By
Ellen Mortensen, Managing Editor
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Deep within the boundaries of the state of Nebraska and along three major highways and BNSF Railroad, lies an amazing group of EMTs and firemen. This well trained team has been paged out too many times to horrific scenes, and yet answers these pages with the utmost professionalism and calm presence of minds (even though their hearts are pounding in wonder of what’s ahead of them.)”
These words were written by Cozad Fire and Rescue Chief Marlene Williams in reference to the Ansley Volunteer Rescue Service. Williams nominated the Ansley crew for a special award from the state, and they won.
EMS Service of the Year award is given to a volunteer or paid rescue service who has been active in community service, public relations and continuing education this past year, consequently improving their quality of patient care and helping to educate the public concerning EMS.
At the 34th Annual Nebraska Statewide EMS Conference July 12-14 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, the Ansley Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department took home the honor as the EMS Service of the Year.
EMS providers from across the state of Nebraska were able to attend 75 minute sessions presented by nationally known speakers such as Steve “I’m Not An Ambulance Driver” Berry from Colorado, Eric Clauss from Vanderbilt (middle Tennessee area), the Editor in Chief of JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services) A. J. Heightman of California, and Jon Politis from New York. There were also speakers from the Nebraska Poison Control Center who did a presentation on chemical nerve agents and the state of Nebraska’s EMS & Trauma Program presented an EMS Officer Workshop.
There were more than 40 vendors in the exhibit hall – from ambulance companies, to training agencies, helicopter services, hospitals and EMS & Fire equipment companies.
In her nomination letter for the Ansley squad, Williams continues; “Each time a patient leaves their care to another service they continue to keep the worries of those patients in the storage compartment of their brains while moving on swiftly to the cares of another. They serve a community of just over 500, plus the surrounding small communities that are not fortunate to have a service but are very grateful to have this team ready to serve their needs at all time, day or night.
“It is quite evident that this group is a very dedicated and caring team, as it is very rare to have a second page for them to respond whether it is primary trauma, illness or mutual aid of the same. The outstanding service and attitude that this team gives to all around them is summed up in their motto of “24/7 We Care and We’re There!” It is my honor and privilege to recommend the Ansley Volunteer Fire and Rescue as the 2013 EMS Service of the Year.”
The award was presented at a banquet Saturday night, July 13.