UNION COLLEGE
ISSUE 92.13 | 02/14/2018
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WHAT'S INSIDE SWIMMING page 03 MONEY PROBLEMS page 05 TWIN CITIES page 06 APPS FOR CHANGE page 07 Practice makes perfect for IRR students | PC: IMC
PARAMEDIC SHORTAGE IN LINCOLN S
omething that isn’t usually associated with shortages are the brave rescue workers that work in extreme weather conditions, long hours and dangerous situations.
Firefighters, EMT responders and police officers are some of the women and men that help keep Lincoln the safe city that it’s known to be. However, Lincoln Fire and Rescue is currently facing a paramedic shortage. Lincoln runs an average of six ambulances a day, but receives enough calls to need to run about eight ambulances. “Lincoln Fire and Rescue is looking to hire at least 10 paramedics this year,” comments Lincoln Fire Chief Michael Despain. “After that, we would still need to add about 1015 [paramedics] each year for the next five years in order to meet the needs of Lincoln.”
Even after the long hours and hard work, it’s all worth it to see a job well done. “It takes a certain type of person who is willing to put a lot of themselves into this career,” comments sophomore international rescue and relief major Dan Hernandez. “In my opinion, people are starting to lose the attitude of putting others first before themselves which might have something to do with the shortage that Lincoln is going through.” Having the desire to serve is the number one thing that’s important in becoming a paramedic. Another factor possibly affecting the low numbers of new paramedics not only here but across the country is a lack of understanding.
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