BAY MILLS — If you call for an ambulance, more likely than not you'll be seeing Paramedic Ruth Summerville. When she is not working full-time at Bay Mills Emergency Connection or part-time for the Kinross ambulance service, she is volunteering at Superior Township ambulance service where she serves as captain of the all-volunteer crew.
The Superior Township ambulance service serves as the BMEC back up. The tribal ambulance service has one ambulance. An average run lasts two hours, said Summerville, so Superior is paged when BMEC is out on a run. It also handles intercepts out of Sault Ste. Marie.
Superior is an all-volunteer crew who mostly work at BMEC. Another member is a school teacher, said Summerville, along with an accountant. Volunteer drivers move between both BMEC and Superior, she added. While some who serve Superior are paramedics, the ambulance service itself has a basic license and can only operate at that level.
Summerville was elected captain last year upon the resignation of the former captain. Her responsibilities include managing crew and ambulance, and working with township to get the bills paid.
The 27-year-old paramedic started as a volunteer in 1997 with the old Bay Mills Township ambulance. She became Superior ambulance volunteer driver, obtained her basic EMT and then a specialist license and finally her paramedic license.
When BMEC opened in January 21, she began to earn a living as a paramedic. “I love it — I can't believe I gets paid to do this,” she said. Summerville is a Bay Mills tribal member who lives in the Farms area — just her and her dog.
It all started in 1997 with first aid classes when she worked as a security guard for the Bay Mills Casinos. Safety Director Deb McBane had started the year before and was providing the classes. She noticed Summerville's talent and recruited her.
Summerville herself is always looking for likely volunteers. She said people are needed to get another EMT class going. Those interested can contact Don St. Louis at BMEC, 248-2021.
And remember, if you need an ambulance, always dial 911.
