VIDEO: Should volunteer firefighters and EMTs be able to miss work to respond to an emergency? Lawmakers from across Vermont support legislation offering protection to employees after some reported they were not allowed to leave their jobs for a 911 call.
Dorieann Chesbrough is a career firefighter with the Vermont Air National Guard. She’s also an EMT and volunteers at three different fire departments. She says it’s a big job and she can’t always leave when she’s called upon.
“If I had an emergency call on another department or another volunteer department, I would stay at my full-time job, as with many people who work their regular full-time jobs. When you get off of work, you would respond to calls when you can,” Chesbrough said.
Lawmakers are trying to create a solution to get more volunteers for more emergencies.