11/17/2009 10:12:00 AM Spring Valley Area Ambulance Service seeks volunteers to fill scheduling gap
Spring Valley Area Ambulance Service director Jim Cooper is in search of some Spring Valley volunteers to help fill scheduling gaps by becoming either an EMT or first responder for the service.
By Sonya Hemrich
The Spring Valley Area Ambulance Service is currently dealing with some staffing problems and is in need of a few volunteers to help it out in a tough situation.
Ambulance service director Jim Cooper noted that the staffing problem is not a crisis as of yet. Currently there are 30 people on staff, with four more set to finish classes in December. Cooper, who is also on call at times, stated that he basically works seven days a week himself. The time slots he is having a problem filling are 6 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. - the commuting times. The members on staff "all have jobs and other commitments" noted Cooper. He stated that the numbers on staff have remained steady, with fluctuations between 25 and 30 people. The service utilizes up to three ambulances.
Right now two people are scheduled to be on call at one time but Cooper said the state would like the service to have three on call. "Sometimes we only have one person scheduled," he said. "We are wringing our hands with what we are going to do."
Cooper noted that in discussions with City Administrator Deb Zimmer, they have come up with two options. The first is to see if there are people who live in Spring Valley, who work nights, who would be interested in taking a daytime EMT class and being on call during the days. Cooper stated that the service would need about four to five people to hold the class.
The second option is to get more people certified as first responders. He noted that first responders are trained at a lower level.
"We are not the only ones (to utilize first responders). It is widespread and most (cities) use first responders."
The director said the first responder course is 40 hours vs. the 120-hour EMT course. The training is offered with the fire department in January and the firefighters also train as first responders and are utilized by the ambulance service.
Cooper said he is looking for retired people, or others, who are willing to take the 40-hour course and "help with time periods when we are short. It is not a big commitment - mostly Monday through Friday with a few hours a day."
"The more who respond, the less of a burden on everybody," he noted.
The requirements to apply to be an EMT or a first responder are that the person must be at least 18 years of age, have at least a high school education and have a valid driver's license.
"We have got to fix this and fix this soon - it's getting closer (to a potential crisis situation)," added Cooper. A crisis situation would mean that "We don't have the staff available and we would have to call in our mutual aid." This would result in correction by the state and have consequences that could lead to the service's license being revoked.
It is a volunteer service but workers are compensated for their time. New EMT staff start out at $9 per hour when they are out on a call and after being with the service for one year that rate goes up to $11. Registered nurses and paramedics are paid more, at $12 per hour. The only time volunteers are paid for just being on call is on weekends and holidays. The rate on weekends for being on call from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday is $1 per hour. On holidays, from midnight to midnight, volunteers are paid $2 per hour for being on call.
The service also has a daycare reimbursement program. The employee is reimbursed on a monthly basis $2.50 per hour for each hour on call.
Cooper noted that he has found that "money has proven not to be a factor" and most members just want to serve their community.
If one is interested in becoming an EMT with the Spring Valley Ambulance Service, they should contact Cooper at 346-7414 or city hall at 346-7367.
