AMU Emergency Management Opinion Public Safety

Volunteerism: A Needed Resource

A few days ago, I wrote an article entitled [link url=”https://amuedge.com/low-wages-volunteerism-and-budget-cuts/article” title=”Low Wages, Volunteerism and Budget Cuts”]. That article argued that in areas of the country where volunteers and paid personnel both staff Emergency Medical Services, volunteerism combined with budget cuts could potentially have an impact on lowering the wages of paid personnel based on the principles of supply and demand.

While volunteerism could certainly be contributing to the issues of low wages for those who are paid for their services, there are many other issues at hand that also directly play into this overarching issue.

In numerous towns and cities throughout the United States, many municipalities simply cannot afford professional emergency medical technicians and paramedics. In many cases, these departments are able to staff themselves with volunteers and they’re grateful to do so. In these cases, volunteerism is so incredibly important to save lives, as the municipalities simply cannot afford to hire personnel to handle 911 calls.

A National Problem

Ryan Harding of Fire Rescue Magazine recently [link url=”http://www.firerescuemagazine.com/articles/print/volume-11/issue-11/management-and-leadership/declining-membership-and-increasing-medical-emergencies.html” title=”wrote about a similar issue”]: “Despite the growing dependency on volunteer fire departments for medical care and the increase in demand for their services, the number of volunteer firefighters is decreasing.” 

This is actually quite concerning considering just how specialized emergency medicine is – especially in the pre-hospital setting. He argues that this is a critical concern in rural settings as it could mean that it takes a particularly long time for someone to get to a person in distress.

Complications With Municipalities

If municipalities are having a difficult time staffing their ambulances and fire departments with volunteers, could this perhaps work in favor of those who wish to seek paid positions on an ambulance or fire truck?

After all, opening up the possibility to pay someone for these services can have people lining up at the door – especially since 911 emergencies are for citizen emergencies.  Because of [link url=http://www.investopedia.com/university/economics/economics3.asp” title=”principles”] of supply and demand, the shortage of volunteers could force municipalities to create positions for paid emergency medical technicians, firefighters and paramedics.

Local Government Pressure

Ultimately, the issue of volunteer versus paid employees is complicated.

I [link url=”https://amuedge.com/low-wages-volunteerism-and-budget-cuts/” title=”previously wrote”] that volunteerism can lower the wages of paid employees based on [link url=”http://www.investopedia.com/university/economics/economics3.asp” title=”principles of supply and demand”], but the issue is much more complicated than that.  

Volunteers are so desperately needed because many localities cannot afford the payroll required for paid employees. But a lack of volunteers can also create issues of demand forcing localities to offer paid positions. The pressure on the local government is astounding because 911 programs are critical, yet they’re expensive and it can be difficult to effectively staff.

Complicated Issue

Staffing is always a complicated issue. In the case of 911 emergencies, staffing volunteers and paid personnel is a rather complicated issue. Local government officials must take multiple factors into consideration when evaluating personnel issues. Supply and demand principles will be a factor that directly impacts paid and volunteer positions.

Allison G.S. Knox

Allison G. S. Knox teaches in the fire science and emergency management departments at the University. Focusing on emergency management and emergency medical services policy, she often writes and advocates about these issues. Allison works as an Intermittent Emergency Management Specialist in the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. She also serves as the At-Large Director of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Chancellor of the Southeast Region on the Board of Trustees with Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences, chair of Pi Gamma Mu’s Leadership Development Program and Assistant Editor for the International Journal of Paramedicine. Prior to teaching, Allison worked for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. and in a Level One trauma center emergency department. She is an emergency medical technician and holds five master’s degrees.

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