Recognizing the contributions of Bushkill Emergency Corps. | Something to Think About

This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving. A time to be grateful for all we have and for those around us that make our lives richer. Last weekend, Bushkill Emergency Corps celebrated and thanked the volunteers and career providers who care for our communities by providing often life-saving care when it is most needed.

Bushkill Emergency Corps officially went into operation on September 1, 1965. It was started by a group of 11 local residents with the purpose of “providing aid and benefit to humanity whenever and wherever required.” Within one hour of beginning service to the community, they responded to the first call, a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The patient survived because they were there.

The organization is a community-based non-profit that provided emergency medical services to Monroe County residents of Middle Smithfield Township, Smithfield Township and Price Townships. As of today, it is the only Emergency Medical Service (EMS) that has both volunteers and career personnel staffing its ambulances.

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Last weekend was a chance to recognize all providers, but to especially recognize volunteers who have served the organization in various capacities for reaching milestone years of service to the organization and community-at-large.

Recognized for 2 years of service in an auxiliary capacity was Nancy Cusack. Due to the pandemic, although he has 7 years of service, Captain Jonathon Kulick-Cummings was awarded his 5 years of service award. Longevity in EMS is a valued gift to the community. Two long-serving volunteers were recognized for their service to Bushkill Emergency Corps. Receiving his 30 years of service award was Raymond M. Felmly and receiving her 40 years of service awards was Gail Kulick. Both still serve our communities in active volunteer capacities.

Saving a life in the field requires a team effort and with the equipment and training of EMS crews today, the potential to save a life is greater than ever, but never assured. EMS like many other services often runs in families. Members of a family often follow in the footsteps of one before them and carry on the tradition of service, whether it be EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement or the military.

An individual who recovers to return home is considered a true life saved and is recognized by awarding a CPR save pin. This past year, a newborn infant was saved through the use of CPR and Advanced Life Support (ALS) measures provided by two crews of Bushkill working together. In this case it was the husband and wife EMT team of Raymond M. and Nancy Felmly joined by the efforts of the ALS team of Pre-hospital Nurse Raymond S. Felmly and EMT Ryan Felmly. A bad situation that had a good outcome.

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There were many thanks throughout the evening, for the volunteer Board of Directors members, the volunteer officers, the volunteers and career staff who keep the wheels rolling and the organization running. There was the thankfulness that a crew that was transporting a patient to the hospital a few weeks ago and were hit head-on by a passing car are both on the mend and the patient returned home unharmed.

But there was one special recognition that was acknowledged as a milestone that was recognized with a citation sponsored by Representative Rosemary Brown and an award presented by Bushkill Emergency Corp to Raymond M. Felmly for 50 years of volunteer service in the EMS community. Having served 20 year in the state of New Jersey and having served the local community for the past 30 years as a volunteer with Bushkill Emergency Corps, his service was recognized and applauded.

Our communities are blessed by the many volunteers serving in so many capacities, we often forget to say that simple sentence, “Thank you for what you do.” This evening was a chance to thank both those who serve in a career capacity as well as those who volunteer with no expectation of thanks.

Debbie Kulick writes a weekly column for the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent. She serves on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as an EMT.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Kulick: Poconos EMS volunteer recognized for 50 years of service