MFL Ambulance Service needs more members to meet call demand
Members of the MFL Ambulance include (front, left to right) EMTs Brianna Martins, Mary Bissell, Vicki Heilmann, Preston Landt; (back) Scott Torkelson, Nick Torkelson and Ryan Pomerening and driver Doug Heilmann. Not pictured are EMTs Missy Adam, Clare Benzing, Mel Cahoon, Jill Francis, Wendy Gress Yearous, Becky Harnack, Marissa Larry, Halie Ruff, Jim Schellhorn, Karla Schrader, Andrew Willie, Cynthia Torkeson and Rachael Fritz; EMRs Jenny Torkelson and Josh Kluth; and drivers Todd Balekos, John Elledge, Andy Meyer, Jeremy Schellhorn, Chris Hoffert, Trent Miene and Jamie Welch. (Photo courtesy of The Outlook)
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
“What if your mother, spouse or child had a medical emergency and no one came? How would it make you feel?”
Luckily, said EMT Vicki Heilmann, that’s never been the case for the MFL Ambulance. But it’s becoming a distinct possibility, especially as the volunteer service, which had 277 calls last year, struggles to find enough crew members to meet the community’s demand.
Although the MFL Ambulance has nearly 20 EMTs on its crew, Heilmann said not everyone can respond regularly, depending on the time of year and time of day. Daytime hours, when most people work, are particularly challenging.
“It’s the same people responding a lot,” she shared.
Some long-time members are also hoping to retire soon, added EMT Ryan Pomerening, but “there aren’t enough young people joining the service to replace them.”
EMT and assistant crew chief Preston Landt said part of the problem is most residents assume EMS will show up for medical emergencies.
“It’s just expected. They don’t think about how EMS might not come,” he quipped. “But if we had to close down, the call would go to Waukon or Prairie du Chien, which would be a 25-minute drive time here, then another 25 minutes to the hospital.”
If that alarming scenario isn’t enough to get people thinking, the EMTs listed several benefits of joining the crew. The most notable is the opportunity to give back to the community.
“The best way to help the community is to be the one who responds when someone is having an emergency,” said Landt, who’s been an EMT for nine years. He was inspired by his mom: Heilmann.
“It makes you feel really good,” added Heilmann, who first became an EMT at age 30, then rejoined at 60 after an extended period away. “When someone is having the worst day of their life, you can be there to comfort them.”
Landt said becoming an EMT also helps in everyday situations.
“If you see something happen, there’s nothing worse than a feeling of helplessness,” he stated. “This way, you’ll never be the one sitting there, waiting for someone else to come along and do something.”
The training process isn’t as intimidating as people imagine, noted Landt and Heilmann.
“If you do all the homework and listen and really have a passion for it, you’ll pass,” said Heilmann, who added that it’s never too late to consider volunteering. “Going to school at 60 was a lot different than 30, because how we do some things is different, but it’s doable. There were people older than I am going to school.”
Fellow EMTs offer a strong support system, helping new recruits with hands-on procedures or in areas where they are struggling.
Landt said it’s actually never been easier to get trained through Northeast Iowa Community College, since courses are currently offered online.
“There are some days where you have to get together for hands-on stuff, but the majority you can do from home,” he shared.
If someone is simply interested in testing the EMS waters, MFL Ambulance offers ride along opportunities. Landt went on 10 to 15 calls in one month before taking the class.
“We give the person a pager and they go along on calls and observe. You can see what it’s like,” he said.
If you’d like to help, but becoming an EMT isn’t for you, the service is also recruiting drivers.
Landt said MFL Ambulance tries to accommodate volunteers’ schedules.
“Everybody’s busy,” he said. “Some people cover a lot during the week, and others just a few hours. Some people think it’s a big time commitment, but that can be alleviated by numbers—by getting people to sign up.”
For more information, contact chief Nick Torkelson at (563) 419-3493, assistant chief Landt at (319) 538-3137 or any member of the MFL Ambulance Service.
