Since the county’s former backup service provider Regional One’s closure in mid-May, Pittsylvania County Fire and Rescue Association President Dean Fowler said the volunteers have worked to prevent residents from seeing any drop in the quality of care.
One of them is Jennifer DeMott, who still remembers her first trauma call, shortly after she began volunteering as an EMT with the Ringgold Fire Department.
A gunshot wound to the head. Even worse, she knew the victim. “That’s the hardest thing,” the 28-year-old said. “When it’s someone you know.”
On the way to the scene, DeMott didn’t know what to expect, and she said her skills just took over once they arrived.