Grant sought to help attract ambulance volunteers
Help is on the way. Maybe.
Montana is among 10 finalists for a federal grant that would provide $120,000 a year for three years to pay for EMT training, equipment and other needs. No mention is made of how the money would be spent.
Since the feds have already agreed to send Montana $75,000 to track response times (but nothing to improve them--people hurt want an ambulance but central office types want information--so, we get information) it’s hard to guess what will be funded.
I’ve long been a bit annoyed that state government in Montana provides no real help to volunteer ambulances. What they provide is compliance monitoring--counting safety pins in our jump kit and making sure our forms are tidy. Admittedly, this has its place. But. . .
Most interesting for the long-term health of rural EMS is the proposal to treat EMTs like firemen, allowing them to earn a small retirement after 20 years of service. Too late for me (I hope), but a worthwhile idea.