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 another 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.
See the Emergency Services Gallery →
01
Belltown Fire Department
Part of my emergency-services volunteering is with the Belltown Fire Department in Stamford, Connecticut.
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
When I lived in New York, I spent a lot of time with the New City Volunteer Ambulance Corps & Rescue Squad in Rockland County. Along the way I served as an 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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