EMTs Return From `Phenomenal` Experience of Assisting During Pope`s Philadelphia Visit
Sept. 29--TROY -- A member of the Western Alliance Emergency Services, Inc. team that helped out this past weekend with the Pope's visit in Philadelphia said the experience was "phenomenal."
EMTs Mark Steckiel of West Burlington, Mary Sturdevant of Herrickville, Rhonda Howell of Gillett and Bobby Johnson of Canton provided EMS support for the city of Philadelphia during Pope Francis' visit Saturday and Sunday.
According to Steckiel, they were stationed in the courtyard at City Hall in Philadelphia.
"It was non-stop," he commented to The Daily Review on Monday.
They were able to work with the city's fire department EMTs, on location.
The Western Alliance contingent was but one of many emergency services providers who were on duty.
Steckiel said there were 100 ambulances from around the state, as well as Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware to assist Philadelphia.
Steckiel said their duties involved transporting people.
He said there were cases of everything from a twisted ankle to a cardiac situation.
"He came right by us on Saturday night," said Steckiel of the Pope.
Steckiel said Sunday had the bigger crowd.
He noted that security was "very, very tight."
And while the mood was hectic, people were "extremely polite" and "courteous," he said.
The Western Alliance EMTs left for Philadelphia at 6 a.m. Friday and returned to Troy at 3:30 a.m. Monday.
Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; email: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.
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