EMS: One Mission, One Team
by Jan Yaeger
“Where did the ambulance come from?”
“From Seldovia.”
“I didn’t know we had an ambulance!”
This was part of a conversation I had earlier this week with a bystander, after what turned out to be what we EMS volunteers consider a “good call”: one that ended with everyone safe, warm, uninjured, and with no need for an ambulance ride. Although this is always our preferred outcome, we work hard to make sure we are ready to help, whenever and however we are needed.
EMS in Seldovia can often fly under the radar. The ambulance rarely runs “hot” (lights and sirens) because the traffic in our little community doesn’t require it. Volunteers don’t walk around town in our EMS jackets with the high-visibility trim. Often the only giveaway is the pager clipped to a waistband, or a radio antenna peeking from a pocket. Mostly we go about our daily lives – until the alert sounds, and we drop everything to try to help someone in need.
May 19-25 is National EMS Week. The national theme of EMS Week 2013 is “EMS: One Mission, One Team”, and it’s a great description of our local EMS, as well. Volunteers trained in emergency medical response and dispatch work closely with our firefighters, Police Chief Shad Haller and medical director Dr. Larry Reynolds to provide a coordinated response when the emergency tones go off.
Seldovia EMS volunteers have various levels of training, ranging from a minimum of 48 hours for our Emergency Trauma Technicians through several hundred hours for our advanced-level Emergency Medical Technicians. We strengthen our knowledge, skills and teamwork through weekly training sessions, and take additional classes whenever the opportunity arises. Certifications must be renewed by retesting every two years, as well as taking a minimum of 48 hours of continuing medical education credits. It takes time and dedication, but we love what we do!
There is no charge for ambulance response in Seldovia. Although running an ambulance service is expensive, we work hard to keep costs down through carefully managing our supplies, maintaining our equipment well to prolong its useful life, and not compensating volunteers monetarily. Instead, our compensation comes through the camaraderie of team members, constantly learning and growing in a field we enjoy, and knowing we provide an important service to a community we care deeply about.
Are you interested in joining our team? There are many ways to help! Some folks prefer not to be EMTs, but provide a critical service on emergency calls by driving the ambulance. Dispatchers don’t actually go out on calls, but are invaluable in managing communications and arranging for medevacs. Other people provide a huge contribution by helping to run the fundraisers and other special events that help purchase the supplies and equipment we need to provide high-quality care to our patients. And if you’re interested in becoming a responder and joining the “Back of the Bus” crew, we’d be delighted to include you in our next training class!
Help us celebrate National EMS Week: “like” us on Facebook, and thank any volunteers you know. And know that, although we hope you’ll never need us, we are more than happy to help any time we are called!
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