Outside of Omaha and Council Bluffs, many small communities rely on the work of volunteers in emergency situations. But, many towns are having trouble retaining help and are looking to fill lots of open spots.
Things were much different when the Ashland Rescue Squad formed in 1972. 82-year-old rescue squad member Bob Mason remembers being part of a bigger team.
“Back then we had a lot of help,” said Mason.
Brad Pfeiffer remembers the same.
"30 years ago we had a membership of about 54 people,” said Pfeiffer.
From more than 50 volunteers to now less than 10, the department keeps shrinking.
More people now work outside the city limits making it hard to get to calls during the day and for others the time commitment is just too much.
“You know everybody is busy, husbands, wives, kids, there are just a lot more things that go on on a daily basis then you know years ago,” said Pfeiffer.
The nine rescue squad members are now on-call 24/7. Sometimes they have to have surrounding towns respond to their 911 calls because they don’t have enough help.
“Every once and a while it just hits at the wrong time,” said Alcorn.
Captain Tiffany Alcorn is newer to the group, but wants the squad to be what members like Pfeiffer and Mason remember.
"I was never here. I was never a part of what once was. But, we definitely are trying to grow ourselves as much as possible,” said Alcorn.
Alcorn says the department is determined to add 30 members by mid December. They’re currently on a recruiting blitz to grow their close-knit crew.
“It is definitely a family and we pull together for our own. We hope to kind of grow that family and make it a little extended family to help the community out better,” said Alcorn.
Pfeiffer says you won’t regret your choice to become an EMT.
"When you join the squad you take an EMT class of 120 hours, of those 120 hours there will be a lifetime of adventure. You'll use that knowledge day and night, here in Ashland and away from Ashland,” said Pfeiffer.
You must be at least 19-years-old and live within the city limits to join the Ashland Rescue Squad. More information can be found on the Rescue Squad’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AshlandRescueSquad/?fref=ts
