Paw Paw resident asks for help with rescue squad concerns

A lack of paramedics in the Paw Paw area has Donna Twigg worried about the kind of service the Paw Paw Fire & Rescue Company can provide for their residents.

Twigg, who lives in Paw Paw, said there have been several occasions recently when the rescue squad has either taken more than an hour to respond to calls for injured family members or has responded without a paramedic on board.

“We pay a $75 ambulance fee, but we’re not receiving the service,” said Twigg.

Until a few years ago, Paw Paw’s emergency calls were tied in with Allegany County, Md.’s 911 system. Twigg said the response time from the neighboring state is often better than from her own town.

“There are certain things people can’t wait for,” she said.

She’s considered driving across the Maryland bridge and calling 911 if she has another medical emergency.

“I’m not going to take a chance with my parents. The people of Paw Paw deserve better,” said Twigg.

Commissioner Brad Close encouraged Twigg to take her concerns to an official meeting of the Paw Paw Fire & Rescue Company.

“I’ve talked to several members and their answer is, ‘We’re all volunteers.’” Twigg said.

Rescue companies in the area provide mutual aid to one another when one company can’t respond to a call quickly enough.

Close again urged Twigg to take her concerns to the squad leadership.
“This isn’t going through the proper chain of command,” Close said.

Commission President Stacy Dugan also encouraged Twigg to make a formal complaint to the Morgan County Rescue Service and the county’s EMS Board.

Hutchinson said Twigg
wasn’t the only resident who had complained about the lack of paramedic or rescue service in the Paw Paw area.

“Once Morgan County Rescue comes, they’re wonderful, but it takes awhile,” Twigg said.