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FOUNDATION OVERVIEW
THERE IS A NEED
The vastly
overburdened public emergency system does not provide standby or preventive services; it only answers 911 calls. In emergency medicine, time is
critical. Minutes spent determining the severity of an injury and summoning competent and properly equipped help can spell the difference between life
and death. On-site medical resources vastly improve the delivery of emergency health-care services to the public and provide significant relief to the
overburdened pubic emergency medical system.
Theare are countless community and charitable public gatherings such as street fairs, festivals,
athletic events, marathons, non-profit events, etc. where large numbers of people congregate. Most events cannot afford to hire private medical personnel. When
an incident occurs they call 911, often resulting in unnecessary dipatches or unclear priorities.
Even when a private event can manage to recruit volunteer EMT's, those
EMT's are limited to the equipment and supplies they can afford to bring and donate. Most settle for a little black bag that is not much more than a first
aid kit. EMT's assigned from The Bobby Sherman Volunteer EMT Foundation have access to oxygen delivery systems, cervical collars, breathing and suction
devices, splints and sophisticated communication devices. The Foundation bears the cost of the travel, incidental expenses and replenishing disposable supplies. The volunteer
EMT's are qualified and supervised by professional paramedic instructors.
EMT'S ARE EAGER TO HELP
In Los Angeles County alone, there are 20,000
Emergency Medical Technicians who have each undergone 120 hours of rigorous training and testing by the State Department of Health Services. Each EMT is licensed, tested, and recertified
every two years. Only a small percentage are employed in the health care system. Many have become EMTs out of a selfless wish to help others. Some hope to enter the field as
a profession. All are eager to donate their time and services for the public good so they can practice their skills and obtain valuable experience. (EMT's maintain personal
logs of the services they perform.)
WE PROVIDE THE LINK
The Bobby Sherman Volunteer EMT Foundation maintains a roster of qualified EMT's who are willing to donate their time and services. When
a non-profit community event requests them, Foundation staff matches availability and dispatches EMTs with a field pack of equipment and communications gear. Besides providing quicker and better-equipped services to the public at
these events, the program lightens the burden on the public emergency medical system.
USE OF FUNDS
Increased funding of the Foundation
will enable it to purchase more field equipment, engage more paid staff to coordinate and supervise the volunteer efforts, make its services more widely known and expand the program
of instruction in first aid, CPR and emergency medicine for law enforcement personnel.
DEMONSTRATION AND EXPANSION
Besides providing emergency medical access to hundreds of thousands of
people and easing the burden on municipal paramedics, the program serves as a demonstration project that can be duplicated across America. The Foundation carefully documents its programs and activities. Bobby Sherman's recognition will
enhance public awareness of the program, and he will encourage and assist the establishment of such services in other cities.
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