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EMS STANDARDS and other equipment on ambulances, for instance, rather than examining higherlevel functions like medical performance and patient outcome. Most have no operational capacity, so unlike state police or fre entities, no state EMS offce has a capacity to step in and provide service in a community. • Volunteers compose a signifcant but diminishing portion of the EMS community, particularly in rural areas. While mustering volunteer crews to run noncritical ambulance calls may be diffcult in many communities, it does not appear to be diffcult to organize dozens or hundreds of EMS volunteers to travel to state capitals to oppose laws or regulations that might improve the quality of EMS in their state. Meanwhile, many of those volunteer organizations continue to admit members who conduct themselves inappropriately, and to act more like social organizations than legitimate emergency services. It's not just Iowa, folks. Look around. and the degree to which it happens, is in most states purely a matter of luck. In a recent survey, the National Association of State EMS Offcials asked states a number of questions about the operations and functions of their EMS offces. In the resulting National EMS Assessment, 11 state EMS offces said they were responsible to ensure provision of ambulance service throughout their states. A review of the legislation of those states suggests some may have been incorrect. For example, a review of state statutes and rules found no reference that Alaska, Washington or New York had such authority. THE GUARDIAN ROCKER RECLINER • Leggett & Platt Mechanism • High Density, Solid Foam Seat Core • 325 Pound Capacity $690.00, Free Shipping Essential Public Service What does essential mean? For purposes of this discussion, let's assume it means mandatory—a must-have, something somebody must provide. In most states municipalities must provide law enforcement services as a condition of their existence. If they don't, somebody else will. In the late 1980s the town of Hainesport, NJ, abolished its police department. Within days the town was being patrolled, and calls answered, by the New Jersey State Police. In May 2009 the Spring Lake, NC, police department was stripped of its authority by the district attorney. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office immediately assumed responsibility for law enforcement in the town. All states have functional state law enforcement agencies, as do most counties. Most states have some level of state and county fire-suppression capability (though such resources may involve mostly wildland firefighting expertise). One of the features of "mandatory" is that there is a legal requirement that it be provided. When a citizen calls 9-1-1 asking for help, that citizen expects help will be provided. Whether that actually happens, For Fire and EMT Stations THE SENTINEL • Steel Seat Box W/2 Extra Springs • Steel Arm Support Brackets • 360 Pound Capacity • Extra Wide Base $690.00, Free Shipping All Chairs Ship in 10-20 days Call Toll Free: 888-380-2345 www.frestationoutftters.com The Sentinel has a limited lifetime warranty. The rocker recliners have a 5 year limited warranty. For more information contact dave@frestationoutftters.com Furniture for all Firehouse & EMS applications: recliners, day rooms, administration areas, equipment For More Information Circle 22 on Reader Service Card EMSWORLD.com | JUNE 2013 43