Let's save a life

Waitsburg emergency medical services volunteers needed

The need for emergency medical services (EMS) volunteers is reaching a high-point, and rural communities are feeling the effects. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer Emergency medical technician (EMT), there are training options in the area.

I did a lot while I lived in Alaska. Plenty of hiking and fishing, and other outdoorsy sorts of things, but my favorite was the time I spent as an EMT with the Sitka Fire Department. Unfortunately, my family and I had to move unexpectedly, and I wanted to continue volunteering in my own hometown. It seemed that I couldn't get a clear answer on where to go to transfer my license. It was frustrating, to say the least. As a community, we've all heard the plea to get people to volunteer as an EMT for an ambulance service, but often times, it ends there. I talked to Heather Lee, the Walla Walla County Emergency Medical Services Director, about volunteer opportunities, training, and options.

"A person must have a sponsoring agency, in order to start," said Lee. In other words, Washington State requires that a person joins a district or city department. Once a person has become a member of a department (in Waitsburg, we belong to Walla Walla County District #2), they are eligible to begin training. Walla Walla County, as a whole, does their training at Walla Walla Community College. The training is during the Fall semester and is roughly 150 hours. The training includes written and practical skills exams, so one should be prepared to patch up some "wounds" and to go through various simulation situations. Once a volunteer has completed and passed the EMT course, they must take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam (NREMT). This exam is Washington's standard, and sets the bar for knowledge. Reimbursement or sponsorships may be available for tuition, so check with the chief to see if your district offers anything.

If you're like me, and coming from out of state, the transfer to Walla Walla County is fairly easy. "A current out-of-state EMT must have taken the NREMT in the past 12 months. Once you join a district, the reciprocity paperwork gets started," Lee told me. A sponsoring agency is required for all out-of-state transfers, as well. If you've recently moved to Waitsburg from somewhere within Washington and you hold a valid license, it's easy to transfer: Join your local district, and request your transfer paperwork. 

Don't let this brief overview fool you. Training to become an EMT is very in-depth and requires a lot of dedication... dedication that doesn't end once the training is complete. Being a volunteer EMT means 2:00 a.m. calls to a car wreck or staying at a scene for hours on end in the rain or snow. It also means being the difference between life and death or being the comforting shoulder that someone needs. It is as tough as it is rewarding, and though it's not always an easy job, it's a valuable one, especially for rural towns like Waitsburg.

If you're interested in volunteering, or if you've recently moved to the area and are interested in transferring, Heather Lee said she's "happy to help." She is reachable at the Walla Walla County Emergency Medical Services office in Walla Walla: 509-524-2702

Reporter Beka Compton is a Waitsburg native who has recently joined the staff of the Waitsburg Times.