Letter to the editor: Barb Leeming

Jan. 27, 2022

I keep thinking, how did we get to this point? What has changed to cause the animosity we are seeing today?

Over the years there have been individuals that volunteered with the various emergency service organizations that on a personal level didn’t get along, but when it came to emergency calls differences were always set aside and people worked together to help the community and to get the job done. Even when there were 2 separate fire departments and tensions were high (about 25 years ago) when there was a major fire all differences were set aside, and the organizations worked together.

As far as EMS and Fire, I volunteered with both organizations years ago as did my husband. There are people I have known for years at both organizations, and I am disheartened by what has happened recently.

Recently there have been things posted online and in letters by those opposed to the EMS levy, and I would like to address a few of them:

1. Fire has responded to EMS calls for the past 30 years. This is definitely a big stretch of the truth. Over the years, several people have volunteered with both agencies at the same time. By saying Fire has responded to EMS calls for 30 years, what is really being said is individuals who are volunteers with both departments are responding as firefighters to EMS calls. By that definition you can say EMS has responded to fire calls for the last 30 years.

2. Fire and EMS being consolidated is the national standard. Maybe it is, but we are in a unique situation here on the island. I have never considered our community “standard”. At some point it might work, but right now with the current atmosphere I think it would be a disaster for our community.

3. EMS doesn’t even have a chief; they have an administrator with no credentials in EMS. Only two words need to be said about this. Frank Wilson. He started EMS on the island and didn’t have a bunch of degrees or long list of credentials. He had a huge heart and compassion. He cared about his neighbors and his community. To all of us that served under him, he was like a second dad. Just because a person has a long list of accomplishments in a field, it doesn’t necessarily make them the right person for the job. Personally, I find when someone feels they have to flaunt all of their accomplishments and titles it is a big red flag.

4. The paramedics are paid too much and are allowed to respond from their home. There aren’t even words for this one. I was absolutely shocked that anyone would write this. The person who wrote this must have been fortunate enough to have never needed EMS or have any family members or friends that needed EMS. Often times a paramedic responding from home can get to a scene more quickly than if they were responding from the station. They respond day and night. They respond on holidays. They often go on back-to-back calls, sometimes dealing with multiple patients or multiple calls. They never know how many calls there will be in a day, or what they will find on those calls. Imagine responding to a call where a child has died and you know the family, or to a fatal car accident only to find out the person who died was a close friend. These are just a couple of the situations our medics and EMTs potentially face every day. The last EMS call I went on was a car accident where two people died. I knew them. Two days later I turned in my pager. This job not only takes a physical toll but takes an incredible emotional and mental toll on you. When they are on shift and there aren’t any calls, often you find them at the EMS building working or involved in training.

Just to be clear, I have a great deal of respect for all of our first responders. What I cannot respect is the hostility that has taken place recently. Years ago, after there was financial mismanagement by a former EMS chief, I called out the PHD board and asked tough questions. I care about our community and want what is best for it. There is no place in emergency services for egos or empire building. Period.

Barb Leeming