Forgive me for asking this..... but why can't the "volunteer" fire department and "volunteer" EMT's be housed in the same facility? Why wasn't this addressed when these elegant plans were drawn up for the new state of art Fire House?

I have thought several times about being trained as an EMT but have always come to the conclusion that I wouldn't handle it well. It's for that reason that I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those folks who do offer their time and experience to help those whom I love and care for in their time of need. The volunteers in Evansville and every other community deserve to feel appreciated for all they do. Thank you.

EFD has excellent EMT's, so do the rest of the volunteer services in Rock County. Even at a rate of a hundred dollars an hour some of the calls these people respond to are things that an MD or any other human being would have a difficult time dealing with.

Paramedics do not only work in ED's in Northern WI. At the hospitals in Beloit and Janesville EMT's work as "med-techs" or "ED techs" and are able to start IV's, draw blood, collect other "stuff" and assist the medical staff with patient care.

Private ambulance services for some reason get the short end of the stick. They have the same licensing and certifications as any other EMT/medic. They respond to where they are needed - just like any other EMT/medic. When Uncle Bill needs care up in Madison and is at a local hospital that does not provide the care he needs a private ambulance service will transport him there with his vent and IV's, his foley and pic line and keep him comfy safe and warm on the trip. If things get bad for him on I 90 the private service has their bag of tricks and will keep him going as best as they can until they get him to Madison.

When something really bad happens and all 4 (is it 4 that J-ville has?) of the ambulances in town are full up isn't it nice to know that there is a private service to come and fill the gaps?

'The bottom line is that Evansville will become a full-time service in the future....when? I don’t know....i haven’t checked my crystal ball today. I can tell you that it would be great for Evansville to have a paramedic level service; I would jump all over that! However, we are spending how much on a new fire dept ?; and yet the EMS can’t even get a decent garage with a decontamination area so that we don’t take MRSA, HIV, HEP B and other lovely diseases home to our loved ones.'

That is ridiculous. It tells you alot of what your own city leaders think of you does it not?

Evansville seems to like to have pretty things, but forgets what it is that holds those pretty things together.

Loved your point about the EMS garage/decon area (or, lack thereof), 72!

As for volunteering, I would. But I don't think I could handle it, but not for the reason you would think. I tend to blubber when people die. Even people I don't know. I really don't think I could handle someone dying being kid,elderly person, or just in a traffic accident. If I thought I could control it I would.

I don't think it would take long before the other emt's would be telling me to quit my blubbering.

I will add I am doing my part to make things easier on Evansville EMT's today. I am staying OFF the road.

Crazy people out there on the road.

So are these ambulances that travel through town once in a while. They are private comapanys more than likely providing services for a neighboring town. Or a hospital.

*** I know it would be expensive. But if we can fix a lake that when its done all we will be able to do is look at it, it seems like we could invest some in the actual people of the town.

The amount of money that would be associated with the start up costs to make Evansville a paramedic service is astronomical! To hire one full time paramedic would cost the city in excess of $100,000 (and that is someone with certification at a paramedic level already. The $100,000 includes all benefits and wages. That is for ONE person. To have full-time paramedic staffing you would need a minimum of 6 Paramedics. If the EMT's would like to become paramedics it would cost the city close to $5,000 for the class plus a year or so of schooling depending on where they send there candidates to class at (and one would think that they would be paid for attending school). Also you have to consider that Evansville has 9 EMT's 9, that’s it. So who is going to cover our city when everyone is off at paramedic school? Like I said before, come join the EMS. A lot of people do not understand all that we do and can provide.
As for the private ambulance service comment that I made....to a city it looks like a good deal however history and experience will show you that it is not. They come in with a low ball price and then raise it up to substantial amounts yearly. They also do not provide 24/7 coverage....they may say that they do but i can guarantee you that if they have a call for a transport from a hospital to another hospital that they will take it as that is the way that private services make all of their money.
The bottom line is that Evansville will become a full-time service in the future....when? I don’t know....i haven’t checked my crystal ball today. I can tell you that it would be great for Evansville to have a paramedic level service; I would jump all over that! However, we are spending how much on a new fire dept ?; and yet the EMS can’t even get a decent garage with a decontamination area so that we don’t take MRSA, HIV, HEP B and other lovely diseases home to our loved ones.

I am serious when I ask, why from a private company?? I think if eville were to ever go with paramedics the current e.m.t.s should have the option to fill those positions.

Cartaincall, I am a Paramedic and in all honesty yes that we are one of the best vol services around. We are very lucky to have a great group of people that VOL. their time to help the people of Evansville. As for your grandmother, your right she may not have gone, we can not force her to go if she is able to answer all questions appropriatly. THAT IS HER RIGHT. Also, every town might end up with paramedics but they would be from a PRIVATE company from strangers who dont care about you or your family....they are just there for a paycheck! Enjoy your VOL. while they last.

Paramedics are needed in the city of Evansville. No reason why these same E.M.T.s could not be offered the chance to become a paramedic if they are so great. Eventually every town will have paramedics and not E.M.T.s . My grandmother was very sick last month, and we took her to the emergency room as opposed to waiting for the ambulance. The patient decides? Not the best idea. As my grandmother never would have gone, if you had asked. As it was she spent a week and half in the hospital. I do think local E.M.Ts do a good job, but point being there is to much in this day and age they can not do. And yes I am sure the Evansville E.M.T.s think they are the best around.. Does not every small town fire and emts think that?.

No problem buddy (im sure you know who this is) and by the way WE MISS YOU IN WI

Thanks ffmedic72, you summed it up pretty good.

Oh, and also Pat....we don’t just do it because we like it.....we do it to protect our community, our friends and our family. We actually DO CARE, even for you!

First of all the EMT's in Evansville are some of the BEST group of volunteers in the area! There is ALOT that they can do including use an EPI-Pen when someone is having an allergic reaction, give albuterol and atrovent when someone is having difficulty breathing, assist giving nitroglycerin and administration of aspirin to a person with chest pain, giving glucose to a diabetic person, performing CCR and defibrillation for a patient that is pulse-less and not breathing. They can place combi-tubes in patients that are not breathing or need assistance breathing. They collar and board patients that have back or neck injuries after a fall or an MVA or other traumatic experience. They provide care and support for the patient and the patients families every day. Yes, IV's are great in certain circumstances but do you know what the heart needs during a heart attack? Do you even know what causes a heart attack? Its the decrease of oxygen to the muscle of the heart. It can occur in any part of the heart and depending on which part decides your fait. The oxygen that we administer along with Nitro and Aspirin allow the heart to become oxygen rich once again until the patient is at the hospital and taken to the cath lab. The only other intervention that a paramedic can do besides start an IV is give Morphine which provides some relief to the patient by masking the pain and also dilating the veins (something that nitroglycerin does). We also provide many other services including cardiac monitoring and splinting of fractures to name a few. HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT THE EMTS IN EVANSVILLE ARE WORTHLESS? WE provide LIFE SAVING measures that you Pat, could not do in your wildest dreams. If you think you know what it’s like to be an EMT then this is your open invitation to show us how its done, come join Evansville EMS.....or cant you handle it?
Oh, and by the way…..we are not just a “transport service” and we do not decide if you will be transported or not, the patient decides!

Well, if you want full time paramedic service dont get upset when your tax rate goes up. Paramedics are paid full time, I dont think Evansville could afford such a service, at least for the next few years. People can have their opinions, I frankly dont care what they are unless they have been in that area of work.

But people who are e.m.t.s do this because they like it. So quit your complaining. It is not your job. Most of you volunteer or get a pittance for each run. But just because you volunteer does not make you exempt from people's opinions. If can not handle it time for you to go.

You're right, EMTs are not the same as MD's or Paramedics. However, if you ask any MD or Medic they will tell you that a good EMT-Basic is very important to have. Paramedics start out learning the exact same things that a First Responder or EMT-Basic learn. Why? Because the basic, beginner information is the most important. As you move up with a license, you take what you learned originally and add too it. Paramedic skills wouldn't be very helpful without the foundation underneath them.

As a former volunteer at EFD, all you people who complain about the small amount of money volunteers earn on a call, go crawl back into your hole. Why dont you try it sometime? Nothing like gettin up at 3 in the morning on a night like you all will have tonight to go drag some idiot coming back from Madison who thinks they can drive 60 mph out of the ditch. If the select few who choose to do this job suddenly decided to quit, there would be public outcry. I see there are people who will never be happy with Fire, Police and EMS. If your not happy with our services, dont call us, we would gladly stay in bed.

If my Mother or your mother had a heart attack in Evansville she would be screwed as they , the E.M.T s can NOT give the needed IV'S with proper drugs to save a life.. NOPE.. We have to call on Janesville or Madison to come and help. SAD.

I don't think anyone on here bashed the fire fighters, except for your suggestion. The 500 fee most insurance will pick up all or part of . Alot of times they don't collect on those. I was surprised up in Northern Wi they have paramedics who actually work in the e.r. along side nurses. Sorry but when it comes to the serious issues, EMTs can not do much , it is a fact. So why should we pretend they can. Paramedics are a much better option for community's and eventually that is what you will see even in the smaller community's. But comparing e.m.t. to a doc is ridiculous and not even in the same field of play.

Its called "Paid per call volunteer." I dont know how much this particular department gets but I'm sure its somewhere in the $10-12 range per call. Thats it.
I think thats reasonable for someone who gets up at 2am, when its 5 degrees outside because someone flipped their car into a corn field.
Actually, its pretty crappy if you think about it. EMT's are trained very well in the art of saving lives, yet the pay is what you'd make at Wal-mart. Paramedics are trained very close to the level of a nurse in a hospital, yet don't make half as much. AND they work under serious pressure, bumping down the road. Somehow it doesnt add up...

I think its pretty tacky to bash the people you'd call if your mother had a heart attack.

As for the $500 fee; Doctors don't save lives for free, why should EMT's? Why should the fire department come to your house because you overloaded a powerstrip and not charge you a penny?

I don't think anyone said this was a fulltime fire dept. Where did you get that from. Anyone who lives here knows its not.

chelleandlou- I agree if people have a problem with the terms or the new fire dept it self it should be taken not only to the Union town board but the city of Evansville common council. The actual firefighters did not have a lot of say in this , yet they did have some. T

I did not say ANYWHERE to kiss anyone's rear end. I'm just saying they are volunteer, they don't make a salary or high wages or get benefits like Janesville firefighters. People are commenting on the firefighters and its the city of Evansville, the Council and Mayor that should take the all this heat not the fire department.

The small per call pay they receive does NOT make this a full time fire department. It is still considered a volunteer department. Just like the EMT's in Evansville other than the director who is paid a salary for her services. This is a blurb taken from the official City of Evansville Web site:

Chief Mike Halvensleben

Fire protection within the City of Evansville and surrounding townships, including select Rock and Green County areas, is provided by the volunteer fire department under the direction of the Evansville Fire District. Rated at an insurance classification of IV, the department consists of 34 trained personnel and seven vehicles equipped with fire fighting and emergency related equipment.

Mary Beaver, Coordinator:

Twelve professionally-trained volunteer emergency medical technicians and one full-time emergency medical technician provide with City of Evansville with Emergency Medical Services. These individuals work on a moment’s notice to provide life-saving and life-enhancing services to the residents of our community. EMS has two fully equipped emergency-response vehicles.

Anymore questions??

Our neighbors and I were just discussing this last weekend. We were told that the fire department is volunteer, HOWEVER they do get a small amount of pay for each call they are on. It is called volunteer as no one could ever live on what they get.

So unlike the E.M.T.'s it is strictly volunteer they get paid nothing?

The Evansville Fire Department is a volunteer fire department.

I meant to say kiss their xxxx, not kick their xxxx...

We can appreciate our fireman with out kicking their xxxx. which chelleandlou seem to think we should. bullxxxx. IF they can't handle the heat of what people think, than they should not be doing it. IT also is not volunteer, they are paid something. Maybe not much but it takes away from the term volunteer. There sure as hxxx better not be a grill that is that costly in that new building or we as tax payers will raise xxxx. In this time , and economy no one should be getting extras at taxpayer expense. People who are firefighters and emts would not do it , unless they enjoyed it in these smaller community's.

Evansville Fire Department is volunteer. Don't you think they should get a little more appreciation than some of the selfish remarks made here? Those are the people that risk their lives to save peoples lives and property. The also assist other fire departments as needed. The Janesville Fire Department (which are paid professionals) also assist EMS. They also do fire inspections at commercial properties and businesses. And as far as an $8,000 Weber grill THAT I wanna see.....

CC...I'm just trying to point out something that alot of small town residents may not know about. (FD user fees).

I feel it is double taxation, but I'm sure E.F.D. had to get a new building since the tiny village of Brooklyn has a new one. Got to keep up/ahead of the neighbors you know.

The city could have saved millions by buying the defunct Stoughton Trailers facility. The Police, Fire, Water & Light and the Public Works would have room to spare in that facility. Instead, its every department for itself, costing the residents hundreds (if not thousands) of extra tax $$$ per year.

For those worried about water issues at the new E.F.D.have NOTHING to be concerned over. The building engineer and architecht both said this would not be an issue with this site.

Now that "Lake Leota" will be revived, any upstream water that could have affected the site will have a place to be caught.

Let's see...The police dept. is there 24/7 to answer calls; the ems responds to, on average, 1.5 calls/day; and the fire dept. responds to about 100 calls/year, half of which are to back up the ems. And yet the f.d. gets the brand new digs (including an $8K Weber Grill in a nice masonary setting), and the police and ems get the old buildings. And, btw, the per call charge is in addition to the amount collected on our tax bill. I know everyone loves the firemen, but, really....

It looks to me like it's in the flood FRINGE, which is not the same as the flood PLAIN. You can build in a flood fringe as long as you take certain precautions -- apparently including not having a basement.

You should be more concerned that they build it in a FLOOD PLAIN,, ignorant. At least there will not be a shortage of water.

metromilton, you and I have always seemed to be on the same page when it comes to how foolish evansville council and so forth can be. However, if they did not charge a 500 fee, everybody and their dog would be calling the fire dept anytime someone used their lighter or lit a match.

Is there a $500 fee charged to see the new firehouse, just like the one E.F.D. charges if they come to yours?????