By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

This is EMS week, and employees at Duffy’s Ambulance Service are celebrating in several ways.

Gabe Vincent, general manager for Duffy’s Ambulance, was a guest on a recent Community Forum, along with former general manager Joe Stock. The two gave a history of EMS, and Vincent explained just how much things have changed.

“I’d say probably the biggest thing I’ve seen is just how much intervention we can do in the field. I began as a first responder, and when I first started, we couldn’t even check a blood sugar. It was pretty much was CPR and first aid was about all we could do. As it’s progressed, it’s amazing. We’re essentially a rolling ER now, with the exception of having X-rays and CT scanners. We do a lot of work in the field now,” Vincent said.

The crew is also wearing special uniforms throughout the week that pay homage to historical figures in local EMS – Granville Pletz and Jerry Duffy, along with the older department logo, representing both Pontiac and Odell.