SARASOTA-MANATEE (WSNN) – It’s National EMS Week. So help us observe and honor the front line heroes on the Suncoast as they work around the clock to keep us safe, especially during this pandemic.
“Every day we impact people’s lives,” Sarasota Fire Department’s Assistant Chief, Carson Sanders said. “And hopefully, every single meeting that we have, every call that we run, we have a positive impact on their lives.”
Even after 30 years in the job, Sanders says it means just as much now as it did when he first began.
He says while COVID-19 is a very contagious disease, he says part of the job is mitigating these dangers and hazards every day.
“No matter what is going in the community, whether it be something like COVID-19 or whether it’s fires,” Sanders said. “We stand ready as an all-hazards department to mitigate and deal with that as quickly as possible, and to make sure that we’re there for every single citizen or visitor of Sarasota County.”
Sanders says calls decreased during the lock-down, but now they are back to normal with about 180 to 250 calls a day.
Manatee County’s Deputy Chief of Clinical Affairs, Sean Dwyer, says EMT’s play a major role during this time.
“They’re the first folks to see the patients 99 times out of a hundred; especially the sickest patients who are the most vulnerable patients,” Dwyer said. “They’re helping them navigate to the right resource, taking them to the hospital, or getting them the right contacts to get tested.”
Lifeguards are also on the front line saving lives rescuing swimmers and proving first-aid to beach go-ers, especially now as beaches open up.
Sarasota County Lifeguard Chief, Scott Montgomery, says the 29 lifeguards at the six beaches in Sarasota County have performed more than 1700 medical treatments since January 1st.
“Those 1700 could be anything from a major scratch to a bleed to actually assisting EMS and transporting somebody to the hospital for sometime of medical emergency,” Montgomery said.
They include Lido, Siesta, Nokomis, North Jetty, and Manasota beaches.
Every EMT in Manatee County and Sarasota County are responding to calls using PPE. But for lifeguards, it’s a little different.
“As soon as we get them onto the shore, then the lifeguards put on PPE and then start the resuscitation techniques using all protective equipment to protect the guards, but also the patient themselves,” Montgomery said.
No matter the danger, our Suncoast EMT’s take pride in responding to your calls.
“I’m so proud of the men and woman lifeguards that are on our beaches today, Montgomery said. “They’ve worked through this COVID, still being on duty each and every day.”
“People are trusting you with their lives and the lives of their loved ones,” Dwyer said.
“I think myself along with others is honored to be able to serve our citizens and visitors,” Sanders said.
So, thank you EMS workers for all you do to save lives every single day.