Hometown Heroes Russell Glaeske, First Responder

Ordinary, everyday heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and they are willing to shoulder tasks and responsibilities that assist others in multiple ways. One such every day hero, Russell Glaeske, served as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for thirty five years. He decided he was too old to work as an EMT so he retired, only to discover that emergency response was in his blood and he didn’t want to let it go. Glaeske returned to volunteer emergency service by earning his first responder certificate. This, which requires hours of training and the taking of frequent continuing education classes, allows him to volunteer as a first responder in all emergency situations.

“I started as an EMT because I was a police officer and I felt I needed first aid training so I could be more effective in my job,” he notes. “I liked the work and I found it very rewarding to have the knowledge and abilities to help people out in accidents or other emergency situations.”

As a first responder, Glaeske may be called to a variety of emergency situations, from vehicle accidents to natural disasters to health emergencies such as heart attacks or strokes. “We are called any time for any kind of accident or emergency situation,” Glaeske says.

He concludes, “Josh King is excellent as Director. I love this work, I love helping out and I enjoy working with people.”