HARRISON - These are critical times for Harrison Community Ambulance.

The volunteer service, which covers 250 square miles in the Harrison area along Highways 97 and 3, is in dire need of volunteers.

"It's serious and it's scary," said Vicki Vedder, office manager. "When we apply for grants, they say we'd better have our shifts covered, and, if we don't, we may as well shut the doors. We're struggling, and we don't want to let this go."

The service that began in 1983 has an ambulance stationed in Harrison and one at Carlin Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

If the service is discontinued, Vedder said, response times will be hampered.

"We have a lot of elderly people who need ambulance service," she said.

Vedder said the service is down to 11 active volunteers. She said about 30 are needed to avoid scheduling hurdles and burnout.

"We'd like volunteers to do about five 12-hour shifts a month," Vedder said.

Shifts run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. At least two people are needed for each shift. The service also stands by at Kootenai football games.

Volunteers must be at least 19 and have a driver's license. Their driving and criminal records will be checked. They are asked to sign a two-year commitment.

Volunteers are provided uniforms and free training to be either a driver or emergency medical technician (EMT). Expenses to attend training sessions are also covered.

"Having the EMT training is also valuable for your personal needs," Vedder said.

Volunteers and their families also receive a Northwest MedStar membership, in which the cost of a helicopter rescue is covered.

"When you live way out here, that's valuable," Vedder said. "It's a 15-minute helicopter ride versus a 45-minute ride in an ambulance. That has been a life-saver for some people."

Volunteers are provided radios and pagers to communicate.

"We're really hoping people will step up because this is their ambulance service," Vedder said.

Vedder said people interested in volunteering don't necessarily need to live in the district.

"We could create a living space at the station in Harrison," she said. "We haven't done that, but we're desperate so we would make that work."

For more information or to become a volunteer, call 689-9103.

The best times to reach someone are from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but voice messages will be returned.