To the editor:

I appreciate the guest commentary written by the Saranac Lake Volunteer Ambulance Squad in Friday’s Enterprise. I also appreciate the efforts by the local fire department and SLVRS to be there when we need them.

The guest commentary mentions SLVRS has “the largest rescue territory in New York state.” The article also states, “Prompt response time is critical to public safety.” It would be beneficial to those that live in the village of Saranac Lake to have the emergency squad located here; however, we are not the only community that is served by the ambulance company.

The statement, “We prefer to stay in the village,” is a nice sentiment; however, it’s not about personal preference. Patients are the first priority of any emergency squad. If you happen to live out of the village and you are having a serious emergency, “prompt response time is critical.” In order to serve such a large territory, perhaps SLVRS current housing would be sufficient if there was a satellite garage to house a couple of ambulances in a more central location. Transport ambulances for example could be housed in a more central region, as they are not always in a time crunch to respond to the hospital for a transport. I am not sure locating the rescue squad in the village serves the remaining territory effectively. The main objective should be a timely response to emergencies in the entire territory, not just the village of Saranac Lake.

There was a time when the region had a volunteer first response agency called FREMSA. We had advanced and basic first responders throughout the territory. I am not sure what SLVRS is doing to train constituents in their contract territories to encourage first responders in CPR, first aide or EMT. Encouraging local autonomy and empowerment can lead to more volunteers.

I agree with their assessment that response times matter. It seems we should build a system based on the territory to be served instead of a personal preference for being in the village. What we desire and what we need may not match here. Unfortunately, it appears in this village it is not safe to even have the discussion. We are expected to just agree, and support decisions without question. And then if we ask an uncomfortable question, we are immediately judged.

We need a community that engages in respectful social discourse, then strip and clean a problem down to the bones before we act on emotion and limited information. SLVRS business plan may not have evolved with the business. The illusion of permanency. The idea that we can build a system that will last for eternity. Evolving our systems and beliefs is necessary. It is unfortunate that we have a trustee posting on Facebook; interpreting those asking questions or not blindly supporting a combined emergency services building as “a lack of respect” for volunteers. In my opinion, this is the problem we are trying to solve.

Leaders that fuel suppression are not helpful.

Bill Martin

Saranac Lake