Community Ambulance Graduates Five, but Still in Need
The Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford recently graduated five new ambulance volunteer members. Shantel Anderson, Bret Carlson, Tina Mills, Dusti Nystrom and Monica Swedmark completed a six month training course to become National Certified Emergency Medical Technicians and will serve on the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford upon completion of their final exams. James Barker, Milo Schuster and Nate Omoth also recently joined the Ambulance Service as CPR Drivers.
The Community Ambulance currently has 25 regular active members, including the new graduates. Sandy O’Connor, director and squad leader of the Community Ambulance, says there is a great need for volunteers. She explains, “Over half of the members have been on the ambulance more than 10 years, roughly half are over the age of fifty and several have served over 20 years and are ready to retire.” O’Connor says it is crucial to increase the members in order to keep the doors open and maintain ambulance service to New Rockford and the surrounding area.
Jeff Pfau is the course instructor and has been an active member of the Ambulance for 33 years. Pfau says many people feel nervous about being on the ambulance, but the most important quality is common sense, “It does take effort and dedication, but with the proper training our members are qualified and confident to handle each situation and it’s all about common sense.”
This is the first in a six-part series exploring the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford. The series will run each month and will provide a closer look inside the history and need of the organization. The series will include “The History of the Ambulance”, “A Day in the Life of an Ambulance Member”, “Our Ambulance, My Story”, “Imagine a Community without an Ambulance” and “The Future of the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford”.
The next EMT Certification course will open in September. For more information, contact Sandy O’Connor at 701-947-2989.