As a paramedic within the field of Emergency Medical Services for many years it has come to the attention of many be it Municipality, Private, or Volunteer Services. We are in shourt demand of personnel to fill schedules, respond to the emergency calls for those who are requesting help be it sick or injured.

There are a few issues that have come to the attention of those that have been within the field for numerous years. Be it a municipality or a volunteer service, they receive funds from the state through grants and county through the taxpayers for enhanced 911 and Emergency Medical Response.

The issue of not having personnel is a very strong issue to be addressed within the field of EMS. When a sick or injured patient calls 911 they are expecting an immediate response to help them in their time of need, be it for transort to the hospital, medical call, motor vehicle collision with extrication or being helped off the floor and placed back into bed or chair because they are unable to get up off the floor, though uninjured.

It is amazing if the call is dispatched out as a motor vehicle collision, code blue or helicopter-landing zone is needed the response is rapid and more than enough personnel are there to assist with the call.

But be it for a general sick person, or fall victim, it takes two or three sets of tones to have a response to assist those in their time of need, and if no response at that given time mutual aid is then called to respond.

Though the EMS standard for volunteer services when dispatched is 5-minute response time and if no answer withn that time frame another set of tones are then dispatched again with another 5-minute window for personnel to respond.

For a municipality they are onsite 24 hours a day 7 days a week, as are the private services within the community. Though private services do not receive funds from state or from taxes within the community they respond with genuine care and understandiing. Those that call 911 are expecting the same services and even if they call multiple times throughout the year, month, day it is still the responsibility of the personnel responding; to show compassion and understanding, and not to tell them not to call anymore because they are a pest.

I am a firm believer that even though sick or injured they can sense our attitude in our voices, body stance or even in the way we handle the patient. In January 2008 issue of JEMS By: A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P "Focus on Achievable Goals" one thing that we as EMS Responders need to think about doing is "Checking your personal problems at the door", "Don't let your problems interfere with the way you manage your patient's problems", and "Understand the profound impact of your words & actions".

I remember walking down the isle to receive my Diploma at Trinity School of EMS and as I stood there with those that I call friends and family, we stood before our loved one and took the Oath of Geneva, and still live by that creed yet today.