EMS Funding Problems
The pandemic has taken its toll on everyone this past year.
As Haleigh Dibetta reports this includes first responders who continue to face a number of challenges.
Aside from the mental and emotional toll this pandemic has taken on first responders, it’s also hit them hard financially. And they’re asking for the communities help so they can continue to help them.
When a call for help comes in first responders spring into action, but with the coronavirus pandemic even that has changed
“Funding is critical it goes to operational expenses, operational equipment, maintenance, keeping everything on the road, training and certification ”
Ambulance crews seldom know the full story when responding to a call.
This year there is an extra element of uncertainty every time someone calls 911. Itâs invisible, potentially deadly and highly contagious.
While the coronavirus is perhaps the most well-known disease of 2020, it isnât easy to diagnose. The symptoms can be nonexistent, or mirror those of the flu. As a result, ambulance crew leaders report that each call has the potential to lead to an outbreak that could bring down an entire service.
âItâs difficult to be on this side of it,â Terry Ruparcic, manager of Conemaugh Township EMS, said.