TOLSMA RETIRES FROM AVON AMBULANCE AFTER 36 YEARS

After dedicating 36 years of service to the Avon Ambulance, Carol Tolsma decided it was time to permanently park the stretcher in the ambulance. Carol was an Emergency MedicalTechnician(EMT)duringheryearsof volunteering for the Avon Ambulance. When asked what made her first want to become an EMT, she said that she was encouraged by community members. In 1988, Carol along with a large group of Avon residents took an EMT class. After taking the class and seeing so many of the other Avon community members step up to help their community, Carol knew that this would be a good fit for her. She credits her long career as an EMT to the amazing mentors that she had along the way. Her mentors include Donna Reister, Dianne Bechtold, and David Brandt. Without the guidance and support of these three mentors along with her co-volunteers over the years, Carol would not have been able to develop her skills as an EMT to the high level she did.