Blast from the past: 9/11's other lesson

From The News & Reporter, Sept. 13,2006

We have always had appreciation and respect for what firefighters and emergency medical technicians do.
Firefighters run into burning buildings to save people’s lives, then work as hard as they can to protect people’s property and minimize the disruption that a disaster can bring.
Sometimes it’s paramedic doing advanced medical procedures, while other times, it’s just the speed with which ambulance drivers get injured or sick people to a hospital as fast as possible, but EMTs hold our lives in their hands.
Some of us took them for granted, but others, while appreciating their efforts, fell into the habit of expecting that what they do would get done, somehow, by somebody.
That’s one thing that the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001 changed, mostly for the better. We’ve learned to look around more often and to say, “Thank you,” to those who protect our lives and property.
Some say emergency personnel are now in the frontline in our war on terrorism. They will be the first called if something happens. It is frightening, but still those folks still step up.
At the same time, we hear, particularly from some volunteer fire departments, that the number of volunteers is dwindling. Our volunteers need help and backup.
The Richburg Fire Department has many volunteers, but too many work so far away during the day they cannot respond, or cannot respond in time, to emergencies. The department last year averaged slightly more than a call a day. It is now a tax district and will within the year begin hiring a few paid professionals to work the day shift, to bridge that gap. But it is stretched, now.
The Lando Fire Department is putting the finishing touches on a new station in Edgemoor, its main station. It has been built big not just to accommodate the trucks that are getting bigger and bigger.
It will have beds and showers so that crews can stay overnight at the fire station. The chief and the fire board hope the new station attracts more volunteers from the community.
We applaud the department and fire board for their work in bringing the station,more than a decade in the making, to fruition.
The Chester Rescue Squad sold barbecue on Labor Day weekend. It is staffed entirely by volunteers. When we went by the preparation, we saw a healthy dose of younger members.
But the squad needs a new rescue truck — the current truck is both old and overloaded.
The squad is raising $100,000 the hard way — one plate of barbecue at a time.
It is good to say thank you to those volunteers. But just saying thank you isn’t enough. If you’re able-bodied and have the time, consider volunteering. If you don’t have the time, but have the means, donate to your local squad or to your local fire department.
They risk their lives to save ours. They deserve more than thanks.