EMT service facing possible shutdown if no one steps up

Oct. 06--FREEBURG -- Freeburg Fire Company is sounding the alarm on the dramatic shortage of volunteer emergency medical technicians.

Currently, there are only four unpaid, trained volunteer EMTs working in the quick-response squad and only one of them lives in the department's coverage area of Freeburg borough and Washington Township.

"They are responding to less than 25 percent of the calls," Fire Chief Tom Wallish said of the first responders who are trained to stabilize a patient until advanced medical personnel can take over.

And in an older community, he said, having to wait for help to arrive from neighboring communities could be fatal.

Freeburg's quick-response squad was established 41 years ago with about 17 volunteers, but over the years those numbers have dwindled due to the rising time and cost of training and service needs.

Without more members, Wallish said, the squad will be forced to shut down at the end of the year.

It's a similar scenario playing out in communities across the country as people have less time to give others and volunteer emergency response organizations are struggling to stay staffed.

"We are not the only ones going through this," Wallish said.

Freeburg Fire Company is taking a proactive approach to increasing its volunteer EMTs, initiating a door-to-door and mailing campaign to recruit new members.

A community meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Freeburg Fire Station to discuss the needs of the department and encourage potential volunteers to get involved.

Earlier this year, the Beaver Springs Ambulance Company began paying six EMTs on weekdays to ensure coverage in McClure borough, West Beaver, Spring and parts of Adam townships.

Freeburg can't afford to pay EMTs, but the fire company will pay for the cost of a 60-hour emergency medical responder training class taught by Pennsylvania Department of Health instructors.

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