Support your Local Ambulance Service

Have you ever been without water or electricity?  Did you ever experience it for more than a few hours, as in a few days?  Did you feel less safe, perhaps a little unsure of the outcome or future?  That is what it would be like if you did not have EMS (Emergency Medical Services). You flip the switch and nothing happened.  If you picked up the phone and called 911 in an emergency and were told, sorry, no one is available, but we can get help there in a few days that would cause you alot of anxiety and would be unsafe. I had a Supervisor of Dover Township tell me," I've never needed an ambulance, so why should I support you now? "  I was a bit stunned.  He's never had a fire, but agrees to levy for fire services, and he's not had a domestic issues but pays for law enforcement. He pays for gravel for his township roads and bridges that he may never travel, and culverts for neighbors he'll never know, but when it comes to safety of himself and others, access to rapid, trained, emergency medical care he apparently doesn't think that is needed.  I wonder if the kid who had an allergic reaction to a bee, and we arrived to give lifesaving Epinepherine would agree, or the family who's dad had a heart attack and we rapidly identified the issue, and got them in for direct opening of blocked coronary vessels and survived to live more Christmas' and birthdays would agree? Maybe the person hit by a drunk driver and broke their back and ribs would have a different thing to say to this Town Supervisor about how we stabilized them and got them safely into the Level 1 trauma center without causing more injury, allowing them to one day walk again. Maybe the mom of the choking infant whom we turned from blue to pink with lifesaving breath and precision might have a different perspective.  They never thought they'd need us, but we were there when they did.   EMS has for too long relied on the generosity of people working in the shadows, volunteering thousands of hours of their time to keep us all safe . It is time to reach out share your voice, share your support and show how important EMS is in your community.  Lives matter. Don't let ignorant people speak on your behalf.  Be aware, informed, and engaged.  Support EMS.