Records are meant to be broken. The world record for the marathon was just crushed by 78 seconds and is now 2:01:39. Astonishing and remarkable.
The world cheered when the great Kenyan runner Eliud Kipochege (the goat) established the new mark on September 16 in Berlin.
But some records would be better if they never were broken. Or at least not broken so routinely.
Such is the case with Cook County ambulance runs. In 2016 there were 552 calls and 384 billable runs, a new record.
The next year there was 623 calls and 431 billable runs. This year there have been 652 calls and 461 billable runs.
Each year the calls for help increase and a new record is set.
So what is the difference between a billable ambulance run and a call?
“Billable ambulance runs are those calls when we can generate a bill,” said North Shore Care administrator Kimber Wraalstad. “The total calls will include no patients/no loads (we didn’t transport anyone), canceled calls, standbys, and ER assistance.”
That, of course, doesn’t mean that someone or a couple of someones didn’t stop what they were doing to respond to a call, even if it gets canceled and no bill is sent.
Volunteers have to receive training before they can be part of the ambulance crew. Although they are volunteers, they are “paid” a small sum when they are called to serve.
These people drop what they are doing at work, leave weddings, holiday celebrations, birthdays, get up in the middle of the night sometimes in bad weather, and do whatever it takes to assist the distressed caller.
As the calls have increased, the hospital has hired more people to help out, but as Wraalstad noted, more help is needed.
“In the last year, we increased the number of paid EMT positions by 2.0 FTEs ( full-time employees). During the last year, we also began the Driver Program where an EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) will drive for transfers.
“We are continuing to advertise for EMTs, EMRs, and paramedics,” added Wraalstad.
How does one go about becoming an EMT or an EMR?
“We continue to work with Hibbing Community College to bring EMS education to Grand Marais. An EMR class is currently in progress and should be finished sometime in October.
“Following that course, we will work with the college to hold an EMT course. We try not to let cost be an issue because if people take the class and then work on our Ambulance Service, we pay for the course.”
So if you want to join a record-breaking team, one that could use your help, now is the chance to sign up for classes and start your journey. It’s a marathon of sorts, and you won’t have a crowd cheering for you at the finish line, just grateful people who you help save in their most significant time of need.
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