By Jill Fennema –

The Edgerton Volunteer Ambulance Association is looking for new recruits. The association currently has 15 active Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). They also have one EMT that works as a substitute and two individuals that are preparing to join the team. However, there are also several members who are looking to retire from the association, but do not want to do that until there are EMTs ready to fill their shoes.

“Twenty EMTs would be awesome,” said Beth Fennema, the president of the association. At a bare minimum, they need 16 EMTs to operate, but that does not make things operate smoothly all the time and that does not allow anyone to retire. They need to cover eight 12-hours shifts with a minimum of two EMTs and a driver. Right now, they do not have a need for more drivers because all the shifts are covered.

In 2020, the Edgerton Volunteer Ambulance Association responded to 195 calls. Edgerton’s EMTs work a 12-hour shift during the week and one 12-hour shift every 4th Friday.  The calls on the weekends are taken by anyone that is available – they call it “All Call.”  They also have one meeting each month to work on continuing education.  Those meetings are in Edgerton, so there’s no travel involved. 

What qualifications do you need to become an EMT?  For starters, you do NOT need a medical background. “We will help you learn how to be a great EMT,” said Mary Kreun, who is the city’s emergency services coordinator. Beth added that the first qualification is a willingness to help other people and the second is the need to take an approved certification class.

A class takes roughly four months to complete.  It is comprised of on-line learning and hands-on skill practicing, so there is some travel involved. The classes are designed around working adults, so they are offered in the evenings.

There is also one day of continuing education in January that EMTs have to attend. The class is held in Edgerton.

“I personally love this day because we get to learn new things to help people and I get to learn more things from my older teammates,” Beth said.

Edgerton’s EMTs are all volunteers, as are the ambulance drivers. On the weekends when they have an “All Call” the EMTs on those calls receive $50. They are also paid for holiday calls. At the end of the year, the volunteers receive a small stipend as a thank you from the City of Edgerton.

So, as you can see, the monetary benefits of being a volunteer EMT are not a reason to join, but the benefits are those intangibles that can’t be counted: serving your neighbors and your community, building friendships, and an outstanding real-life education.

If Edgerton cannot get enough EMTs, there is the possibility that they would not be able to offer an ambulance service in town. In that case, Edgerton residents and those in the townships that the ambulance association serves would have to rely on the Pipestone County Ambulance or the Jasper Ambulance to come to town for transport.

“Yes those ambulances can get here quickly,” said Beth. “But twenty minutes can be a very long time if you are scared and need help.”

Another option would be that the city would have to hire full time paid EMTs.

If you are interested in becoming an EMT, contact Mary Kreun at city hall.