Kiddy: First responders work more than people realize

By: Sharon Kiddy | Morganton News Herald
Published: November 08, 2009

Valdese, NC --

This letter is in response to Andy Carswell who complained of a lack of first responders at a child's ball game. If he is so concerned about the safety of children playing ball games, I would like to suggest he go be a volunteer himself.
The local fire departments have first-responder volunteers. These people also work full-time jobs, sometimes part-time jobs as well, and have families they have a right to spend time with. They deserve the community's respect and support.
To be an EMT first responder, you must complete 168 hours of training and 24 hours of clinical time. This does not include the 30 hours of training per year required to keep their certification.
As previously stated, most also maintain a full-time, 40-hour-a-week job and try to spend as much time with their families as they can in between work, training and calls.
Carswell claims these people need to take responsibility because they are volunteers. I assure him, they do. Some first responders run over 200 medical calls a year during their own time.
You also must consider some local fire departments have staff working at the department. So even though they may have some number of first responders, there may be up to two of them working 12-hour shifts on weekends. Should these people work a 12-hour night shift and then sit through four ball games in the morning? Will they still be on top of their game if a child gets injured or a house catches fire while they are working? Will their families mind them spending their only weekend off doing medical standby at a game?
As the wife of a firefighter and EMT first responder, I can tell you I do mind when my husband has to sit at ball games instead of spending our only weekend together. Some may say I'm selfish, but it's not like I get to see him much between his 12-hour shifts, training, hundreds of calls and, now, ball games. So call me selfish, but I do mind when something takes away from what little time I get with my husband.
So, I invite Mr. Carswell to walk a mile in another's shoes before cutting them down and saying they do not take their role as a volunteer seriously. He obviously has no idea what these volunteers do; otherwise, he would show some respect and gratitude.

Kiddy: First responders work more than people realize

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