In June of 2007, my wife and I moved to the Wood River Valley so that I could embark on the challenging and rewarding position of director of emergency communications for Blaine County.
Having worked for 25 years as an EMS chief in New Jersey, I know what it means to struggle to provide a level of service that meets the community's expectations with limited funding.
This winter, I unfortunately found myself needing emergency assistance from our local EMS. After falling on the ice and severely injuring my knee, I ended up on the receiving side of our EMS care. I was extremely impressed by the immediate response, and to find that one of the persons assisting me was a paramedic. Including a paramedic in a first-responding crew is not common in many EMS systems, yet it provides a higher level of care by providing someone who can administer pain-reducing medication as well as advanced life-saving measures.
After sustaining my injury, I needed ambulance transport two additional times. On each occurrence, the crew was knowledgeable, compassionate and very attentive to my every need.
Sometimes it's easy to take for granted the fine care that we receive, but the bottom line is that the fine care comes with a price tag. The ambulance district cannot continue to provide the level of service that is so important in this rural area without the additional funds it is requesting. I urge my fellow citizens to vote and support this levy. One never knows when illness or injury will strike them, a member of their family or a close friend. When and if it does, you will be very grateful if this levy is enacted and insures continuance of today's high level of service.
Bob Greenlaw
Hailey
