Everybody needs a little help now and then

The other week, a family in the community lost their home in a fire, on one of the coldest days the area had seen. Our wonderful fire department did the best they could to save the house, but it was no use.

The firefighters battled the cold, while their pumps and hoses froze up, preventing water flow. Thankfully, our neighboring departments turned out in droves to help combat the cold weather, with a tag team effort of pumping water. One department even has a unit that allowed firefighters a chance to warm up in shifts.

The chief of our department here in Cornell, commented afterward as we were talking, that mutual aid is a wonderful thing. I agreed wholeheartedly.

Through mutual aid, departments have access to equipment

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their department might not own, which could mean the difference between saving people, animals or structures.

Mutual aid doesn’t just stop with fire departments, however. Ambulance services also benefit from mutual aid, as with smaller services, the units could be busy when a call comes from someone needing help. A squad then comes from a neighboring district to aid those who called for medical service.

Law enforcement also can use a hand now and then, when officers have something big on their hands. Police chases and drug busts might be the first things that pop in the minds of people, but often, things such as conducting cars around a traffic accident or searching for a missing person are what mutual aid involves.

This past summer, I saw firsthand how mutual aid works, when Cadott was besieged by damage from a tornado that ripped through the center of town. As I stood in tears, look- ing at the damage to houses, roofs and possessions, I was thankful that no one had been hurt.

I was also devastated at the destruction and couldn’t imagine anything good could be found in the middle of the cleanup efforts. And then I saw crews from my own hometown, along with many others, who pitched in to help restore a semblance of order to the community.

On a personal/professional level, I know mutual aid is huge in the newspaper business – at least for small town papers. With limited staff, multiple events and only so many hours in the day, reporters/photographers cannot be everywhere at once.

Enter mutual aid.

Normally, our sister papers help each other out, throughout the year, taking photos of sporting events that take place near where each of us is located. Can’t come from Medford to take cross country photos? No problem, I got your back.

Hmm, my volleyball team will be in Edgar. You got my back, too? Sweet.

This year, especially, it has seemed like everyone has pitched in as much as possible, so that reporters don’t need to stress and so that schools/athletes can be highlighted.

There are many examples to how mutual aid works in the world, whether it’s simply someone stopping to pick something up for a neighbor at Walmart on their way home, or mailing a letter at the post office for a co-worker.

To me, mutual aid is what being alive is all about. Now, I’m not saying to take advantage of someone who is willing to help, but it sure is nice to know that help is available and willingly given, when it truly is needed.

Whether holding a door for someone with arms full of groceries or rallying around a family who lost everything, in small towns, mutual aid is a staple of everyday life. And that is why I wouldn’t live anywhere else.

Because, whether we like it or not, we all need a little help now and then.