EMS Week: Ready Today. Preparing for Tomorrow.

May 17-23 is EMS Week across the country. This week we express our appreciation to the EMS professionals on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis–planning, adapting and responding every day to take care of citizens and communities.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians developed the EMS Strong campaign to recognize the selfless calling that makes EMS so vital. This year's EMS Week theme is Ready Today. Preparing for Tomorrow. This theme, which was developed some time ago, is particularly meaningful as the EMS community rallies today to support the COVID-19 crisis, while still responding to the everyday emergencies that are happening in our communities.

Now more than ever, it is important to remember that a major component of EMS Week is honoring and celebrating our EMS professionals who are supporting the health and well-being of our nation. The New Rockford Transcript dedicates these pages to the incredible volunteers who now treat every call as if they could potentially be exposed to the coronavirus, going into each situation knowing that at the heart of their work is saving lives, regardless of the risk.

The Transcript took a different approach to the annual tribute this year, by featuring the newest volunteer to join the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford (CASNR) and paying tribute to one of the founders of the organization who passed away in January. We did, however, continue the customary practice of publishing the roster of members for both CASNR and the McHenry Ambulance Service in recognition of their service.

Although there are no special events planned due to coronavirus restrictions, CASNR is featuring all of its volunteers on the organization's Facebook page As of Tuesday, May 12, two volunteers have been featured each day, and that will continue until all volunteers have been recognized.

Download the spread as it appears in our print edition here: https://www.newrockfordtranscript.com/home/cms_data/dfault/pdfs/misc/2020-05-18.pdf

EMS Week Tribute

Martin "Marty" Lucht

January 29, 1931 - January 20, 2020

This week we honor and remember Marty Lucht for his selfless contributions to emergency medical services in our community.

Lucht was one of the co-founders of the Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford. He served an amazing 48 years from 1971-2019 as a first responder, EMT, CPR driver and non-medical volunteer. Lucht passed away in January at the age of 88.

Lucht was on board when an ambulance corporation was started within the New Rockford Fire Dept in 1970. He was a student in the first advanced first aid class, which was held throughout the fall and winter of 1970-71. The organization bought its first ambulance vehicle in July 1971. He and co-founder Celester Risovi became certified Red Cross first aid instructors in 1973 and taught until 1975, when the first EMT class was held. He and his wife Eloise both became EMTs after taking that class.

When the ambulance service separated from the fire department in 1977, Lucht and Risovi were squad leaders. The organization has been known as Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford (CASNR) since its separation from the fire department. For many years CASNR operated as a subdivision of city government until the organization established its 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 2010. Eloise was the bookkeeper for the squad for many of those years.

Lucht was also named North Dakota EMS Provider of the Year in 2004, which is given to one person by the N.D. EMS Association at its annual conference in April. It is a competitive award chosen among applications received from across the state. Lucht was nominated by O'Connor, and his nomination was endorsed by the CASNR members.

According to veteran CASNR member Sandy O'Connor, Lucht was an anchor for many who served as first responders and EMTs for CASNR. "He was my mentor," she reflected. "He was always my voice of reason. I could ask his advice about anything." O'Connor herself spent many years as manager and board member of the organization.

Lucht maintained his EMT certification for more than 20 years, until approximately the late 1990s. He then served as a CPR Driver for another 10 years. Even after he ceased taking calls, he remained a fixture in the organization, helping out wherever he could. He was a wealth of information on EMS matters. He also assisted with maintenance around the hall, attended meetings and consulted with other volunteers until about six months before he died.

"Every service has their one person that everyone looks up to, and for us Marty was that person," O'Connor remembers.

Volunteer Spotlight

Shelby Dauenhauer

"As a healthcare professional, I thought that I should give back to the community," notes Shelby (Wetzel) Dauenhauer, the newest member of Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford (CASNR), when asked why she decided to volunteer.

Dauenhauer said she wanted to use her medical knowledge to "do more" to help others in need. So she approached CASNR Manager Sara Myhre last summer with the intent of joining. She signed on in July 2019 as a CPR Driver, and within a month she had registered for an EMT class starting in the fall.

Dauenhauer spent her fall and winter attending EMT classes and training while on call as an student EMT. Then COVID-19 restrictions went into place, halting her skills training and in-person classes. Instead she now continues her didactic, or text studies, online. She will sit for both her compulsory and hands-on exams once restrictions are eased, with the goal of becoming a licensed EMT.

Dauenhauer studied nursing at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake and obtained her LPN license in 2013. She began her medical career at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford, first by working in the dietary department. During her 10 years there, she also worked as a CNA and then an LPN once she received her license. After a short stint with the Spirit Lake Health Center in Ft. Totten, Dauenhauer went to work at CHI St. Alexius Health in Carrington. She celebrates her fourth anniversary at CHI in August.

Protecting both the patient and the volunteers is the primary focus of professionals in light of COVID-19, and Dauenhauer says its second nature for her to take all the necessary precautions to do so. She said it wasn't a difficult transition for her to follow all the new policies and procedures that CASNR has implemented, because in her work she takes the same precautions all day.

Dauenhauer said its important that young people like her step up to volunteer as first responders. She said she's amazed at the amount of time many of the veteran volunteers have committed to EMS. She expressed sincere appreciation to her fellow members for the time they've put forth to teach and guide her.