By Kalvin D. Perron
Staff Reporter
BAY MILLS &mdash Bay Mills Emergency Connection's (BMEC) search for a new director came to and end when the tribe hired Ruth Summerville as Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on August 9. Summerville, a Bay Mills tribal member, has been working for BMEC since they began providing services in January 2001.
Summerville started her EMS career in 1996 after taking a CPR class as a security guard, taught by former-director Deb McBane. Summerville credits McBane with talking her into taking EMT classes and into the field of EMS. Immediately after completing the classes, Summerville volunteered as a driver for the Superior Township Ambulance. After driving an ambulance for two years, Summerville gained her certification as an emergency medical technician (EMT) which she did for five years, until becoming a certified paramedic almost three years ago.
As director, Summerville will be in charge of teaching CPR and first aid to various departments in Bay Mills, as well as directing her staff of six full-time, four part-time employees, and seven volunteer drivers. In addition to her duties as director, Summerville will still run a shift as lead paramedic and serve as captain of the Superior Township Ambulance.
BMEC provides many services to the surrounding communities, which covers 166 square miles. They provide water and ice rescues and any other medical emergencies that arise. Due to their rapid response time, level of care, and the fact that they are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Summerville recognizes the importance of her department in the community.
“We don't need to be told we are appreciated,” she said. “Just helping people and seeing that we make a difference in peoples' lives is all the thanks we need. It's what keeps us coming to work everyday.”
Summerville added that her staff are among the most dedicated, unselfish, and hardest working people she has ever been associated with in her life.
“We have a staff of people who love their job,” she said. “Everyone works well together and get along. No one here works for themselves.”
While Summerville credits McBane for nudging her in the direction of a life in EMS, Summerville feels it was something that she was born to do &mdash her mother was a volunteer in the '70s and her father was a medic and surgeon's assistant in the Army. She also credits the community with being so receptive to her and her department.
“I love this community and am glad it has finally advanced to this level of care,” she said. “I could work anywhere, but choose to stay here because I love this community.”
