by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

If there’s one thing emergency medical workers want you to know, it’s that Washington County is dangerously close to the day when someone calls for an ambulance, and an ambulance does not come. 

“There’s not an ambulance service in Washington County that isn’t short-staffed,” says Machias paramedic Sally Taylor, who has served in Machias for 18 years. “Just because Machias keeps it covered 24/7 doesn’t mean we’re not struggling.”

If there’s a second thing they want you to know, it’s that you might be just the person to help. [See end of article for details.]

Each week Taylor puts in between 24 and 96 hours on the Machias Ambulance Service in addition to her full-time job as executive director of Atlantic Partners EMS. Then in her spare time, she trains EMTs and paramedics through Washington County Community College and other Maine schools.

Fortunately for Machias, Taylor recently trained Machias's two new EMTs, including her own daughter, Amanda Fielder, and Kelly Barnes, mother of paramedic Ryan Maker.

The mother/daughter and mother/son duos are four of the people who keep the Machias Ambulance Service running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen, himself a Machias firefighter, sings all of their praises.

“What can you say about the last two years that hasn’t been said? It’s grueling, it’s tiresome, everybody’s over it, and yet this crew continues to show up and they continue to serve not just Machias but the region,” says Kitchen. “These guys have been incredible and through it all, they continue to attract more folks that want to be on this team,” 

Fielder is one of those folks. She says she was inspired to join when she witnessed firsthand what EMS workers were going through during the pandemic, and how short-staffed they were in Machias. Of course, even before her EMT training, she was familiar with the service, thanks to her paramedic mom, Taylor.

“When she would practice for her motor skills exams, I would serve as a victim,” said Fielder. “I’ve been in car accidents, I’ve been sick, I’ve fallen out of a tree.”

Fielder followed her mother into the Machias Ambulance Service, and Kelly Barnes followed her son, who encouraged her to take the training to become an EMT, or emergency medical technician.  Barnes works full-time at a day job, and last week she logged 73 hours in the ambulance. 

Barnes was drawn to the work as a way to serve her community and says everyone works long hours to make sure every 911 ambulance call is answered, no matter what.

“I think if you have the compassion and you love the job, you’re not going to let the schedule fail,” says Barnes. “You’re going to add your name to it somehow in order to keep the ambulance running for the community, regardless of how many hours you’ve worked.”

Maker joined the ambulance service six years ago and credits his uncle East Machias Fire Chief Jack Gardner for starting him on his path into emergency services. 

“At 14, I joined the fire department as a junior firefighter and just moved into this as another path to take,” says Maker.

Last year, he completed the two-year degree necessary to become a paramedic, which qualifies him to perform advanced emergency procedures and administer powerful medications. In total, Machias has three paramedics. 

It’s not required that a paramedic is on every call, but some calls do require them, and sometimes, those calls take the Machias ambulance as far away as New Hampshire or Boston, when patients are transferred to other hospitals.

While two people are away managing a patient transfer, others must pick up all of the calls in Machias.

“We lose a lot of good providers because of the burnout. Some of us work a lot of hours, I do upwards of 120 hours each week,” says Maker. “That takes a toll on people, and it’s a nationwide problem —  it’s not just a local problem. And there’s not a cut and dry solution.”

Local EMS providers know there’s no easy fix, but say adding even one extra set of helping hands to an ambulance service can make a difference.

If you have an interest in emergency medicine, or if you want a job in medicine, becoming an EMT is a good place to start. EMT training can typically be completed in less than six months through a flexible combination of online and in-person classes.

“Becoming an EMT can also prepare anybody for advancement in the medical career field,” says Barnes.  

Plans are currently underway to schedule a Washington County-based EMT training course. When details are available, we will publish them in this newspaper.

If you’re interested to learn more about becoming an EMS provider, make plans this week to attend one of two EMS Expos, to be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, in Machias at the Bluebird Ranch Family Restaurant, and in Calais at the Fire/EMS building. Both events will feature drawings for a door prize, CPR and “Stop the Bleed” demonstrations. 

The expos are timed to take place during National EMS Week, celebrated since 1974 in recognition of EMS practitioners and the important work that they do. Washington County EMS teams hope other community members will raise their hands to help keep ambulances running.

“If you’ve been thinking about it, just do it, because there’s a reason you’ve been thinking about doing it,” says Barnes. “Once you do, it’s very rewarding.”