A Disturbing Article

To the Editor:

I read a very disturbing article in The Bee this past week. It seems that our volunteer ambulance corps may be sued for not responding as quickly as it should have. In addition, (there was) a list of who knows what they should or should not have done.

I think the first thing we should remember is that these people are volunteers who give freely of their time and talents. They are not doctors and their ability to deal with calls is strictly regulated.

The second thing that came to mind is if the young lad had an asthma attack, that it probably wasn’t the first one; so, why are the volunteers being singled out as the culprits. Instead of suing why aren’t they being thanked for responding. I certainly do.

My granddaughter fell and sustained an injury, and I couldn’t believe the care and professionalism that the volunteers displayed in transporting her to the hospital for further medical treatment. If these frivolous lawsuits are allowed to be brought against our volunteers, soon there won’t be anyone to call for help. Who then, a paid department that would have done the same thing and now our tax dollars pay a service such as larger towns have and get the same treatment. I wonder how long it would have taken them to respond from Danbury. Hooray for all our volunteers – ambulance, fire, nurses, and anyone that I left out. Thanks for the minute.

George R. Kase

Head O’Meadow Road, Newtown     October 11, 2000