I've heard plenty of stories where paid EMS doesn't show up quickly, less than sober, def not properly dressed (although agreed, it's subjective), and everyone needs to commit for the call for the duration.... Let me ask you a question: if the choice is a volunteer ambulance from your home down showing up in 10 minutes, and a paid ambulance showing up in 30-45 minutes from 25 miles away (because you live in the middle of nowhere), which you you prefer?
No; when you are good at something, you don't do it for nothing. that's different than doing it for free. In the past, I have presented as Fire and EMS conferences for no pay; I spent hours researching the topic, designing the presentation, practicing, etc. and I got paid 0. and I would do it again too. I did it for name recognition, to make my agency look good, and because, quite honestly, I wanted to. I'm good at what I do. And now I do get paid, but I will likely present for free again at my state's Fire conference, and maybe even the EMS conference (haven't decided yet).
Also, I've helped out organizations, friends and colleagues, my kids school, etc, and asked for 0 pay. that's my choice. I've also provided my expertise to public safety entities, for no pay. Why? because someone asked for help. Heck, I volunteered to be the IT guy at my FD, maintaining the website, the email system, and all social media accounts. I'm good at what I do. Plus, no one else knows as much about IT as I do (we have several FFs and officers who have trouble with email......). It doesn't cheapen my work, or the IT work of our manage services provider (which I have called on the carpet several times for screwing up), but it ensure the work gets done to our satisfaction (and correctly).
apparently many of the volunteer fire departments in this nation would disagree with you... and all the auxiliary cops.... you can, and should, still have standards and rules, even if the organization is volunteer... after all, the last time you volunteered is when you submitted an application; after that, you became a non-compensated employee of the organization, and agreed to follow the rules they set for you.
Easy. I will help out my neighbor for free, but that doesn't mean I will do my job for free. Or more plainly, I will volunteer for my local EMS agency, because I want my neighbors to get the best care possible, but I should be paid for any work I provide to my employer. And for full disclosure, I haven't been a volunteer on an EMS agency since 2008... got news for you: when you are doing that person a favor, you are working as a volunteer..... if you want to be high and mighty, you are actually cheapening the work of a professional bricklayer/plumber/mechanic, and taking money out of their pocket by doing it for free.....You ever went to a hospital? you know they have volunteers helping out, right? ever picked up trash along your neighborhood? you know that there are people who get paid to do that right? Ever been driving, saw a car on the shoulder with a flat, with a blonde lady standing on the side of the road, and helped her change a tire? if so, did you ask to be paid for that service, or did you just help her and drive away?
Sorry for the extremely long post, but there is a lot of inaccurate claims made by your post, many based on urban legends and downright stereotypes. If you don't want to volunteer, that is your choice, and I won't hold it against you; but don't look down on someone who does volunteer when there is no other option, provided they hold themselves to the standards set forth by the AHJ.
www.jems.com
