All week long, fire stations, hospitals, and the public are honoring the work done by first responders and EMS crews across the country.
We spoke with Manitowoc Fire Chief Todd Blaser, who pointed out that while the EMS crews with the Fire/Rescue Department get a lot of the credit, there are a lot of moving parts that help make any given call a success.
“It consists of First Responders around the area here in Manitowoc County,” he explained. “Emergency medical dispatchers, police officers, even into our schools along with out pre-hospital nurses, and emergency room physicians, and everyone that is really trained in EMS services.”
This year, the theme of National EMS Week is “Where The Emergency Care Begins”, which Chief Blaser says is the perfect theme as we honor everyone involved when a call comes in.
“It’s really about a collaboration of everybody that I mentioned that we really should be celebrating this week from the community all the way up to the Fire/Rescue Department,” he said. “It really takes a lot of people to make things happen and make things successful.”
Manitowoc Fire Chief Todd Blaser
In fact, there is one recent case that sticks in Chief Blaser’s mind that showcased exactly how important every rung on the ladder is, that being the story of the man now known affectionately as “Miracle” Myke Hollahan.
“[He] suffered a cardiac arrest, which our police department played a key role in that with the use of their AED,” the chief recalled. “Then, the interactions of out staff with our higher level of care, and ultimately transporting [Myke] to a hospital.”
Chief Blaser also said the best way to celebrate EMS Week would be to sign up for any of the Manitowoc Fire/Rescue Department’s Community CPR/AED classes, a First Aid class, or even an EpiPen training course.
Blaser said they are all wonderful opportunities to “help us continue to serve the community…and make this a safe and healthy community.”
