By Joshua Byers
The Tribune-Democrat
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — David Rykala has responded to emergency calls throughout the area for more than 50 years, and he has no plans of retiring any time soon.
“My favorite part is helping people when they need help,” he said. “Sounds kind of cliché, but that’s why you do it.”
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He started as a firefighter in 1975 with the Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Department and added the responsibility of emergency medical technician with the municipality’s former ambulance service less than a decade later.
Rykala earned his certification as a paramedic about 25 years ago and has served as president of the Conemaugh Valley Regional Ambulance Association since its inception at roughly the same time.
For the first 25 years, he focused more on the firefighting side of emergency response, he said, and for the past 25 years he has turned his attention more to the medical service.
Rykala joked that fighting fires is a young person’s game – he’s 67 – and that’s why he refocused his efforts.
His desire to move from an EMT to a paramedic stemmed from wanting to improve offerings with the ambulance service.
“We wanted to get better and provide better service,” Rykala said.
Throughout his years of being a first responder, he’s experienced a lot of change in the field, especially related to technology and manpower.
At the start, Franklin’s previous ambulance service had one Cadillac vehicle with a stretcher, an oxygen tank and a medic bag.
“Now we have probably $200,000 of equipment in a $300,000 vehicle,” Rykala said.
The most significant change, though, has been a decline in staffing. That’s what led the Franklin, East Taylor Township and Cover Hill ambulance services to merge and become the Conemaugh Valley Regional Ambulance Association, Rykala said.
Since then, the combined service has experienced additional staffing issues, including aging employees. Rykala jokes that he’s “one of the youngsters,” but said that the “pool of people aren’t there anymore.”
“Too many diversions,” he said.
Still, he and the ambulance crew work diligently to respond to calls in a timely manner and make sure patients receive the best care on the way to the hospital.
Mike Saloney, who has been an EMT in Franklin since 1974, said he knows when Rykala says, “Get me there,” from the back of the ambulance, it’s time to speed up.
He grew up with Rykala in the borough and has worked with him for decades.
Saloney described Rykala as passionate about emergency services, adding that he enjoys staying on top of the latest training and is always ensuring the staff is up to date.
Not only does Rykala have the inherent desire to lend a hand, but so do several members of his family.
Rykala’s wife is a paramedic with Conemaugh Valley Ambulance, his father was a firefighter for Franklin; his son is an emergency medical technician in the Pittsburgh area, and his two granddaughters just earned their certifications to be EMTs.
“It’s kind of a family affair,” Rykala joked.
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