Remembering May 15th, 1995 — My First Days in Civil Protection
🎉 30 Years Ago Today: A Day to Remember
In 1994, the very day I received the results of my university entrance exams, I decided—emboldened by the encouraging outcome—to submit an application to join the Villa de Madrid Civil Protection Volunteer Corps. I was still underage at the time, so they couldn’t accept my application formally, but kindly made an exception and filed it with a marginal note, promising to contact me once I turned 18 to confirm my ongoing interest.
That call came in September 1994, when I was invited to an event that served as an introduction to the Corps. I reaffirmed my interest and, a few months later in December 1994, I completed the necessary training and passed the qualifying exam. Early in 1995, I was informed I had successfully passed and would begin my trial period as an aspiring volunteer.
My first few services were modest but meaningful. On May 12, I took part in an internal logistics operation assembling medical and command tents. The next day, May 13, I joined a support shift with the SAMUR emergency medical service. It was a quiet shift overall, with a single false alarm—a traffic incident that turned out to be nothing. Still, I remember sitting in the ambulance, mentally reviewing every part of my training en route, just in case.
But then came May 15, 1995, a day I remember vividly and fondly even 30 years later.
🚴 The One-Rider Race in Usera
Our first assignment that day was to provide medical coverage for a children’s bicycle race in the district of Usera, organized by the local neighborhood association. When we arrived, it was just our Civil Protection ambulance and two police cars. After a while, a representative from the neighborhood association approached us. No participants had arrived yet, and they were considering canceling the race.
Then, suddenly, a young boy—maybe 12 years old—showed up with his bike, ready to compete. The organizer joked, “If you want the trophy, you’ll have to race—even if you’re the only one.” And so he did!
A police car cleared the traffic ahead, one led the way, the boy rode behind, followed by us—the only spectators—cheering from the behind: “Come on, you can do it!” We laughed and joked as he crossed the finish line: “Only rider and still finishes last…” It was lighthearted and joyful. After the “trophy ceremony,” we packed up and left with the sense that we had made one kid’s day unforgettable.
🚌 San Isidro and the Bus That Wouldn’t Die
Since we had finished early, we were offered the chance to join the San Isidro Sacramental Mass coverage shift. The three of us agreed, and we were transported with other volunteers in what we affectionately called “the noisy bus”—an old, rickety vehicle that made up for its age with character.
On the way there, a beloved fellow volunteer known as “Chiquitín” (we really miss you 😢) picked up the internal PA mic and chanted, parodying a children’s song:
“Qué buenos son, los chicos de la prote,
qué buenos son, que nos llevan de excursión!”
(“How good they are, the boys from Civil Protection—so good they take us on field trips!”)
Once at the San Isidro meadow, we managed crowd control near the famous spring beside the hermitage. Under the scorching sun, I learned a lesson that stayed with me: always bring your cap—you never know when you’ll need it.
The service went smoothly until the very end. Just as we were entering the vehicle depot at the end of the shift, the bus broke down. All of us had to get off and push to clear the entrance, hoping the engine might cough back to life. With enough effort and some laughter, we got it running—just barely.
🌟 A Day That Lasted a Lifetime
That single day—May 15, 1995—holds two of my most cherished memories from my early days in Civil Protection. They were simple events, yes, but full of purpose, camaraderie, and small joys that have lasted for decades.
Now, 30 years later, I look back with gratitude and a smile, amazed at how vividly those moments still live in me. Sometimes, it’s the smallest stories that leave the biggest imprint.
🧡 Here’s to the people, the memories, and the journey.