CRIVITZ – When a medical emergency occurs, every second can make a difference. One organization is bringing emergency care to the communities in rural Wisconsin where it is needed most.
The Twin Bridge Rescue Squad is a nonprofit organization serving areas within the Town of Stephenson and the Town of Middle Inlet. It first formed in 1993 as a branch of the Wausaukee Rescue Squad and the group later became their own incorporated organization in 2003.
Today, the squad includes one part-time and two full-time employees as well as a variety of volunteers — all of which are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or higher.
Twin Bridge Rescue Squad President Alex Tisler has brought over 11 years of experience to his role, which includes helping people during medical emergencies and finding more ways for the squad to be prepared in the future.
Recently, Tisler completed an application for the Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Foundation and the squad was one of 41 agencies awarded through the Rewarding Responders Grant, receiving $2,000.
“WPS has supported many of our area first responders over the years and we are very thankful to have been selected,” Tisler said.
The Crivitz Area Woman’s Club also made a donation of $2,000 earlier in the summer.
These donations were used towards the purchase of four automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as well as replacement pads and batteries. They will be kept by members of the squad so lifesaving services can be rendered faster.
An AED is a portable electronic device with pads that attach to the chest to check the rhythm of the heart and, if needed, delivers an electric shock to restore the normal heart rate.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, if AEDs are used within two minutes of a collapse during cardiac arrest the survival rates can be as high as 70%. However, the Twin Bridge Rescue Squad covers an area that does not contain any schools or large churches — locations that typically have AEDs on site.
In an effort to better serve this community, nurse practitioner Lori Jacobs and her neighbors created the Friends of the Flowage. This small group aims to educate people on the importance of AEDs and is encouraging every bar in the area to purchase one since many social gatherings and summer events are held at these bars.
“Once a 911 call comes in, it takes a bit for the volunteers and staff to arrive at the station and then travel to the locations of these bars. The average bar is about another 10 to 11 minutes, or up to 20 minutes away. The chance of survival without an AED goes down 10% for every minute that goes by when an AED is not in place,” Tisler explained.
Jacobs added, “People start adding up the minutes of travel time and minutes before the squad is able to leave with the staff to perform the life saving technique. This amount of time really is life or death, that’s why these AEDs being at public places becomes so important.”
The Friends of the Flowage recently worked alongside the Cauldron Falls Bar, where the owner, Andy, sold 50/50 raffle tickets and raised enough money not only to purchase an AED for his establishment, but to purchase a second one that the Friends will be donating.
The Friends are encouraging other bar and restaurant owners to fundraise and purchase AEDs and the Twin Bridge Rescue Squad is standing behind them to offer training with the shared goal of keeping the community that has supported them safe.
“[The community] has stood beside Twin Bridge Rescue Squad our whole existence… Whether it’s donations or notes, the community really supports us,” Tisler concluded.
To learn more about Friends of the Flowage and fundraiser planning, call Jacobs at (920) 655-2527.
The Twin Bridge Rescue Squad is located at W11280 County Rd. X, Crivitz. For more information, call (715) 757-2682 or follow the squad on Facebook.
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