Spring Break
Chaplains turn into EMT riders
Matt Miller/Religion News Service
Issue date: 9/21/08 Section: Divine Intervention
CARLISLE, Pa. - Chuck Kish was driving near Carlisle a few months ago when he came upon a traffic accident scene.
When Kish, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God Church, saw the tarps covering the bodies, he knew it was a fatal crash.
"I saw an emergency medical technician walk over to one of the bodies. They lifted the corner of the tarp and he turned away," Kish recalled. "I'll forever remember the look on his face. I thought, 'he needs a chaplain.'"
That traumatic moment planted a seed that will bear fruit this month when four volunteer chaplains from his church in South Middleton Township begin riding with crews from Carlisle's Cumberland Goodwill Ambulance company. It might be the first such program in Pennsylvania, and perhaps in the country.
The chaplains, including Kish, will be at the elbows of the emergency medical technicians to help those crews, patients and families deal with the physical and emotional pain ambulance workers encounter on a daily basis.
"At some point, I think, every person of faith has to take stock of their lives and ask, `Are we giving back enough?'" said Jack Rau, one of the volunteer chaplains. "I can't think of a more perfect place to serve people in need."
Janette Kearney, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, which advises the state Department of Health on ambulance issues, said she knows of no other unit in the state that has chaplains riding with crews.
Rau and the other chaplains, Amy Jones and Frank Poley, are commissioned ministers with Bethel. Rau has undergone first-responder training in basic ambulance procedures. Jones is a nurse.
Robert Pine, Cumberland Goodwill's EMS chief, said he expects his crews will welcome them. "I don't sense any reluctance," he said.
The crews already can seek counseling after stressful calls, but this will be different because the chaplains, in many cases, have been through the same experiences and will be able to relate, Pine said.
When Kish, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God Church, saw the tarps covering the bodies, he knew it was a fatal crash.
"I saw an emergency medical technician walk over to one of the bodies. They lifted the corner of the tarp and he turned away," Kish recalled. "I'll forever remember the look on his face. I thought, 'he needs a chaplain.'"
That traumatic moment planted a seed that will bear fruit this month when four volunteer chaplains from his church in South Middleton Township begin riding with crews from Carlisle's Cumberland Goodwill Ambulance company. It might be the first such program in Pennsylvania, and perhaps in the country.
The chaplains, including Kish, will be at the elbows of the emergency medical technicians to help those crews, patients and families deal with the physical and emotional pain ambulance workers encounter on a daily basis.
"At some point, I think, every person of faith has to take stock of their lives and ask, `Are we giving back enough?'" said Jack Rau, one of the volunteer chaplains. "I can't think of a more perfect place to serve people in need."
Janette Kearney, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, which advises the state Department of Health on ambulance issues, said she knows of no other unit in the state that has chaplains riding with crews.
Rau and the other chaplains, Amy Jones and Frank Poley, are commissioned ministers with Bethel. Rau has undergone first-responder training in basic ambulance procedures. Jones is a nurse.
Robert Pine, Cumberland Goodwill's EMS chief, said he expects his crews will welcome them. "I don't sense any reluctance," he said.
The crews already can seek counseling after stressful calls, but this will be different because the chaplains, in many cases, have been through the same experiences and will be able to relate, Pine said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Taliesin MacAran
posted 9/23/08 @ 3:18 PM EST
Although I am not of their faith, I would welcome any of these Chaplains to ride along on my ambulance and would turn
to them for counseling if I needed it. (Continued…)
jimmyone
Jimmy Crouch
posted 9/25/08 @ 10:09 PM EST
I think what you are doing will benefit your community greatly. Here at Medic One Jakarta we are trying to set up the same type of program - providing "Emotional First Aid". (Continued…)
Greg T.
posted 9/25/08 @ 11:42 PM EST
I would be incredibly uncomfortable at the seemingly enforced spirituality of that situation. Faith, approach to life and death, spirituality or lack thereof is one of the most personal things we have in life, and to imply that we should staff rapid-response counseling personnel on ambulances seems to me to codify a specific variety of religious coping method. (Continued…)
kday
posted 9/26/08 @ 4:27 PM EST
I would welcome a chaplain on my truck. For those who are not "spiritual", it is a choice to accept their support or not. It doesn't sound like they are pushing their faith on anyone, but being available if someone needs or wants to talk, or even pray. (Continued…)
txmedic
txmedic
posted 9/26/08 @ 4:42 PM EST
I would welcome a chaplain on my truck. For those who are not "spiritual", you are not obligated to accept their service, it is an option. It doesn't sound like they are pushing their faith on anyone, just making themselves available to those who may want someone or need someone to talk to or even pray with. (Continued…)
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