First responders return to Waupaca
By Robert Cloud
Six volunteers are new serving as first responders in Waupaca.
However, they are no longer called first responders.
After nearly a year of organizing, the Waupaca Area Emergency Medical Responders officially launched in July 2018.
“It takes quite a bit to get up and running,” according to Dave Fullmer, the service director for the local EMRs.
All EMRs must take a course, pass written and skills tests, and be registered at both the state and national level.
“We have our own scope of practice that we’re allowed to work up to as an EMR,” Fullmer aid.
Becky Graham, who also volunteers with the Waupaca group, said EMRs can use a defibrillator, stabilize broken limbs, treat burns, control bleeding and prepare a patient for ambulance transport.
Both Fullmer and Graham work as emergency medical technicians for Iola’s ambulance service.
Fullmer also works at the Waupaca Foundry, while Graham works in the kitchen at Waupaca High School.
Sometimes, EMRs arrive at the scene of an emergency prior to the ambulance.
“We get the patient’s name and vitals, assess the scene and the patient before the ambulance gets there,” Fullmer said. “It can be very simple, or we can be there for awhile until they can get more help.”
He described the EMR’s role as providing a third hand for the ambulance personnel.
EMRs bring their own medical kits to a call and use their own cars.
They are also volunteers who are not paid for making calls.
“We want people joining because they want to do this,” Fullmer said. “We’re going to a call to help out and that’s our only goal.”
“It feels good to help people,” Graham said. “It’s something we enjoy doing.”
Fullmer said the Waupaca EMRs hold fundraisers to help pay the costs of their medical kits, their training and radio.
For example, each AED costs more than $1,200.
The EMRs also receive funding from the city and area towns where they serve.
The Waupaca volunteers are affiliated with Gold Cross Ambulance, which provides training and donated $1,000 in start-up costs and an AED.