An 87-year-old emergency services technician is being praised the world over for her 37 years of service.
Edna Mitchell is Maine’s longest-serving EMT, an active member of the community, and a great-grandmother.
The 87-year-old first began working for Maine’s Liberty Fire Department in 1978 as an ambulance driver, and hasn’t hung up her keys for more than 37 years.
“A few years ago, they gave me a walking stick for being the oldest EMT,” said Edna with a grin, “I hobbled off the stage with it.”
But don’t be fooled, just because Edna is pushing 90 doesn’t mean she can’t keep up with the best of them.
The great-grandmother starts the day with “20 minutes of exercise”, including “15 men’s pushups and five women’s [pushups].”
“I exercise, try to stay healthy, take vitamins. I swim every day. I don’t drink, smoke or swear,” said Edna, “I used to say I don’t have any fun, but I do.”
Edna’s role at the Fire Department is crucial, the 87-year-old completes almost 100 ‘runs’ a week, sacrificing her social life and family time to drive ambulances and save lives.
And it’s not only the wider community that is praising Edna for her work, but her colleagues as well.
“It is my honor to run with Edna Mitchell,” said Liberty Fire Chief Bill Gillespie, “People have a sense of relief to know that Edna is there. There’s been a lot of times Liberty Ambulance wouldn’t have rolled out the doors if it wasn’t for Edna. She is amazing. She is a tough, tough woman.”
Whilst Maine Emergency Medical Services’ Drexell White commented that Edna’s contribution to the EMT service was “really unique.”
“When I started my EMS career 30-some years ago, Edna was there with Liberty Ambulance, a driving force, and she continues there to this day,” said Drexell, “With the volunteer services, you’re always looking for people. You’re covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week with volunteers, asking somebody to give up their free time. It takes a unique individual to do that. It’s so needed, especially in towns like Liberty, where the volunteers are the backbone of the service.”
Don’t think Edna is stopping at inspiring just her colleagues, either. The great-grandmother’s work in the Department has inspired both her granddaughter and her great-granddaughter to volunteer.
“[My granddaughter] was an EMT and if the two of us were the only ones who answered we’d take [my great-granddaughter] and put her in the car seat in the front of the ambulance and she went on runs when she was a baby,” said Edna of her great-granddaughter’s introduction.
And now that Edna has effectively passed on the baton to her granddaughter and great-granddaughter, she thinks it might be time to take a hard earned rest.
“My license runs out after next year, and I figure it’s time to stop. I don’t want to, though,” said Edna, “I have to take my hearing aids out to listen to people’s lungs, but I do it.”
