Standing by at a major community event is a staple of life for an EMS provider. When the Friday night lights come on to light the field, an EMT or medic is usually standing on the sidelines, waiting to assist in a medical emergency. The same holds true for other contact sports, festivals, concerts, and a myriad of events that require a safety net to protect the health of those gathering in a small area.
Chances are pretty likely that most of the public won’t know, or frankly care, that we are there in the background, waiting for the emergency that often will never come. Unlike our fellow law enforcement brothers and sisters, whose obvious presence serves as a deterrent to the potential of crime, EMS is the group that goes about its business quietly.
That sets up the occasional news story like this one, where civilians who equate EMS only with an emergency vehicle that takes patients to hospitals didn’t realized a collapsed Kansas football player was immediately treated by a medic on the sidelines.
This lack of understanding contributes to the moments of frustration people can experience when they perceive a reality that isn’t. Agencies would do well to place discrete but noticeable evidence of their presence, be it a unit, placard or banner that raises the awareness of those in attendance.
In a larger sense, such awareness will also connect the community to its emergency care network. In this era of tight budgets and system reorganizations, existing services should be seen as a clear partner within the public safety net. Standbys, charitable events, and other non-911 efforts can really demonstrate an organization’s commitment to the health and welfare of the community.
