BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — It's now been three weeks since Damar Hamlin collapsed at Paycor stadium in Cincinnati. The possibly life saving response on the field shined a light on the work first responders do.
But many watching the scene that night pointed out, the most important work was likely done by some of the lowest paid people on that field.
"This is not a field where you're gonna get rich," said Sean Hulsman, Director of Education for Twin City Ambulance.
Low pay is driving many people out of the profession and making it difficult for companies to keep up with the high turnover rate, according to the American Ambulance Association.
The national average for an EMT is slightly above $17/hr. Paramedics, who have more training, make $22/hr with Twin City.
"We would love to pay our employees more, um basically we have to respond to 100% of requests, but we are only able to bill for transports," said Andrew Knoell, General Manager for Twin City.
Knoell estimates about 70% of the calls they take are billable, something they're working to change.
"Hopefully in the next few years, we have definitely garnered the attention of the governor, it's continuing to push that momentum forward, to recognize EMS for what it is," said Knoell.
A day in the life
Hulsman has been working as a paramedic for years and he's seen it all. From elderly women asking for help opening peanut butter to cardiac arrests.
"I used to call it zero to hero in 60 seconds. You're always waiting for the ball to drop, you're always waiting for someone to call you up and say, 'Hey this is the big one, you've gotta get there now,'" said Hulsman.
7 News reporter Taylor Epps rode along with him on several calls, one to help a man who had trouble getting out of his home in the Town of Tonawanda and another that was done when they pulled up.
"The biggest thing is you have to be constantly vigilant because you never know when you're gonna have a really sick child or someone who is in cardiac arrest that you have to pull out all the stops and all your training for," said Hulsman.
Moments later, that exact call came from a nursing home in Snyder. After more than an hour of CPR, the Twin City team was unsuccessful.
"I feel it a little bit here, I'm a little upset we weren't able to do more, I'm upset it didn't work out there, but you know there's other calls, we got a whole board full of people who need help, we're gonna have to go back out there and respond to those calls and put that behind us for now and that's kinda how the day goes," said Hulsman.
He says it's helping people, no matter what the call is, that pushes him through each day.
Twin City's EMS bootcamp starts up again on January 23, for more information on career opportunities, click here.
