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About 13 months ago, Kim Becker was watching her daughter taking classes to become a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician. That's when Becker decided she would join the Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps too.
Never having made an emergency call, she never gave much thought to joining WVAC. Now she is willing to give up nights and weekends to volunteer and help the people of Wilton. "You get cases where you know you make a difference, and it is worth it," Becker said.
Becker had such a case recently where she and her partner needed to get an emotionally troubled adolescent to relax in the ambulance. Even though not much medical care was required for the patient, the patient's parent was nervous and in need of emotional support.
"I am a mother of two and feel I can understand a situation such as this and provide the needed emotional support," Becker said in an e-mail.
Her story is just one of many that the 50-some members of WVAC have experienced on a daily basis since it began in 1976. WVAC is responsible for all medical emergencies in Wilton and has volunteers on call 24/7.
Last year, WVAC received about 1,400 calls, according to its president, Ron Hitter, with about 35 percent to 45 percent involving one of the town's six senior living facilities. Once the patient is in the ambulance, the next stop is usually Norwalk Hospital, unless another location could give better treatment.
Being a standalone, nonprofit, the organization worked out an agreement to receive about half its funds from the town budget while the corps pays for other expenses through fundraising and donations.
For more information about how to help WVAC and what they do, visit their website.
