O'Connor First Response Team
The O'Connor First Response Team is one of the longest running teams in the area. Dr. Terry Trusdale, who lived in our township, introduced the whole concept of medical first response teams to members of our community around 1984. He brought the idea from the Outback in Australia, where he had done a medical stint. Because there was a great distance to medical facilities, having medical first responders tend to the casualties would often mean the difference between life and death. He realized that a program like this could help all of us that live in the outlying areas.There are a few of us that have been with the O'Connor First Response Team right from day one. When we first started, after many hours of training, we covered a very large area, which included our township as well as many of the surrounding ones. It has come a long way from the days of having our fan-out phone people, to the pagers and radios that we now carry for communication. In the early stages of the team when we received a call, one member would go to the fire hall in their personal car to pick up any equipment and supplies that would be needed for the emergency. Any other responders attending the call would go directly to the scene, much like now. Our fire truck also carried the same supplies which could be utilized if the fire department was also on scene. We now have a van that carries all of our equipment and supplies.
As with all of the other teams, Superior North EMS provides us with training, equipment, supplies and any updates that pertain to emergency care.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Being a first responder is very rewarding and is an important part of the EMS system. We have a very good rapport with the paramedics and strive to assist them in any way we can when they arrive on scene. If you can make a positive difference for a casuality or their family, then all the effort and time to be a medical first responder has been worth it.
