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   Diane Ammerman, Remer Area Ambulance Service (RAAS) Emergency Medical Chief, is RAAS Emergency Medical Person of the Year 2024. Ammerman’s initial EMT class started Jan. 1981 when she was 17. Her first class was only 81 hours long plus some hospital hours, “We went to class two evening a week and some weekends in the school cafeteria”. Now the class is around 160 hrs. The first rig was a van-style ambulances that was housed below the old water tower, meetings were held at the Lutheran church basement.

   Diane says, “It is very rewarding when you help people along life’s path, and I trust God to get me through the tough calls and guide me along the way. We have had many wonderful volunteers along with many changes throughout my EMS career”.

   EMS families are tough, when called out for any emergency, they hear that pager going off and know someone’s life is changing in some way.  EMS families struggle sometimes when their loved one goes on calls during special occasions, holidays, and family gathering but they also realize someone is in need. Diane’s children grew up with EMS all around them, my daughter joined EMS, and like me loves helping those in need and being apart of RAAS EMS family. 

   EMS is continuing to change allowing EMR’s, EMT’s and EMT-P to care for the small communities we serve. We need more people to step up and help our community so volunteer services can continue to provide the best care possible. It may seem like a lot, but in the end when you see the face or family of someone you are there to help, it all comes full circle of why we do EMS.  

   I wish to thank our members for their time and dedication to RAAS and our community for the continued support. 

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