NorthStar EMS plans to do a “stretcher push” on Sunday, May 21, from its Sugarloaf base in Carrabassett Valley to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, in order to bring awareness to the mental health struggles of first responders during National Mental Health Awareness Month and National EMS Week.

The stretcher push event consists of a stretcher being pushed by two emergency medical technicians, followed by a NorthStar ambulance with lights flashing for safety purposes and a banner attached to the front stating “Code Green Campaign: In this family no one fights alone and everyone goes home,” according to a news release from Jill Gray, communications and public affairs manager at the hospital.

According to organizer Alexandria Lynch, a paramedic at NorthStar, the event aims to bring awareness to the prevalence of mental health challenges in first responders and to eliminate the stigma that prevents individuals from admitting these issues and asking for help.

The event starts at 6 a.m.; it could take about 12 hours to make the 35-mile trip. Spectators are welcome along the route to show their support for the Code Green Campaign. There will be approximately 18 first responders putting in the miles to support this cause.

First responders include firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, police, corrections, and search and rescue.

NorthStar EMS is a department of Franklin Memorial Hospital dispatched out of five base locations in its service area: Rangeley, Livermore Falls, Carrabassett Valley, Avon and Farmington. NorthStar also operates an Interfacility Transfer Division servicing six other MaineHealth hospitals.

For more information, contact Gray at 207-779-2555 or jill.gray@mainehealth.org.

 

 

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