National EMS Week: Three generations of service for Schellhorns

By Audrey Posten | Times-Register

President Gerald Ford first authorized National Emergency Medical Services Week in 1974 to celebrate EMS professionals and the important work they do in the nation’s communities. In Monona, EMS—and firefighting—has become a tradition for the Schellhorn family, which this year welcomed its third generation onto the MFL Ambulance Service, when Jacob joined dad Jeremy and grandpa Jim.

“There have been families [with multiple members], but not three generations—not here,” said Jeremy.

Jim began the family’s service tradition in the early 1980s, when he joined the Oelwein Fire Department. He became a member of the fire department, and then an EMT in 1985, when the family moved to Monona. 

“That was 40 years ago,” he recalled. 

Jim’s reason for joining was simple: “They needed help.”

Jeremy grew up watching his dad, remembering how the whistle would blow to alert emergency responders in the days before pagers. On nice days, and with his mom’s permission, he’d wait for everyone to leave the station on their call, then turn the flashers off on the vehicles.

“That’s how I got into it,” he said. “Going to the station and seeing the trucks. And Mark Willems and Todd Balekos—those were two guys I looked up to. They were instrumental in the community. I thought, if they’re doing it and dad’s doing it, I need to be doing this.” 

Jeremy got his EMT license while living in Hiawatha, then began serving on the fire department and ambulance service after moving back to Monona.

Jacob knew he wanted to be a firefighter since age 3. He became a junior firefighter two years ago, a role that allowed him to learn the ropes of the Monona Volunteer Fire Department and help with safety at MFL MarMac School, where he graduated on May 18. He was just approved as a full-fledged firefighter and will attend Kirkwood Community College this fall to major in fire science. 

Earning EMT certification was a natural addition to those plans.

“I know, for my future, that I’m going to need my EMT. It can’t just be the firefighting,” he said.

Completing his certification while balancing school and extracurricular activities was no easy task.

“It was two nights a week and we’d lecture for like three hours a night, sometimes longer. I had to do 60 hours of clinical time and go to surrounding hospitals. Once that was done, I took a skills test with seven or eight stations—the hands-on stuff. Then I had to pass a national test,” explained Jacob. “It was a lot.”

Although grandpa Jim recalled having to pass seven stations when he was getting certified 40 years ago, the process “was a lot easier then.”

Jacob credited his family, along with MFL Ambulance crew chief Preston Landt and training officer Vicki Heilmann and instructors Billie Jones and Chris Dahlstrom, for guiding him.

“It’s one thing to get into the class, but you’ve got to find a support staff around you because the stuff you see is pretty brain altering sometimes,” he shared.

Now, Jacob is ready to put that training to use.

From his grandpa Jim, he said he’s learned the importance of a good assessment and learning the patient’s history. 

“You have to have a bond with your patient, even if you’re only going to have them for 15 minutes,” Jacob said. “We’re taking blood sugars, have the blood pressure cuff on them and squeezing them. If they don’t trust you, it’s going to be much worse. That’s what I try to remember. Trying to be the nicest person possible, because we’re there on their worst day.”

His biggest lesson from dad was simpler. “Drive fast and don’t swear on the radio, probably,” Jacob said with a grin.

Jeremy said it’s that training—and experience—that helps EMTs and other first responders do what they do.

“You have to think on your toes and your training just takes over. We’re all volunteers, but when that pager goes off, it’s like a machine. Same thing with the fire department. Everybody works really well together,” he explained. “There’s unwritten communication between drivers and EMTs and between EMTs. You can hear in their voice, ‘OK, it’s time to go quicker.’”

“I’ve seen [Jacob] already and how he just flows,” Jeremy added. “That’s cool to watch as a dad, but also as a provider.”

The three said being an emergency responder is like nothing else.

“That adrenaline rush when the pager goes off is second to none,” shared Jeremy.

“There are a lot of sleepless nights,” Jim acknowledged.

The worst are calls involving children and, of course, fatalities.

“I can remember every call I’ve been on that’s a fatality,” Jim said. “You have to do your job first. Once you get your job done and everything’s done, that’s when you think about what you did. Did I do this right or that right? But I’ve had a few saves. That makes you feel good.”

“There are definitely places and times that stick in your head,” Jeremy agreed. “But there’s been a few times you get recognized for what you do. Getting a thank you from people.”

Some of his most memorable moments have been with his father.

“Him yelling at me to slow down or speed up,” Jeremy joked.

“I’ve done that a few times,” Jim quipped.

Jim is proud to see his son and grandson carrying on a tradition of service he started.

“It’s been a blessing to help out. It’s the best thing and I love doing it,” he said. “And doing it with these two, you can’t beat it.”

“I don’t want to get out until I have to,” Jim continued, but he also encourages others to join the EMS family. More volunteers are always welcome.

People leave work and sacrifice family time to help the community for no pay, but in small towns with limited resources, it’s how one can give back. In Monona, residents don’t have to wonder if the ambulance will show up, Jacob noted.

“Every single day, there are people who are going to respond,” he said.

“We do it because we want to make a difference,” Jeremy concluded. “This town has given us so much. It’s been an honor to give back to the community, and to do it as a family is even better. Hopefully other people will follow.”