A misguided decision on ambulance service could mean higher risks for accident victims.

I am concerned about the upcoming decision that the Oxford County commissioners will make regarding the choice of ambulance services in the northern Oxford townships.

I feel strongly that Med-Care cannot supply “equal or better service to this area,” as they have stated. It is, in fact, impossible for Med-Care, coming from Mexico, to provide the same response time as Northstar’s Rangeley base, to most of our area. The primary issue should be patient care.

Dean Milligan, crew chief of Med-Care, initially called for my opinion regarding Med-Care taking over the northern Oxford County townships. I made it clear I was unhappy and against the proposal. He stated to me that Med-Care would request that Northstar respond to many of the calls in the area that they were taking over. Med-Care had a mutual aid agreement with Northstar, which they would have to honor.

I told him it is ridiculous to ask or expect Northstar to respond to any call in that area after Med-Care took the contract away from them. I know that David Robie, director of Northstar, has made it clear to the commissioners that calling his company for frequent help to fill Med-Care’s contract is not acceptable.

Both services must travel to the junction of Route 16 and Route 4 in Oquossoc to respond to most of the calls in northern Oxford County townships. Med-Care must travel 30 miles further to respond to every call. I have seen many incidents that an extra 30 to 45 or more minutes of delay in response time would have been fatal. Many of these patients are suffering greatly or are near death. Waiting that additional time for help is unacceptable from the viewpoint of the patients, their families and myself.

As EMS chief, I am disgusted and angry that the commissioners’ decision will place an additional liability on the members of the Wilsons Mills Fire Department and myself. This delay will add a lot of additional time we must provide basic emergency care before paramedics arrive. All of the personnel responding from the WMFD and EMS to any of the northern Oxford County unorganized territories do so repeatedly at no charge to the county. The Wilsons Mills Fire Department personnel donated more than $11,000 in volunteer time and training in 2003, nearly twice the amount that the commissioners hope to save.

We help on many calls, but often we need a paramedic’s skills as soon as possible. I always respond when available and do what I can as a Wilderness EMT-B. Many times, I stabilize the patient and wait for the ambulance to arrive on scene for definitive care.

I believe that injured or ill patients could die waiting due to the additional time required for Med-Care to reach them compared to the Northstar Rangeley base. The commissioners should consider the legal liability when someone unnecessarily dies or loses mental or bodily function because of the delay.

Northstar’s Rangeley base would best serve the northern townships of Richardson, Adamstown, Upper Cupsuptic, Lower Cupsuptic, Lynchtown, Oxbow, Parkertown, Parmachenee, Township C and Bowmantown. I strongly believe that all the residents, nonresidents, recreational people, hardworking loggers and others involved could be best served by Northstar, which has successfully served this huge geographic area of northern Oxford County townships for many years.

I talked with many people in the northern townships; not one cared about the higher expense of the ambulance service as long as it was the fastest that was available in the area. All stated that they would not complain if their taxes were more, as long as they had good service

I am appalled that the commissioners are willing to spend $4,000 to help subsidize Med-Cares Global Positioning System this year. The county should not be subsidizing Med-Care for equipment it should own itself. Pay each service to cover the townships they can best serve at a fair price. If they want a GPS system, let them buy it. By staying with Northstar this year, the county would already be saving $796 from Med-Care’s proposal.

A public meeting at 11 a.m. Aug. 16 at the commissioner’s office in South Paris is rapidly approaching. Residents should attend the meeting or otherwise let the commissioners know their opinion.

The people living, working and recreating in the unorganized territories deserve nothing less than the best ambulance response possible, which is Northstar’s Rangeley base.

It would be a huge mistake to switch ambulance services.

Warren C. Bennett is fire chief of the Wilsons Mills Fire Department and EMS chief.