the images...


One of the company's offers (http://www.bestofswitzerlandtours.ch/) is an extended, 4-hour tour through Zürich and its surroundings. At first, the bus drove near the main train station towards Wollishofen, where it stopped so that we could observe Lake Zürich (Zürchersee). Here, people can sail their boats on the lake and even swim and take the sun along its shore (that is, in summer, of course).

Afterwards, the tour circled around Zürich's highlands to the north, where one can see beautiful (and very expensive) houses. Also, we drove in front of the FIFA's new headquarter building. As you may know, FIFA's main offices have been in Zürich for quite several years now.

Coming back down to Zürich, we stopped at Fraumünster church. This church is right in front of another very important landmark of Zürich, the Großmünster church. The church of Fraumünster was founded in the year 853, and is widely known for its windows, done by Marc Chagall, which display stories from both the Old and New testament in marvelously elaborated glass.
Großmünster church:







Fraumünster church:















Next, the tour took us to the airtram on Adlis. There, we climbed to a mountain where one could see most of the valley where Zürich resides. Though not the best spot to see a panoramic view of Zürich (that will come later...), the view is still precious and worth the effort to get there.

Views of the valley:








To end the tour, we crossed Lake Zürich via the Meilen ferry. The ferry takes about 8 minutes to cross the lake from one side to the other. Here, the views of the city are also impressive.










As for the tour, well, I'll highly recommend it to everybody traveling to Zürich. It costs CHF 45 (about $43), but you get good value for your money.Bye,Luis.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Bye bye beloved friends

So, it finally happened:

After nearly 4 years of uninterrupted service, my Rudy Project sunglasses died today while skiing.

For those of you who know me, you'll know how important these sunglasses have been. They have accompanied and protected my eyes while doing everything: skiing, rodeln, jogging, rappeling, shooting, rescues, etc.

Along the way, they have done much more than protect my eyes from the sun, but they have also been struck with shrapnel while shooting, with dust and rocks while rappeling, splashed with blood, oil and other substances while working at the Red Cross, and so much more. These fellows have withstood much more, I am sure, than what they were actually designed to resist.

I will always remember them for their almost perfect and loyal service, and if you wish to buy the BEST protective sunglasses on Earth, be sure to buy the Rudy Project Ketyum. They are expensive, but worth every single cent.

Here you'll see the last picture of them:
http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/traveling/sterreic h-2007-wint/dscn0075.html

Some photos of them at service:
Holmatro Motor Vehicle Crash course:
http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/demost raciones-y-en/curso-holmatro-2007/dsc0136.html

Rope rescue:
http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/demost raciones-y-en/demostracin-rescate/dsc02205copy.html

Structural collapse rescue training in Texas, USA:
http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/demostrac iones-y-en/curso-texas-2005/fotos-texas-fire-tr-1/img3263.ht ml

While rodeln:
http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/traveling/sterre ich-2006--aus/dsc0023.html

See you, old friends...

Friday, December 07, 2007

Mission Accomplished

Hi Friends:

With great pleasure and satisfaction I can tell you that I approved my last test to finally become a lawyer. My eternal gratitude to those that gave me their best wishes before the test.

The exam was actually NOT what I expected. I was presented in front of 6 experienced lawyers, one of them a man with more than 25 years of being a judge. But the questions were more like conversation-styled, with the purpose, I think, of trying to make the student feel comfortable and not intimidated.

After 30 minutes of this interview-like test, they told me it was enough, and gave me a grade of 90! 

Now comes graduation, though when I do not know yet.

See ya,
Luis. 

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Graduate test topics

Today I received the topics that I must present at my test. Let me explain to you how the test is going to go:

The test, an oral exam, lasts 1 hour. The student is presented in front of a jury, composed normally of 3 to 5 members. During the first 15 minutes, the student must present the first topic assigned. During the next 15 minutes, the student must present the second topic. And the remaining 30 minutes are dedicated to what I call "Fire at Will": the jury will ask whatever they want, about whatever they want.

Well, today, 4 days before test, they gave us candidates the topics to present. Mine are the following:

Topic I
Equity and private property
Luckily for me, I got his topic, not only one that I enjoy a lot, but one that I dominate confidently.

Topic II
The concept of family at its historical evolution
Honestly, I do not enjoy Family Law. But luckily, I got a very simple topic. Here, I have to talk about the concept of family from a legal perspective, as well as how the family and its law have evolved across time.

The test begins on Wednesday, 5th December.
Wish me luck :-)

Regards,
Luis.

Blog topic changes

Hello friends:

Since I belong no longer to COMSER, it is natural to change this blog to something else. Therefore, I've decided to make this blog my personal blog, not just of topics related to my work on the Red Cross.

However, for those of you interested on the Red Cross, this blog's archive will still maintain those posts that I've made.

I hope you will enjoy this new blog, and please, feel free to leave comments whenever you like!

Regards,
Luis.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

One weel till deadline

In exactly 8 days, I will be doing my final graduation test. I will have to prove a tribunal of respected and experienced lawyers, that I deserve to be considered one of them too.

Now, the dynamic is going to be as follows. The test is oral, that is, no written questions, no presentations or powerpoints, no nothing but yourself and your words. They are going to give me 2 topics to talk about during 30 minutes, and after that, they will open “fire at will” and ask about anything they deem appropriate. But, what can they ask about? Anything of what I’ve studied during the last 4 years: obligations, commercial law, property law, General Theory of the Contract, Family Law, Labor law and Criminal Law, among others. So yeah, I’ll have to dodge some bullets, just as Neo.

The problem with an oral test is that you do not have time to think: once they ask you a question, you either answer it or not. You cannot erase your answers, or think it over for 5 minutes as you would do on a written test. Furthermore, you must speak and appear to have complete dominance of the exercise, that is, the vocal tone and body language play an important role here.

Anyway, whatever happens, I am well prepared for it: I have been intensively studying for more than 2 months now, successfully approved the preparation-test (which is an oral exam too), and thoroughly reviewed the laws, theories and jurisprudence of our courts. Whatever comes, I’m ready to charge against it, or die trying :-)

In one week, I expect to gladly communicate to all of you that I have become a lawyer.

See ya,
Luis.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Goodbye COMSER

Well, this is it. After 2 years of belonging to one of latin america’s best emergency services community, it is finally time to say goodbye. The reason for my departure is quite simple: intolerance.

Though our work at the Red Cross is volunteer, ad-honorem, the people in charge of the volunteers at COMSER tend to forget often that we, in the end, do not receive a salary for the ardous work we perfom; that we study or work (or both as myself), that we have families and friends to take care of, that is, that our volunteer work as paramedics, whether we like it or not, does not enjoy of the highest priority on our lifes.

Therefore, the bosses at COMSER decided that it would be better if I do not belong anymore to the committee, considering that I’ve not been able to attend regularly as demanded, since this december I’ll be taking my last exams to graduate from Law School. Well, too bad, but whether they like it or not, I AM receiving my lawyer’s diploma.

Anyway, the experience of belonging to a group of such marvelous people was amazing. During my first month of work I learned what I hadn’t learned in 2 years as a paramedic for another committee. Just to give you an idea, during my very first day at COMSER, during our 12-hour watch, we had to attend 3 different people that in the end, died. That’s right, 3 dead in just 12 hours! The trauma and medical emergency cases we deal with at COMSER are not to be seen everywhere. Sometimes they are, actually, spectacular!

During my time I learned a lot about life, about being able to appreciate little things that we tend to forget. In the end, it is these little things that give meaning to one’s life, but because of our busy lifestyle, we give them for granted. Truly, I must tell you people, there is no better school for learning about life than the street itself, and I took a term on this school, working as a paramedic, trying to bring relief to people, sometimes succeeding, but sometimes also failing.

My gratitude must also go to the great paramedics, medics and rescuers that taught me everything I know. People like Hugo Madrigal, Tony Chacón, Manuel Miranda, Johnny Ramírez, Jim Batres, Paulo Monge, and many many more, dedicated their time to teach me how to do my work better and more efficiently. Their effort was remarkable, and I will always be thankful to them.

And now, what’s going to happen with me? Actually, I don’t know. My bosses gave me the choice of transfering to another unit, or officially discharging me. I’ll let you know what happens. To be honest, right now, there is only one thing on my mind: approving my last test and graduate from Law School!!! Wish me luck!

If you wish to see some pics, check them out here (the guy with the huge white helmet and white coat is me :)):


http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/comser/colisiones/dsc00014.html

http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/comser/colisiones/hpim0699.html


http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/comser/varios/imagen001.html

http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/demostraciones-y-en/curso-holmatro-2007/dsc0116.html

http://public.fotki.com/murdockcrc/cruz-roja/demostraciones-y-en/curso-holmatro-2007/dsc0136.html

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Colisión La Uruca, 2 Muertos | La Uruca MVC, 2 dead | La Uruca Verkeherunfall, 2 Töte

Jueves 1 de Marzo, 2007:

Un aparatoso accidente de tránsito ocurrió la madrugada de este Jueves 1 de Marzo, justo frente a las instalaciones de REPRETEL, en La Uruca.

Un pequeño vehículo tipo van, con dos personas dentro, colisionó violentamente contra uno de los árboles que adornan el margen derecho de la carretera (en dirección Alajuela - San José). Las dos personas, dos hombres que trabajaban para una empresa de seguridad, fallecieron, y sus cuerpos quedaron prensados.

Al lugar nos hicimos presentes las unidades 02 y 05 de COMSER, además de una máquina de bomberos y la ambulancia de León XIII.

Nada que hacer mas que extraer los cuerpos, se esperó al personal de OIJ durante una hora, luego de la cual entre los compañeros Antonio Gaitán, Tony Chacón y mi persona, procedimos con la extracción de los cuerpos, la cual se extendió por alrededor de 20 minutos.

Vale la pena mencionar que, debido a un descuido (y a que eran las 3 de la madrugada), olvidé mi casco en la unidad 09, por lo que tuve que utilizar un casco de aguas rápidas, que por cierto, son bastante feos e inapropiados para rescate vehicular!!!!

Thursday, March 1st 2007:

A very violent accident occured this Thursday early morning, just in front of the REPRETEL building.

A little van, with two people inside, crashed horribly against a huge tree, one of those that decorate the road at the right side (direction Alajuela - San José). Both men, who worked for a security company, died, and their bodies were trapped inside the collapsed structure of the van.

Units 02 and 05 of COMSER were dispatched, as well as an ambulance of León XIII and a firetruck.

Nothing to do for the men but to extricate their bodies, we waited for judicial personnel for about an hour, after which my partners Antonio Gaitán, Tony Chacón and myself, proceeded to open up the car to free the dead bodies. The extrication procedure lasted some 20 minutes.

It is worth mentioning, that I forgot my helmet inside unit 09. I had nothing left to do but to use one of the rapid-waters rescue helmets that were inside the 02 truck, which are very ugly and inappropriate for road-crash rescue. Anyway, it is one of those moments of frustration that later you see very funny!!!!!

Dienstag, 1 März 2007

Ein sehr hässlicher Verkehrsunfall ist am Dienstag früh am Morgen, gerade vor REPRETELs Gebäude, geschehen.

Ein kleiner Transporter, der 2 Menschen trug, ist gegen einen sehr großen Baum gekracht. Auf der linken Seite der Straße, Richtung Alajuela - San José, gibt es viele große Bäume, so der Lenker des Autos hat vielleicht die Kontrolle verloren und gegen den Baum zusammengestoßen. Die zwei Menschen waren sofort tot, und die beiden Leichen im Auto eingeklemmt.

Amzulanzen 05 und unserer Rettungslastwagen 02 wurden zu dem Notort entsendet, zusammen mit einer Ambulanz aus León XIII und die Feuerwehr.

Außer die Leichen zu retten, man könnte nichts für die 2 Männer machen. So, wir haben für die gerichtlich Polizei eine Stunde gewartet, und danach, meine Kollegen Antonio Gaitán, Tony Chacón und ich haben mit hydraulischen Rettungswerkzeuge die Leichen weggenommen. Die Rettung der Leichen hat etwa 20 Minuten gedauert.

Also, ich habe mein Rettungsschutzhelm in Ambulanz 09 vergessen. So, ich musste ein Schnellwasser Rettungsschutzhelm benutzen, und diese Schutzhelme sind sehr aber sehr hässlich und sehr unangemessen für Verkehersunfälle. Aber, es war ein bisschen lustig!!!

02:
Paulo
Gaitán
Luis

05:
El Gato
J. Zúñiga
Tony