By Gina Greco
The Central Adirondack Partnership for the 21st Century (CAP-21) met with local emergency personnel from Old Forge, Inlet and surrounding areas, to discuss local emergency response needs including the challenge of regenerating and sustaining an adequate volunteer force.
The meeting took place at the Old Forge Library on Thursday, February 26th.
CAP-21 understands the importance of these issues and the need to work with the larger community in solving them, said Nick Rose, the organization’s executive director.
Emergency Medical Techni-cians (EMT) Dan Rivet of Old Forge and Ed Booton of Eagle Bay said the emergency personnel situation needs immediate attention.
Town of Webb Publicity Director Mike Farmer summarized the problem, which he said affects every aspect of local life, including tourism.
“The population of our EMT staff is aging. There is a need to improve recruitment and training. We need to get younger people fired up, and we need keep them fired up once they join,” he said.
A mentor program might encourage this, it was suggested. Basic Life Support staff should have the support of more experienced mentors.
Old Forge EMT Richard Risley confirmed that the force is dwindling.
“We just don’t have the young volunteers. Today, only one active EMT is under 40,” he said.
This has resulted in a strain to an already undersized force, according to Booton.
“How much more can we push on our EMTs? What’s the future bringing?” he said.
The outlook for improvement is bleak without an action plan, Booton added.
As a stop-gap measure, Raquette Lake EMT Tom Mattice suggested an informational campaign, including a posting of signs in local lodging establishments.
“A small sign that says: Please take care of yourself—the nearest hospital is seventy-five miles away,” he said.
The flashing sign in Thendara could remind snowmobilers entering town of the need to ride safely, Mattice said.
“Maybe it will get them to slow down,” he added.
“I think one of the real big problems that is putting pressure on our Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is the St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center [in Old Forge],” Dan Rivet said. “I went to a public hearing, they said it would be open all the time. They will take anyone that walks in.”
But that never came to fruition, according to Rivet.
Old Forge EMT Terry Lehnen said the facility is a doctor’s office, and will be operated as such. That’s the reality.
“They’re not a health center,” she said.
In fact, state health law precludes the kind of facility many would prefer.
“You can have either a primary doctor’s office or an urgent care office,” Old Forge EMT, Dave Berkstresser said.
“But you cannot have both in the same building.”
The Town of Webb Health Care Center does receive walk-ins, but only as its accommodations allow, Berkstresser said.
Its addition of a second doctor has been a big help, Berkstresser noted.
The health care center’s nurse practitioner has been valuable also, according to Terry Lehnen.
“But we all have to remember they are not an Urgent Care,” she said.
Rivet said the medical center would enhance its local service if it were to expand its hours of operation for the busy season.
“They should be open from the end of May through the end of October, at least six days a week if not seven,” Rivet said.
The need for such an expansion has been communicated to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center by the Town of Webb Board, according to Town Supervisor Ted Riehle.
“I talked with Brad Crysler who is now in charge of the operation. He said St. Elizabeth’s intends to try additional hours this summer for full weekend coverage. Hopefully they hold with that,” Riehle said.
All participants agreed that the “volunteer” part of the local EMT equation has made staffing difficult in recent years.
Often, volunteers cannot afford to leave their jobs to take calls, and not get paid for it.
“The younger volunteers cannot come into this community, with the cost of housing being what it is today, and work for ten dollars an hour. It’s just not possible,” said Emergency personnel John Russell.
Terry Lehnen agreed that circumstances have evolved unfavorably.
“Twenty to twenty-five years ago, if you had a job, and you were an EMT or a fireman and the siren went off, you could leave your job and still get paid,” she said.
“These days, the employers can’t afford to pay their employees to leave their job and the employees can’t afford to leave their jobs.”
And the cost of training only compounds the problem, according to Ed Booton.
“All the education you go through to become an EMT, you have to find a job to pay that back,” he said.
The result can become a dollars chase, according to John Russell.
“After spending a year to get certified, paramedics realize there are places where they can make money. So they take those opportunities; and it’s hard to blame them for it,” Russell said.
Becoming a basic EMT does involve an investment, according to Dave Berkstresser.
Trainees must buy textbooks and commit six months of their time. New York State helps by paying tuition costs, he said.
“The bottom line is you’re going to have to pay EMTs to keep them here,” Dave Berkstresser said.
A recommendation was made to pay all paramedics $25 an hour.
This would expand an arrangement already happening in the Town of Inlet.
It was also suggested that drivers be afforded gas cards.
As EMS staff and other stakeholders continue to strategize and make changes for the future, new members are always being sought, said Richard Risley.
Those wanting more information on joining the EMS team, can contact any member of the local fire departments.
Mike Farmer spoke to the volunteers present on behalf of the communities they serve.
“Thank you all for not only being here and taking part in this, but also for what you do as emergency personnel,” he said.