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Mary Ellen Campbell joined the Weston Emergency Medical Services 31 years ago because her mother always taught her to give back. Campbell passed that value down to her twin sons, who are now also volunteers there.
"You get an instant gratification of doing a good job by helping someone get to the hospital in quick, safe and in the best shape you can," said Campbell.
Last summer, Campbell received a call from a woman who knew she was about to die. "She was a wonderful human being. All I did was be there for her. It was a truly amazing 20-minute ride. It was like we were meant to be there together. I don't think I'll ever forget her," said Campbell.
This week has been National Emergency Medical Service Week. Norwalk Hospital will announce a service award and give a plaque to one of the outstanding calls from this year at an awards dinner. The Weston EMT of the Year award will be given in June. Weston EMS has 45 members, and there are 14 first responders from the fire department. It's a fully volunteer organization that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, said JT Sollazzo, the chief at Weston Emergency Medical Services.
"This is the best organization I've ever been involved in," said Sollazzo. "These are the most down-to-earth people who would give the shirt off their back to someone who needed it."
In 2010, the Weston EMS received 549 calls, which was down from the year before. To date in 2011, there have been 210 calls. The Weston EMS participates in community service events such as the 5K race the Memorial Day Fair and attends most organized sporting events.
"We do everything from a cut in a finger to a person falling off of a roof," said Sollazzo. "Or a mom calling because the baby doesn't feel well. We calm people down and talk them through a situation."
How has the Weston Emergency Medical Services helped you? Leave your comments below.
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