EMS Are Shouting Out for Your Help!

Gunnison Valley Health Foundation is raising funds to help provide an improved home for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) here in the Gunnison Valley.

Gunnison Valley Health Foundation Chair John Tarr said due to increased demand in the Valley for emergency services, the crew has outgrown their current space forcing them to sleep and live separately from where their vehicles are housed.

“As the first link to emergency medical care, our EMS team is a critical component of our healthcare system,” said Dr. Tarr. “With the evolution of the service from a volunteer based to a full time professional service, the 24 hour, 7 days a week availability of rapid response necessitates that after hours crew be housed near the ambulances. The current ambulance garage does not include adequate quarters for the on-call crew, so they currently respond from a block away. Adding the few minutes that it takes them to get from their housing to their ambulances is highly undesirable when every second counts.”

“Bringing their sleeping quarters and vehicles under the same roof will enable a quicker response time and allow them to do what they do best – save lives,” he said.

Gunnison Valley Health’s EMS team services a radius of 4,400 square miles incorporating the north end of Hinsdale and Saguache counties. They respond to all emergency situations, transfer critical patients to specialized hospitals and help move residents during natural disasters. In 2018, EMS responded to 1,205 calls, with 35% of those calls occurring during the evening and early hours of the morning.

Gunnison Valley Health’s EMS Chief Christian Malcolm said for living quarters to be housed under the same roof as the vehicles will optimize response time in crisis situations.

“We are passionate about helping our community when they need us in chaotic and distressing circumstances,” said Chief Malcolm.

“For the community to come to our aid and help us improve our home would enable us continue to provide outstanding critical care more quickly and efficiently,” he said.

To help support EMS, sign up for Gunnison Valley Health Foundation’s annual golf tournament at Dos Rios Golf Club on Friday June 28 by calling Tammy Scott at (970) 642-8406 or register online at gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/golf. For more information or to donate click here.