This is National Volunteers Week and instead of focusing this particular Person of Interest article on an individual, we would like instead to honor all of our country’s outstanding volunteer firefights and emergency medical technicians.
We count on the bravery and valor of first responders to handle emergency situations in this country every day. What many people do not realize is that a number of these first responders are acting on a volunteer basis without any compensation beyond the great feeling of knowing they helped to make a difference.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fully 69 percent of our nation’s firefighters are volunteers. Imagine where we would be without this fine group of men and women who risk their lives to save others.
There is no national data compiled on the number of volunteer EMTs and paramedics that are serving our country. However, data from smaller subsets of the country seems to indicate that the percentages are quite high, particularly in rural areas. For example, in Minnesota, 59 percent of ambulance personnel were volunteers in 2002, and in Nebraska, only 14 percent of emergency response agencies have paid workers.
All of these volunteers, who are trained in BLS techniques, are true American heroes. They are responsible for saving the lives of tens of thousands of people each year, and for this we are truly grateful.
Be sure to thank a volunteer, not just this week, but every week.
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