EMS Week wrapped up with celebrations recognizing the men and women who dedicate their lives to helping others during emergencies and times of crisis.
From ambulance crews, to volunteer responders, emergency medical professionals were honored for their service, sacrifice, and commitment to communities across the region.
According to EmergyCare President and Executive Director Dave Basnak, EMS work requires a level of dedication and compassion, “It’s a very selfless line of work,” Basnak said. “Our people go and do things all day, all night long, when they are out there serving other people. But it’s fulfilling to know you can go out in your community and make a difference.”
Basnak said EMS professionals often respond to difficult situations without hesitation, putting the needs of others before themselves.
Emergycare currently has just under 300 employees, even with their growth into Crawford Count, recruitment remains a challenge. According to Basnak, “We continue to see our recruiting numbers go up. Especially post pandemic we continue to recruit, we continue to run EMT academy programs.”
Volunteer departments are also feeling the strain.
Crescent Hose Company volunteer, Keith Patterson said fewer young people are entering the field as the demands of the job continue to grow, “The age group of people joining EMS isn’t getting younger,” Patterson said. “We are starting to age out and we are seeing fewer and fewer people because of the demands.”
Basnak said EMS Week helps shine a spotlight on the lifesaving work crews perform every day. According to Basnak, “Everything that they do is hidden behind the walls of privacy, most people don’t get to know about the good outcomes they do or that we have or the work that we do every day, so EMS week makes it very public about the work we do every day here.”
He said that it takes a certain person to be an EMS professional, but once people get involved, they often don’t regret it.
“It really takes the right personality somebody who understands the right mindset who understands service over self, often times they are held over at the end of their shift because they are on a late call or late shift. but they are focused on the fact that they are helping another human at that time and that’s what they prioritize”, said Basnak.