NEVERSINK, SULLIVAN COUNTY – Emergency medical response times and the long-term sustainability of emergency services in rural settings were at the forefront of Neversink’s recent meeting. Neversink resident and BOCES Occupational Therapist Nicole Mickleson gave a poignant presentation that pushed local leaders to pursue methods for strengthening EMS coverage throughout the area.

As she spoke before the Town Board, Mickleson cited increased strain on emergency response systems–including staffing shortages, lengthy response times, rising call volumes, and meager resources–as lingering challenges facing rural communities across Sullivan County. 

“Our community depends on rapid, reliable emergency responses,” Mickleson stressed. “When a medical emergency strikes, the margin between life and death is often measured not in minutes, but in seconds.”

She reminded the board that strengthening emergency response capabilities isn’t about pointing blame. Instead, she said, it is about finding necessary, community-driven solutions that guarantee residents receive timely and consistent care. She pushed for the town to explore options that could foster better interagency coordination, broader training opportunities, or increased investment in advanced emergency personnel and equipment.

“We have grandparents who enjoy living their lives in the peace and tranquility that our community offers,” Mickleson said. “We have blue-collar workers, farmers, and young families bringing home newborn babies to our community.”

She shared a personal experience from last October, when her husband, Chris Mickleson, sustained a severe workplace injury in the field. Mickleson recounted how her husband suffered critical leg injuries following a fall from high up at a Grahamsville job site.

The 911 call was prompt, requesting advanced life support assistance. However, Mickleson recalled that it took more than 30 minutes for a local ambulance to arrive. Because no paramedic initially showed up to the scene, family members and coworkers ultimately had to assist in transporting him from the accident site themselves before emergency personnel could pick him up in Liberty.

“It was 60 minutes between the time of his injury and the time when he received care from somebody with an ILS [Immediate Life Support] certification,” Mickleson recounted.

Fortunately, Chris ultimately recovered, but the incident left a grim realization in Mickleson’s mind regarding how children or the elderly would fare under similar circumstances.

“What if this was one of our children?” Mickleson inquired. “Would they still have to wait the same amount of time for help?”