This section will be dedicated to recruiting of volunteer EMS.
RECRUITING/ RECOGNITION/ RETENTION
AN EMS/FIRE STANDING COMMITTEE IN TOWN GOVERNMENT WOULD REPORT TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMAN, MAYOR OR BURGESS OF ANY TOWN OR CITY IN CONNECTICUT.
REASONS:
A. Public Health & Public Safety Programs
Are we a Public Safety Program?
Of course, one need look far to see the Public Safety aspect of EMS and Fire Services. It is easily
argued that we are a Public Safety Program.
Are we a Public Health Program?
Of course, some of us work at systems development, planning, monitoring and evaluation, surviellance,
public education, etc. - we minister to the community as a whole.
B. Financial
Regardless of the type of service that you may have in your town, going the volunteer route is certainly the most economical. During the past few years, it has been more difficult to recruit EMS personnel. Over the past few years Fire Services have also had the identical problems. If a plan is not initiated to interest the citizenry in volunteering in both EMS and Fire Services, the cost of Public Health and Public Safety will become prohibitive for the towns. Both EMS and Fire have strong unions which could create both stressful and expensive situations if you have to go in that direction. It should be noted that the municipal, commercial, non profit and corporate paid services obtain most of their staff through the volunteer services.
It is much more prudent to work with a planned approach to recruiting EMS/Fire personnel. If you work at it, you will be successful. There are other towns and agencies that have gotten serious concerning recruiting activities, and have been very successful at recruitment.
C. Public Spirit
One of the important areas that you cannot place a price tag on is public spirit. It is so important to
have the citizens of your town involved with public service. The more people that you can get involved to serve a town, the more public pride you create. This has been missing over the past few generations, but
recently there have been indications of an upsurge of local pride for the local communities. One of the
most important building blocks to a solid foundation in a town is a citizen who is productive for the
town.
D. Lack of Volunteers
One of the most prevalent reasons for not obtaining enough volunteers is that we don't ask,
for many years we have not had to ask due to long lines of applicants waiting to join either an
EMS agency or Fire Department.
E. History
The history of volunteers in Connecticut has been extensive. After both WWI and WWII, there was much interest from
our military personnel coming home to join EMS and Fire Services. Today, as we look at the average age
of a volunteer, the age is around 40, which was determined recently from a study performed in
Connecticut, which proves that very few young people are becoming involved with volunteer EMS and Fire
Services. If you examine the map of transporting EMS services in Connecticut, you will note that over 75%
of the actual land area of Connecticut are served by volunteer squads. The responders are getting older
and if young people are not encouraged to serve their town, the volunteer services will disappear.
STRUCTURE:
Currently there are committees similar to the one proposed that operate within towns in
Connecticut, but may not be identified by specific designation as an EMS/FIRE Recruiting Committee. These
committees normally are staffed by representatives of the EMS/Fire contingents in the town, a representative
from the towns administrative body, and citizens especially from the retirement community, who have
expertise in sales and recruiting, are willing to serve in this capacity, but may not wish to serve
actively as EMS or Fire Personnel, on active call.
RESULTS:
In the towns where through one process or another a committee or group is formed, they have been successful in recruiting and retaining
volunteers. The Northwest CT EMS Council has come up with many ways of encouraging citizens to join our
ranks. The council has sent this information to all of the EMS services in the forty-three towns area they
serve. Citizens today need to be approached as to becoming involved with EMS or Fire Services.
TWO MAJOR GOALS STICK OUT IN THE EMS ARENA THAT NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
1. Recruitment ***** Recognition ***** Retention
2. Management skills concerning the Operation of an
ambulance service,regardless of the level.
The area that needs to be addressed primarily would be the Volunteer Corps. Whether
they are Fire or Ambulance Based, and/or any other type of volunteer service, they need people and
management skills to not only how to acquire members, but how too keep them once they are serving their
corps or agency.
Before we address how to do all these wonderful things, we should understand
what a volunteer is and what they do!
BASIC DESCRIPTION: A person who serves or acts of their
own free will and accord and voluntarily gives, helps, offers a service or takes an obligation to assist
someone on a volunteer basis, with no thought of gain except self-satisfaction.
EMS DESCRIPTION: A person who derives pleasure and self satisfaction from helping someone in
need(Medical Emergency), who has a deep commitment to the community and understands how blessed we
are by living in the United States and realizes that there certainly should be an obligation on our
part to give back to the community.
Volunteers come in all ages, sizes and colors.
Unfortunately most do not have signs on them depicting who they are and what area they wish to work in.
INFORMATION FOR FORMING A RECRUITING COMMITTEE
My advice is to get the support of town and/or city government, or regional office. Why not, are not
all of the citizens of your town/city reaping benefits from the job that you and your crews are performing?
Of Course!!!!!!!
How do we approach the possibility of recruiting EMS personnel?
First, we
should look at what has been done in the past concerning recruiting efforts in our town, what has worked
and what has not. Do not waste your time on areas that you are certain will not work.
Your operation should have a committee dedicated to recruiting, recognizing and retention, as well as good
solid management. The most effective way to begin is to have your town fathers involved. Attempt to
get your committee as a standing committee to the Board of Selectman and Board of Finance, if possible.
It is wise to have members from the fire department/ambulance association on this committee, but do not
overload it with members from your organization. You should attempt to recruit management personnel, and
those in sales. You might wish to look in retirement communities.
The Board of Selectman should be
able to assist you in reaching out to this type of person. You must remember that most members of your
committee may not be involved with EMS or Fire Departments, but they are interested in assisting you
obtain new members, recognize the current members which may help you in retaining them. They may also
wish to assist you in management techniques.
For anyone interested, there are several excellent
EMS management companies in Connecticut.
INFORMATION FOR FORMING A RECRUITING COMMITTEE
There will be numerous
areas to be examined when you form this committee. There are several areas to be addressed such as:
Have you looked at your operation to ascertain if there are any reasons such as bylaws,
protocols, or any other problem that would create a lack of EMS staffing, or might keep EMS volunteers out?
How do you treat new volunteers when they join?
What do you offer new members as incentives?
What would it cost if EMS volunteers no longer provided EMS to the community?
In areas where fire services provide EMS, it would be prudent to involve the
total cost of the volunteer fire department. All expenses must be included in order for the
community to know the value of your service.
Have you examined the methods of recruiting new personnel?
Do you recruit at all?????
OR DO YOU JUST HOPE???????
At this point you should have come to the conclusion that if you don't have a public relations person,
you have to get one.
Who could fit the bill? Do they have to be an EMT or Firefighter?
NO!
They could be anyone articulate enough to gather information on your organization and create a
positive picture of the public and those whom you may wish join your organization.
INFORMATION CONCERNING RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS:
1. Clarify your mission - Make your presentation appeal to whichever group you appear
before, such as the PTA, Women's Organizations, Men's Clubs, or Town Boards. Let members of the
organizations know the importance of the service that your corps performs.
2. TARGET MARKETING!! What is your constituency? You should select groups of people that will respond
to our program. The information that I just gave you is correct, but with today's world I would speak
to any group that is interested. I have found many surprises concerning who might wish to join an EMS
or Fire organization.
3. Plan a calender and decide on the type of appeal that you might
use. Letters, personal contact, movie, tape, slide show, phone, etc. Decide on how much lead time to
give people. Some groups may need a longer lead time. Others may be shorter. Make certain that EMT
courses are available for these groups.
4. Plan your approach carefully. Use common sense.
Describe carefully the hours, skills, and location. Most importantly volunteers must have a way to
respond.
5. What type of recruitment method is best? The answer is the one that works!!!!
PERSON TO PERSON - This is the BEST METHOD-DIRECT CONTACT
Newspapers
Group
Presentation
Posters
6. What type of appeal will you use? GENERAL
/SPECIFIC
7. The job description must be clear, and the time commitment must be spelled out
carefully.
8. What kind of incentives do you offer your prospective volunteers? Do you pay
for the course when successfully completed, free uniforms, free cleaning, etc.
9. Training
and Orientation: Be honest and thorough. If you do not have a plan or program, you had better begin.
The plan should be written down, updated when needed, and adhered to completely.
10. It is
a must that your organization have a telephone number and a contact person who is easy to contact, and
easy to communicate with.
11. Follow-up on every application, do not let any fall through
the cracks.
12. Make the new member feel at home. This is extremely important. I can
recall an EMT class whereby I handed over twenty new members to a certain ambulance corps, but due to
archaic and prehistoric by-laws and guidlines that bordered on the Spanish Inquisition, they lost most
of their new members. This I might add is after they were cautioned to get ready for these people.
13. Provide rules and regulations, and go over them with the new member. It is important that
new members know what is expected of them and what their boundaries are.
******DO YOU HAVE******
Christmas Parties
Various types of training courses *readily available
A certified driver training course
Bylaws whereby observers
*(Non-Certified Fire Fighters) are allowed to participate in developing areas that create interest and
*are beneficial to your organization such as public relations and recruiting?
A slide show
*depicting the average day of a volunteer.
Newspaper articles (Number of hours & runs)
Blood Pressure Clinics
Plaques / Certificates
Approach the public for
*recognition of your members
Establish reasonable criteria such as Pins-Emblem-Plaques.
*Do not make the award out of their reach.
Ask Federal, State, or Town representatives to
*make the presentation and invite their families.
Give awards for attendance at meetings,
*verbal praise and posting letters of appreciation from grateful patients works wonders.
