In honor of National Emergency Medical Responders week, the Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance service recently held a barbecue and luncheon to recognize its members.
The event, held May 16 at the ambulance service, was attended by about a dozen EMS technicians along with the group’s new director of EMS services, Ryan Billings. Billings took the helm on April 18.
Chief of Operations Ashley Neubauer organized the event, which included the reading of a proclamation by Boyertown Mayor Marianne Deery. Neubauer then lead a class on the differences between D10 and D50, two different diabetic medications.
National EMS week, this year celebrated May 15-21, was established in 1974 by President Gerald Ford to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do.
Billings, 44, of Fleetwood, believes EMS workers deserve more recognition for their work. “It’s a lot more than driving you to the hospital,” he said. We work hard to treat and take care of you, and we’re there for our patients. We’re like moving emergency rooms.”
An Ohio native, Billings spent 13 years at Edwards Air Force base in California before coming to Boyertown. The father of four said he was looking forward to the arrival of his family and getting settled in to his new role. “There’s a lot of work to do, but we’ll get there.”
Like most of the EMS workers in attendance, technician Stacey Schmale comes from a family of volunteers. “My dad was a volunteer EMT and my grandfather was an assistant chief for the Upper Milford Fire Department. Medical and emergency services is in my blood,” she said.
Schmale and fellow technician Anna Yanisko agreed it takes a certain type of person to want to go into the field of EMS services, where they say the job can often be tough.
“A lot of the pay out is helping people. You want to be there, and sometimes you just have to go into auto mode. You are trained to function like a computer and emotionally detach yourself.”
All agreed the tough part is when there’s a child involved. “Nothing is ever easy,” Yanisko said. “You take a little bit home with you.”
Chris Stevens is in his 33rd year as an emergency services worker. Also from a family of volunteers, Stevens sums up well the reason he and his fellow EMS technicians do the work they do. “I honestly think it’s woven into our DNA,” he said.
