Dear Editor,
Hi, my name is Mike Jernander and I have been a firefighter/paramedic in Minnesota for 25 years. I’m writing in reference to a article that was written on June 22, about EMT Connie Claussen. The article was very well written but what bothers me the most is the title of the article, “Teacher moonlights as ambulance driver.” This really touched off a sore spot with me. The media for years has portrayed us in EMS as “ambulance drivers,” and that we are not.
Today, we do so much more than be an “ambulance driver.” We are great at patient care and not only take care of the patients but the families as well. Most people can go their entire career without making a life-or-death decision at work. Most emergency medical technicians (EMT) can’t go a single day without making one.
EMTs are in the event of medical emergencies. They respond to any medical emergency, but the most common are car accidents, childbirth, violent traumas, heart attacks and accidents. So, please remember these are just a few things EMTs respond to and do. Please do not call us or label us as “ambulance drivers.”
Thank you to all the EMS people in this world for what you do!

Mike Jernander
Chaska, Minn.