 |
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD |
 |
||
|
||||
Website by: |
Volunteer EMS still dangerously shortchanged Dear Editor: More than a year ago, a report on the state of emergency medical services (EMS) nationwide found that woefully inadequate funding and training left few responders equipped to respond safely and effectively to terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events. Little, if anything, has changed since New York University’s Center for Catastrophic Preparedness and Response released its April 2005 report, “Emergency Medical Services: The Forgotten First Responder.” Highlights of the report included: Of the country’s 900,000 emergency medical technicians (EMTs), most had received less than an hour of training to respond to large-scale terrorist incidents and 20 percent received no training; EMS received only 5 percent of federal bioterrorism grant money; and Equipment for 50 percent or more of EMTs and paramedics in 25 states was inadequate for responding to a chemical or biological attack. Vital as New Jersey’s EMS system is, funding for these responders – particularly volunteers – remains well below that of police and fire departments. Although no one disputes the essential roles firefighters and police officers perform in emergency situations, we must keep in mind that the EMS-fire-police triad is only as effective as its most neglected partner. There is a nationwide shortage of EMTs and paramedics and the forecast looks alarmingly gloomy. Difficult as it is to attract paid EMTs in New Jersey, it’s exponentially more challenging to recruit and retain volunteers. Lack of funding for basic needs such as pagers and gear, let alone community outreach, is a large part of the problem. To combat dwindling volunteer numbers, the New Jersey State First Aid Council constantly explores ways to attract and hold on to more recruits. The 77-year-old nonprofit council represents more than 20,000 EMS volunteers affiliated with hundreds of first aid and rescue squads throughout the state. In addition to the fact that New Jersey’s volunteer EMTs answer hundreds of thousands of calls every year free of charge, these volunteers have proven they are indispensable during large-scale emergencies. New York City’s release last summer of previously unpublicized recordings from Sept. 11, 2001 revealed EMS responders – volunteers included – played a much more crucial role in the day’s events than initially reported. Thousands of New Jersey volunteer EMS responders dropped what they were doing that day and headed to Manhattan or Liberty State Park to offer whatever assistance they could. State and federal officials analyzing our vulnerability to another terrorist attack, or natural disaster or bird flu outbreak must understand that a well-trained, adequately equipped volunteer EMS corps is critical to any response plan. Action on this any time other than now is too late. As we prepare to mark National EMS Week May 14-20, I encourage the public to consider who will respond the next time someone dials 9-1-1. Unless legislators on the state and national levels view the situation with the urgency it deserves -- and until more people step up to the plate and volunteer – EMS ranks in New Jersey and throughout the nation won’t be able to keep up with the demand. For information on becoming an EMS volunteer, call the council office at (732) 988-9110 or visit www.njsfac.org. Sue Van Orden, President  |
|
| ||||||
