Calls keep ambulance crews on the go

Through the month of September Iola’s emergency services have taken 139 more calls than the previous year for Allen County, with 54.8% of those calls coming from Iola.

City of Iola officials say they can’t pinpoint the increase in calls, but a lot of it has to do with people with chronic illnesses.

“We have people that need help two to three times per week. They can’t help it, they just need to get to the hospital,” Iola fire chief Tim Thyer said. “We get calls for lift assists as well, where they need help loading an elderly person to take them to the hospital. Half the time they refuse help, saying they don’t need to go.”