That said, I’m also never happier than when I’m hanging out with people from all walks of life – tow-truck operators, nurses, mechanics, truck drivers, electricians, farmers, retirees, office workers, pretty much whatever y’got – who are gathered to speak the language of Fire and EMS. At training last night we practiced inserting Combitubes and King airways, worked with the defribrillators, rehearsed epi pen protocols, and worked some spinal cord stabilization scenarios that included a close examination of the underside of a fire truck. In between, of course, there were the smoke-n-joke (without the smoking, not allowed) sessions, the wisecracks, the friendly needling…all part of the reason that I’ve stuck with some element of Fire and/or EMS for the past 23 years even as the rest of my life has gotten progressively busier. I stick with it because it’s “boots on the ground” in every sense.  Emergency calls – even just a handful per year – keep me tethered directly to reality and provide a perpetual sense of scale. When it’s time to hang it up, I’ll hang it up. But for now that pager is either A) on my hip, B) under my pillow, or C) in the console of the car waiting to be switched on as soon as I return to within range of the county line.

So – from those earliest calls through the “Nobbern” days and right up to the present – a big thank you to my EMS/Fire brothers and sisters for allowing me to play in the sandbox.

Please note: more information below the photo gallery.

After the page break, more details on this year’s event.

NEWS from the BE SOMEBODY – Fire/EMS Recruiting Campaign

SUBJECT:                     BE SOMEBODY – Fire/EMS Recruiting Campaign Kick Off

MEDIA CONTACT:     Borg Isaksen, 715-372-5031 (W); 715-372-5964 (H); 218-269-1275 Cell

The 2011 “BE SOMEBODY – Fire/EMS Recruiting Campaign” will kick off on Friday, May 20th at 3pm to increase public awareness that (1) Emergency response in rural areas is generally provided by volunteers, and (2) Most small town Fire and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) departments are actively recruiting new members.

This highly publicized “Kick Off” will take place from 3-6pm in the small town of Brule, WI, directly alongside Highway 2.  Personnel from over 30 departments will be arriving between 3-4pm to answer questions and show apparatus. Also scheduled is an on site 3 hour remote broadcast with WNXR radio (107.3 FM) featuring their “Q-Ball” show personality. Additionally, a presence is expected from supporting state agencies and local dignitaries. Citizens and Media representatives will have the opportunity to speak with all parties, take pictures, and film interviews.

After the kick off and through Friday evening, volunteer departments and organizations will stage individually in their northwestern Wisconsin communities.   Departments will station themselves in higher traffic areas to emphasize their “24 Hour/Seven Day a Week” commitment to provide emergency services.  Major corridors including Highways 2, 13, 35, 63, 27, 70, and various county trunks, will have fire and ambulance department volunteers, emergency vehicles, and signs saying “BE SOMEBODY” and “HELP WANTED.”

Recruitment and retention is the number one challenge for volunteer emergency service organizations.  The need is not only for firefighters, rescue personnel, and EMS responders, but also for volunteers to fill roles such as fire hall and vehicle maintenance, secretary, treasurer, fire inspections, and food preparation during emergencies.

More

Communities have long relied on the commitment and dedication of volunteers to provide quality, professional, cost effective emergency service for their citizens in the time of need.  In fact, a 2004 “Cost Savings Study and Calculator” released by the National Volunteer Fire Council documents that each Fire or EMS volunteer saves their community an average of $45,000 per year.

The many benefits of being an emergency response volunteer include helping neighbors, becoming involved in the community, sharing in department camaraderie, learning career building skills and participating in service award/retirement programs.  Community members are encouraged to stop and discuss these opportunities with department members during this event.

The “BE SOMEBODY” phone line has been established to aid those interested in becoming emergency services volunteers.  Interested groups or individuals may call 888-926-1676 and leave a message indicating what service they are interested in and it will be forwarded to the appropriate department chief or director who will return their call and answer questions.

Questions concerning this event may be directed to Brule Fire Department member Borg Isaksen, kick off media coordinator, at 715-372-5031 (W), 715-372-5964 (H), 218-269-1275 (Cell) or borg[at]northbaytrading.com.   Borg will assist in setting up any special arrangements that may be required to meet the needs of media wishing to cover this event as well as provide contact information for participating departments throughout northwestern Wisconsin.

The “BE SOMEBODY – Fire/EMS Recruiting Campaign” was established in 1997 by Jan Victorson, Director of Bayfield County Emergency Management, and Chief Keith Kesler of the Brule Fire Department with funding provided by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.  The event involves most departments in Douglas and Bayfield Counties, with frequent participation from neighboring counties throughout Northwest Wisconsin.

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If you’re anywhere near the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, today, you’ll be able to get yourself some spaghetti while seated in close proximity to fire trucks and helping a couple of fellow volunteers currently facing serious medical issues.

I’ll be on the road, but the silent auction and/or raffle will include some signed books and CDs.

I’m grateful to say that I am an auxiliary member of the department, serving in a first responder capacity.

If you’re anywhere near the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, area on Saturday, April 2, you’ll be able to get yourself some spaghetti while seated in close proximity to fire trucks and helping a couple of fellow volunteers currently facing serious medical issues.

I’ll be on the road, but the silent auction and/or raffle will include some signed books and CDs.

I’m grateful to say that I am an auxiliary member of the department, serving in a first responder capacity.

Dispatchers have a tough gig.  They function as interlocutor between two parties occupying various states of panic.  They sort it out the best they can.  It’s fascinating to think of them wherever they are, with their phone, their microphone, their maps, playing such a critical role in a drama where they never meet the other players.  The dispatcher is hip-deep and detached, all at once.  Think of a football coach locked in an office during the game, calling plays and relaying them to the quarterback based on reports given to him by a fan on a cell phone

So thanks, dispatchers. Next time I’m keying the mic from some ditch or logging trail or porch or from the cab of my pickup truck for “case number and times”, it’ll be nice to be able to conjure where that voice in my radio is coming from.

Tip of the helmet to everyone who got yesterday’s MABAS reference. Don’t make me pull the Life Safety card…

Also got to see a guy I made many calls with in the past. In Truck, I mention him in the following passage:

Ryan fell through the ice on his way to go fishing last winter. He went all the way to the bottom and bounced back to the top without losing his fire pager. Now we call him the human fish finder.

Ryan’s real name is Rayne. I remember when he first started with the department. Like all young rookies, he got his share of ribbing, and plenty of it from me. But it is with utter solemnity that I report Ryan/Rayne moved up north and joined the Ashland Fire Department and is now being honored (along with three fellow members) for actions that have my deepest respect.  If you know anything about Lake Superior in winter, you will understand how grateful we are that everyone is back safely ashore.

Detailed story here.

More info and video here.

That’s the real deal there, Mister Edinger.

DISPATCH: Sheriff Deputy #123, please respond to XXX Blank Road, make contact regarding a report of stolen chickens.

DEPUTY #345: Dispatch, be advised, Deputy #123 is unavailable, he’s out chasing cows.

Unrelated, but perhaps of interest, while responding to this call I was also reminded that the reason they put that little “ON/OFF” switch on the controller for your snowplow is to prevent the possibility of your rescue kit tipping off the kid’s car seat and landing on the controller, at which you suddenly find yourself plowing bare asphalt at, oh, too-many-miles-per-hour.