ONALASKA, Wis. (WKBT) -- This week is National EMS Week, a way to celebrate EMS practitioners and the work they do in our communities.Â
It was authorized by President Gerald Ford nearly 49 years ago to recognize the accomplishments of EMT and paramedics.Â
According to Lieutenant Jeremy Southworth with the Onalaska Fire Department, it's critical because 80% of what they do is taking care of people. But for Southworth who's been a first responder for more than 20 years, being a paramedic has changed throughout time.Â
"The longer I get into my career, the busier every community gets, the more calls for service I get," Southworth said. "We're an aging population. Being that we're an aging population, more of us are relying on EMS care whether it's prehospital care or in hospital care."
Southworth added there's a wide array of EMS in our community that goes beyond an ambulance, fire department and hospital.
National EMS Week ends on Saturday.Â
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Jeremy Wall joined News 8 Now in April 2023. A Montclair State University alum, Jeremy knew he wanted to work in news since he was a child. During college, he hosted, news contributed and produced 90.3 WMSC's flagship program 'The Morning Buzz', wrote for the campus newspaper The Montclarion and reported for its news magazine 'Montclair News Lab'. He also interned for 94.5 WPST and was a college associate for Fox News Radio. Although he's born and raised in New Jersey, Jeremy is no stranger to the Midwest. He started his career at KIMT News 3where he covered everything from MnDot, RPS, Mayo Clinic and the Covid-19 pandemic. After working at KIMT News 3 for two years,Jeremy briefly worked in Richmond at WRIC-TV before returning to the Midwest to join the News 8 Now family. When he's not working, Jeremy enjoys reading, writing, biking, traveling, working out, watching superhero and late night talk shows and spending time with his family and friends.
