By EMS1 Staff
FREEPORT, Ill. — An ambulance company welcomed a furry, four-legged to member to their station this month.
In an effort to relieve stress and lower blood pressure, Star Ambulance adopted a black Labrador puppy name Stryker.
Although personnel said getting Stryker required a lot of convincing from the agency’s owners, he has already made a positive impact at the station.
“A lot of people wanted him, and he’s a good stress reliever,” EMT Amber Strong told WREX. “We go on some pretty hard calls sometimes and so just coming back and cuddling with a puppy is pretty good fun.”
Paramedics, EMTs and dispatchers have expressed Stryker’s presence has been an effective stress reliever.
“Even me just answering the phones … I get six calls back-to-back and it’s like by the time I’m done and I look at him it’s like, OK, I feel a little bit better now,” dispatcher Stephanie Barton said.
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