Letter: Appreciation for EMS workers

To the community,

South Lake Tahoe is currently in the midst of change, moving from an ambulance service provided by the fire department to a non-safety program, prompted by a lack of county funding and also anticipated changes in the pre-hospital industry. During this transition, an amazing group of qualified medics have been providing ALS services to South Lake Tahoe under the control of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue.

National EMS Week is an opportunity to recognize hard-working EMS providers. These individuals see patients in their most dire moments and make every effort to provide the best-quality care while stabilizing and transporting, appropriately utilizing a variety of standard-of-care methods. This is exceptionally difficult due to having to be prepared for absolutely anything. The training, knowledge and skill required is incredibly vast. And, the memories of tragic injuries or deaths can haunt forever. The rewarding feelings of making a difference or possibly saving a life are eternal as well.

I would like to thank each of these 12 South Lake Tahoe Fire-EMS personnel for committing themselves to providing quality ALS response to the city of South Lake Tahoe and also for adopting the SLTFR mission statement, “Providing our community with professionalism, compassion and honor.” Each of these individuals has taken on this role wholeheartedly and has proven to be exceptional ALS care providers. Many in the group are lifelong Tahoe locals.

To each of you, a heartfelt thanks. You are amazing.

Kim George, South Lake Tahoe fire EMS officer