By Carol Harper
Disclaimer: I am not writing this piece as a representative of Frontier Ambulance or any of the previous companies I've served with in the EMS industry. These are my own opinions, insights, perspectives, and views through my own experiences as a citizen of Fremont County, Wyoming.
Well, Fremont County folks...let's try this again! Another committee dealing with the ambulance service has been formed, and they are still serious about both provider and public input. Plus, we've finally heard a squeak from the county, as Mike Jones has stepped up to the plate as the new FCAG rep. Thanks, Mike. I hope you can be effective and bring forth some decisiveness in your new role.
So I figure, if the town of Shoshoni can make it work, more power to them. However, possessing one BLS ambulance versus a fleet of ALS ambulances is like the difference between a TV dinner and a steak dinner with all the fixins. But does Shoshoni really get to decide what they 'secede' from, including dispatch and town-county borders? So many questions, so little time.
My next thought was...as I appreciate what SPD Chief Chris Konija is trying to do and achieve, law enforcement is law enforcement, not EMS. As it is true that all first responders work together when they arrive on-scene, there are so many factors at play where the best thing to do is to let everyone do their "thing"...let dispatch do their thing, let law enforcement do their thing, let fire do their thing, let EMS do their thing, let the Coroner's office do their thing. We all do the "thing", then go back to our agency silos until the next call rings out. All of our first responders in the areas and municipalities of Fremont County have worked together for many, many years, and it was a very good system when EMS was county-run. But in my opinion, now would be a terrible time to divide up into municipalities when there are so many unforeseen issues, costs, and scenarios that can greatly affect the flow of these critical operations and impede success.
However, now is the perfect time...in fact, it's now past time...for the public and our EMS providers to get involved and have a voice. When I gave a presentation to the JCFKS at their initial meeting on (ironically) September 11, I had hoped that it would kick off those beginning steps in bringing some elements and information on our EMS operations, and spur some awareness and actions of urgency on the issue. The JCFKS did, in fact, do this. The meetings were open to the public, in person and via Zoom, and progress reports were given. As I said in my previous blog piece, the committee did an excellent job on their final report to FCAG.
Here's the presentation:
Read the Recommendation Report:
Presently, I can't help but feel like we're going three steps forward, two steps back. I gave my presentation back in September! I know that's how things fly at the speed of government, but when something as critical as public health and safety, the public and all government leaders...municipal and county...should be alert and awake at their wheels and particularly wary about what they decide will slip through the cracks, or table for later discussion. Critical services such as EMS should not be one of them, especially when the fiscal year ends on June 30th. That's in a little over two months, folks.
I've been in a lot of trainings this past year, and between EMS and the Red Cross, I've become very scenario-based in my trains of thought and logic. A scenario where there is an absence of EMS services in this county would rapidly lead to a public emergency crisis, and we just cannot continue to put bandaids on gaping wounds any longer. Solutions need to be made and implemented now and fast. No more dinking around and dropping the ball. No more armchair politics via social media. No more apathy; no more coming to the table with complaints that are absent of ideas, suggestions or solutions.
But first, you have to actually show up at the table! I highly encourage you to attend these upcoming meetings (see below). If you can't make it in person, you can get the Zoom link and join in while you're eating your lunch. I've provided the information below, so there are no excuses that the public hasn't been informed or included. Now, being interested is a whole other roll of Kerlix, but whether or not you've been a patient in the back of an ambulance, the emergency scenarios and traumas that happen are very real...and reality strikes quite often.
YOU can be a part of saving lives in Fremont County, too!
"I didn’t become an EMT to get a front-row seat to other people’s tragedies. I did it because I knew the world was bleeding and so was I, and somewhere inside I knew the only way to stop my own bleeding was to learn how to stop someone else’s.”—Daniel José Older
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PUBLIC NOTICE OF RECURRING JOINT MEETINGS
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FUNDING KEY SERVICES
AND
REGIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE EVALUATION COMMITTEE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Joint Committee on Funding Key Services and the Regional Ambulance Service Evaluation Committee will hold recurring joint meeting sessions each Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The meetings will be held at the following location:
Wind River Transportation Authority Facility
2554 Airport Road
Riverton, Wyoming 82501
The meetings will also be accessible to the public by virtual means through the attached Zoom link.
These recurring joint meetings will be held each Wednesday unless otherwise canceled or amended by proper public notice.
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