LEWISBURG — As the page comes over the radio of a 15-month old girl having seizures, paramedics Mike Magyar and Kenneth Roberts hop in their vehicle with Emergency Medical Technician Sharon Wertz and hurry to the location of the child.

Cars willingly pull to the right side of the road as the Evangelical Community Hospital chase truck — referred to because it chases the ambulance to the scene — has it’s emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring.

“You never know what you’re getting into,” Magyar said. “You have to be prepared for the unknown.”

Reaching the destination, Robert hops in the awaiting ambulance and attends to the young girl while two EMTs already on scene assist with tests. He sits with her and her mother, consoling the crying child and quietly talking to her, until ultimately arriving at the hospital where she is transported to waiting doctors.

This incident is only one out of numerous calls that emergency responders react to in a day, and are being recognized for their hard work and dedication during the annual National EMS Week, May 17 to 23.

Additional staffing, additional coverage

Magyar, coordinator for Pre-Hospital Services at Evangelical Community Hospital, said the program began 25 years ago with a single truck. Now, the hospital provides staffing for several area agencies, including Warrior Run Area Fire Department, Milton Ambulance, White Deer Ambulance and Mifflinburg Ambulance.

The department covers Union, upper Northumberland and west Snyder counties, but will go as far as Centre, Clinton, Lycoming and Montour counties.

The EMS personnel work every day, no matter what.

“We’re going to work no matter what, whether there is a tornado or flooding,” Magyar said. “No matter the given situation, we’re getting there by land, air or sea. ... We’re an ER and ICU on wheels.”

There are about 35 paramedics and 60 EMTs on staff, and all emergency responders must take 130 hours of continuing education each year and attend monthly classes of the same.

The department also teaches Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Cardiac Life Support to physicians and nurses monthly.

On scene: two-vehicle crash

It’s obvious the paramedics and EMTs are more then just co-workers. They’re friends who laugh and joke among one another.

They work together, eat together and respond to sometimes life-threatening and life-altering calls together — not just as a team, but a family.