By Jack Lakowsky
The Day
LYME, Conn. — The Lyme Ambulance Association, a name it won’t have for much longer, wants to spread the word that sometime in the future, it will need more financial support from the town.
Association Chief Steve Olstein said that although the association is well funded now with donations, rising costs are straining the service. Olstein approached the town saying he foresees an eventual personnel shortage as the number of ambulance volunteers declines across the state. It’s likely the service won’t be able to fully staff itself with volunteers, he said.
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Olstein said while he hasn’t officially requested funding from the town, the association is looking to hire two part-time drivers to work a single 12-hour shift each, at a total estimated cost of about $30,000.
I can see a need,” he said. “We’re having trouble getting volunteers. EMS is not a light undertaking. It’s not a club, it’s rigorous and requires demanding training.”
“My objective is to spread awareness,” Olstein added. “That way, no one is surprised when the topic comes up.”
After COVID-19, he said, few people wanted to get involved in emergency medical services, further depleting the reserves of volunteers.
“And a lot of people are afraid of gore, which we see very little of,” Olstein said.
Olstein also said the service is asking too much of its 12 current volunteers, who answer about 300 calls yearly with two ambulances. Ideally, Olstein said, the service would have a roster of 20.
First Selectman David Lahm, who is not seeking reelection in November, declined to comment, saying it was premature to discuss if the town would help fund the association.
Currently, the town provides the association space in its two fire stations for the ambulances, equipment and training. It also provides workers’ compensation insurance, fuel and funds a pension for qualifying responders. Like most ambulance services, Lyme charges insurance companies for transporting patients.
Olstein said that for a long time the association was lucky to have a dedicated group of volunteers, but they are getting older.
The association has tried recruitment efforts, offering to cover the costs of training and equipment for volunteers and paying them a stipend of $50 per call.
“We try to reach deep into our community,” Olstein said. The association also tries extolling the virtues of volunteering for emergency medical service.
On its last recruitment blitz, the service focused on empty nesters and recent retirees, groups Olstein said now make up the core of the association.
Olstein said many towns have moved to a hybrid model, with both paid staff and volunteers, or in some instances a completely private service, nixing any volunteer service.
On Thursday, Olstein revealed the association, which turns 50 years old next year, will change its name to Lyme EMS, “reflecting the evolution of its mission from providing ambulances to providing emergency medical response, transport, community education and support.
The Office of the State Comptroller in a May report said the number of volunteers for ambulance and fire departments has dropped more than 60% since 2017.
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