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Eastons Emergency Medical Service has put out an emergency call for in-town volunteers. EMT Sarah Olschan said there is a desperate need.
"There are only eight in-town members that get the bulk of the work," Olschan said. "We don't want to leave it up to them anymore. It's too much."
An EMT basic course is scheduled to start Tuesday, April 5, and run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. until July 2. The class will also be given every other Saturday at a time to be determined.
"The classes are fun," said Sherman Turner, an Easton EMT. "I'm a lawyer I never did anything like this. It's so different from sitting at my desk. It's a great hobby and like nothing you'll do in life. There are some real adrenaline rushes."
Olschan said the Easton EMS brings in money to the towns general fund when its ambulances are used.
"The more calls we can do as Easton, the more money we bring to the town," she said. "Ten years ago, when my mom first joined, there were more than enough people going to a call. Now, we have to pull teeth to get people there."
On Tuesday, Olschan sat at the EMS office, on duty, knowing that she did not have a driver for that night. "The people of Easton don't realize how few people they're depending on," Turner said.
Olschan, who has been an EMT since 2004, said the training and experience has provided her basic medical knowledge and the confidence to help others. She said volunteers learn how to keep someone stable, do CPR, use a defibrillator and work with the fire department on motor vehicle accidents.
"Easton is a big, spread-out town, she says. The more volunteers, the safer the town. With less volunteers, the longer people have to wait."
Tuition for the course is $250 for Easton residents. However, Olschan said if a resident completes the course and continues to volunteer for one year in Easton, he or she will be reimbursed. At the end of the year, volunteers receive a $250 to $1,000 tax stipend, based on their volunteer hours.
"My favorite thing is after a call, when all is said and done, I sometimes get a thank-you note. It's always nice that you get recognized for the job you do," said Olschan.
Application forms for the EMT course can be found at the Easton EMS website or by visiting the EMS office at 448 Sport Hill Road next to the Easton Village Store.
Has the Easton EMS helped you or your family? Leave a comment below.
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