When you call 9-1-1 in an emergency, you expect someone to show up. In the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, first responders were applauded by the public, going out and doing the work while most of the country stayed at home.
But one segment of those first responders, arguably the most important during a health crisis like COVID-19, aren’t technically considered an essential service in Massachusetts: Emergency Medical Services or EMS.
Those that work in EMS said the pandemic, only exacerbated the existing problems within the field.
9-1-1 is one of the first phone numbers we learn. Dialing the numbers, hearing the siren, seeing the flashing lights means help is on the way.
But if you’re calling for a medical emergency in Massachusetts, the type of response you get may differ depending on where you live.