'Saving people's lives ... it's just what we do'

Tim Knott, left, Lauren Trombley and Rob Elliott.

The men and women of UAW Local 708 at Stat EMS in Genesee County truly understand that time is a precious commodity.

"Saving someone's life is an everyday emergency," said Tracy Respondek, the bargaining chair.

If that sounds cavalier, it isn't. For Respondek and her unit, it's how they must view their job, or people's lives are at risk.

"We're committed to our jobs, we're committed to our communities and we're committed to our union. Saving people's lives and serving our communities, it's just what we do, and we try to do it well," she said of the 100-member unit of paramedics, dispatchers, transport drivers and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

For Rob Elliott, Nic Preece and Tim Knott, the events of a routine day last October made them local heroes. Every second counted when they were called to the vehicle accident scene where Lauren Trombley and her sister had been T-boned. The dispatcher had warned Elliott the teen-age girl on the scene could have severe leg injuries.

"The one memory that sticks out in my mind the most is the sight of braces on her teeth. We usually get the older patients or those much younger in age, but almost never that teen-age range. That one detail grabbed at me," said Elliott, the EMT driver that day.

"This was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life, and there she was lying here fighting for every breath. It shook me up for a minute for sure," he added.

The crew's "on-scene time" was 1 ½ minutes. That's how long it took them to arrive, assess the situation and transport Lauren to the hospital. She was in the emergency room within 15 minutes of the accident – nearly record time. Stat EMS personnel aim for one hour. "Everyone worked efficiently and quickly. A good team effort," said Elliott.

The actions of Local 708 members saved the young girl's life. Lauren was in an induced coma for two days and hospitalized for two weeks. Nearly six months later, she's walking, playing sports and spending time with friends again.

"It's really good to see things turn out that way. It's a pretty exciting field," said Elliott, who recently cut back his work hours to attend pre-med classes at Michigan State University.

"All workers need protections for many reasons, even when you work to save a life every day. The union gives us a feeling of having a bigger role in the workplace," he said.

Gwynne Marie Cobb