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EMS conference underscores service’s importance

The Mining Journal wants to thank everyone involved with providing emergency medical services to our area for their dedicated service.

With the EMS conference taking place this weekend at Northern Michigan University, we felt it important to voice our appreciation for the dedicated work that they do to provide needed Emergency Medical Services.

In the larger cities emergency medical technicians and paramedics are paid professionals. In many of our rural communities, volunteers provide the EMS service.

These are people that have other full-time jobs but are willing to be roused in the middle of the night to answer the call when someone needs medical help in their area.

The difference these people make can be the difference between life and death. This cannot be overstated.

If someone in rural areas has a heart attack or is involved in a traumatic accident, their future may depend on the quality of care they receive during that first golden hour.

The care given in the hour immediately following a medical emergency can make the difference between a complete recovery, or in the worst-case scenario, death.

The Mining Journal appreciates the fact that many of the EMS volunteers are taking the time to continue their education through the EMS Conference to improve their skills.

People that live in these rural communities should make sure that they acknowledge the people serving their area in EMS and thank them for providing this volunteer service.

If rural communities ever ask for help, financially or in any other way for their emergency medical service, or, for that matter, for support of the volunteer fire departments, everyone living in those areas should show their full support.

If your family is ever in need of services, you want those services to be the best available. What price can be placed on someone’s life?

An example of the equipment needed in rural areas is the automated external defibrillators.

More schools and rural areas are looking for funding to support buying more AEDs.

Having these available along with the training to properly use them can make the difference in saving a person’s life.

You have a very limited amount of time if someone’s heart stops to get their heart beating again before irreversible brain damage takes place.

The AEDs provides the electric shock necessary to restart a heart and when you are 30 minutes away from a medical facility that can be the difference between living or dying.

We hope this message serves two important purposes when it comes to EMS.

First, thank the EMS and fire department volunteers and understand how important that they are to your community.

Second, ask your townships or communities what help they may need from you to improve their services.

We would like to see the state of Michigan come up with a way to pay the EMS people who serve rural communities to guarantee quality EMS care.

People who are lucky enough to live in areas where professional EMS service is available also have to travel through these rural communities in the Upper Peninsula and you never know when you also may need help from them.

The Mining Journal recognizes the high quality people we have providing EMS service to the Upper Peninsula and we are sincerely grateful for your dedication to our communities.

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