By Joel Howard

Like much of our state, Norfolk is made great because of the spirit of volunteerism that runs deep through the fabric of our community. And while I seek not to rank one kind of volunteerism as more valiant than another, there are among us those that perhaps stand taller in the fact that they risk life and limb. These volunteers are collectively known as first responders, and without them, our fire and ambulance services would not exist.

Theirs is by its very nature a volunteerism full of uncertainty while rife with great risk. We as a town rely heavily on our neighbors who have taken it upon themselves to protect not only our lives, but also those of our families and friends. The true scope of their commitment is often hidden from view, as state and federal regulations call for a seemingly endless stream of new rules, updated protocols, and greater expectations. The training is ongoing and the standards absolute. They stand always at the ready, whether assigned as on-call or not. The need for their help holds one absolute: it is unpredictable.

There is another fact that sets these volunteers apart, one also predicated on the unpredictable timing of emergency calls. Our first responders may not be called into service for weeks at a time, saddling them with down time. It is during these stretches that he or she is left to rehearse all manner of situations in their mind. A multiple vehicle wreck? Triage and a call for mutual aid might be needed. A structural fire? Rescue from a second floor window in the midst of snow and ice might be necessary. Unpredictability remains steady as the one constant.

As if that isn’t enough to ask of these responders, these people do one more thing that makes them unique among our volunteers: they put themselves at an emotional risk that is perhaps incalculable. Theirs is by its very nature a volunteerism that is rife with the uncertainty of seeing friends and neighbors in sometimes horrific situations.

In Litchfield County, emergency calls are dispatched with not just an address and the nature of the emergency, but also a last name. In a small village such as Norfolk, this last piece of information often someone a responder knows. They are then tasked with the knowledge that as they travel to the scene, they may well be faced with being the one bulwark against a friend’s loss of life.

When you hear that siren, know that others are giving of their time to make yours a better and safer place to call home. And when you meet one of these first responders in the course of your day, a quick note of thanks may serve to keep these people doing the great deeds they do, day in and day out.

Better yet, if you have business skills, or feel you can drive an ambulance, handle a fire hose, or learn to be an advanced responder, reach out to our local fire and ambulance groups and ask how you too might answer a noble calling.  Much more information can be found at www.norfolkambulance.com and www.norfolkfire.org.