Thompson First Responders continue service despite low numbers

     Thompson volunteers will continue to serve the community when a health emergency arises as the Thompson First Responders. With a dwindling number of EMTs, the former Thompson Ambulance made a decision back in March to do a three month trial of operating as a first responder crew.

     Shirley Roth, President of the Thompson First Responders, says the trial run has been successful, and they decided at the start of June to continue the first responder service. “We have decided that we can do this,” said Roth.

     The change means that the crew can no longer transport patients to the hospital. “We will still respond and provide whatever care we can,” said Roth. Forest City Ambulance is now providing transportation within the city of Thompson, which they have helped with for several years. In the rural areas, Forest City, Buffalo Center and Lake Mills ambulances will respond to emergency calls.

     Roth is one of three EMTs serving with the first responders, along with Kim Norstrud and Jennifer Guthart. Roth says an EMT needs to be on the ambulance in order to provide transportation service, and they simply don’t have enough volunteers these days to make that possible. “We can always go back to being a transport service if we get more EMTs,” said Roth.

     See story in this week's Tribune.

The Buffalo Center Tribune

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