UNION — As many emergency medical services throughout the country have been faced with staffing shortages, low pay, and high burnout rates, services in Maine are presented with the same. A local service in Knox County took action to get ahead of the trend by applying for an Informed Community Self-Determination (ICSD) assessment conducted by Friends of EMS for Maine.

Union Rescue, which serves the towns of Union, Appleton, and Washington, was selected to have an ICSD assessment. Simultaneously the Ambulance Advisory Committee was formed. The committee is comprised of members from all three towns representing as liaisons between their municipalities and Assistance Chief Jesse Thompson.

The committee, after several months of education and evaluation, recently voted to support a budgetary increase to add a full-time paramedic to the Union Rescue. This proposal was presented to all three selectboards and budget committees and will be going before the respective town meetings and votes in June.

In advance of the town votes, Union Rescue and the Ambulance Advisory Committee would like to invite citizens from all three communities to a public information session on Wednesday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m., in the William L. Pullen meeting room at the Union Town office.

Kevin McGinnis, representative of Friends of EMS for Maine, will lead the session providing insight into the history of Union Rescue, the current staffing and call volume, and more, ultimately sharing as much information as possible providing the communities with details in advance of voting.

For anyone wishing to watch virtually, or review the recording, the session will be available at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/union_me.