Responder Of The Month: Barbara Groomer

Managing Editor/Publisher

Barbara Groomer was selected as Responder of the week in March, and now, she is Responder of the Month.

Groomer, is not a "new kid on the block" by any means. She has been involved with Emergency Medical Services since 1991.

When told her name was selected from the list of those who have been nominated thus far, Groomer responded as most in this field do - humble.

"I don't feel like I deserve it - I didn't even feel like I should have been nominated," Groomer said.

EMT Robert Stamey initially nominated Groomer for Responder of the Week and says she is a "great asset  to the county. She shows she cares and is willing to help others."

Groomer has raised three children right here in Ulysses - all who graduated from Ulysses High School.

She is appreciative of the other teams she works with in her role at EMS.

"We work really hard to get a good rapport with Bob Wilson Hospital staff - they are amazing," Groomer said. "I want people to be more comfortable with Bob Wilson - it is a good hospital. The employees are great. They are knowledgeable. They are trained. And on top of that - they are experienced. We have doctors who come in, show up for a week or two and then they are gone. They have no investment in our community, but the staff there does."

Groomer is also appreciative of Dr. Doug Johnson, who also serves as Medical Director.

"If it wasn't for (Johnson), who i would like to personally thank - we wouldn't have (EMS) service here," Groomer said.

Groomer said she would like everyone to know that those in the EMS field are "just people" too.

"We can't always fix the problem," she said. "We do our best, but sometimes our best doesn't do the job. We do have training and that's how we function."

Currently, Groomer is teaching a class for new responders. When asked what she thinks it takes for someone to work with EMS, Groomer said there are three things to keep in mind.

"I would say first of all you have to be kind of crazy," she said. "Second, you have to like figuring out puzzles. And third, you can't be scared. This is a confidence builder."

Once someone becomes a part of EMS, Groomer says they will see things or rather people differently.

"You are going to look at people differently when you are an EMT than you do after before you take the class," she said. "I have people tell me they are seeing people different - they notice something about them (health-wise) they never realized until we taught them."

One thing that keeps Groomer and other emergency responders going is, a sense of humor.

Each emergency responder who is selected as Responder of the Week is in the running for Responder of the Month every month, and each Responder of the Month is then eligible for Responder of the Year. Winners are picked randomly from all the current nominees via a digital application to be Responder of the Month.

If you would like to nominate someone for this honor please submit your nomination to news2@ulyssesnews.com. Nominees can be law enforcement officers, 911 dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, military personnel, public health professionals and utility line workers.

If you would like to be a part of this program contact the Ulysses News.

The Responder of the Month program is to show our appreciation for the job they do each and every day.