Interests — 02
Volunteer Emergency Services
Less a pastime than a commitment: volunteer emergency services is community service. There are as many reasons for being involved with this as there are volunteers, or career folks in these first responder spaces. My reasons are several. But what it really gets down to is a philosphy of basic service and actually doing something useful. Especially with social media, we frequently see a lot of talk about just about anything. That's fine. That's important. However, I also believe that if every person blathering about some complaint or anohter spent only ONE hour per MONTH even, actually doing something that helped others, our world would be a much better place.
Two organizations anchor this part of my story: fire service in Connecticut, and volunteer EMS in New York.
01
Belltown Fire Department
Part of my emergency-services story is the Belltown Fire Department in Stamford, Connecticut, where I continue to volunteer as time permits.
Belltown is a small fire district in the city of Stamford, CT. It's a really interesting place to volunteer; on the edge of a medium size city, into the 'burbs, and then less populated areas north and west. My role is mostly as EMT vs. firerighter. (Meaning I worked with my recruit class on fire, rescue, and all the usual things, but I'm not actually certified for internal firefighting; I'm there more for medical, which is actually most of our calls.)
You learn a lot doing EMS work as a volunteer. It can be challenging work, but it's rewarding. Also, if I've been good, soemtiems they let me run the siren.
02
New City Volunteer Ambulance Corps & Rescue Squad
In New York, my connection runs through the New City Volunteer Ambulance Corps & Rescue Squad in Rockland County. When I first moved to this area, I'd joined New City and was there for about 15 years. Along the way I served as EMT, a former Presidnet of this 501(c)(3) organization, and as one of the responders to the 9/11 event in New York City.
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