Humans sometimes make mistakes. Sometimes our health fails. Accidents happen.

It's comforting to know that in our greatest times of need, the good men and women of organizations like the Warwick Community Ambulance Association (WCAA) have our backs.

The WCAA is a highly functioning, complex organization. But on its most basic level, it's simply people helping people - 24/7/365.

"It's a team; that's what this is," said Rob Walker, who's about a year into his stint as the WCAA's chief of operations. "We work so closely to provide care. Everybody here does amazing things every day. We kind of work in the shadows until you call 911. When the call is dispatched, we're ready to go. Often what we do is not lifesaving; it's compassionate care for the community."

Stationed at 151 North Lane, Lititz, the WCAA offers first-response, emergency medical services that cover Lititz Borough, Warwick Township, Elizabeth Township, Penn Township, Manheim Borough and portions of Manheim and Clay townships. The WCAA responds to about 5,000 calls a year, ranging from chest pains to falls and car accidents.

Walker noted that the WCAA has a high standard of care.

"I believe professional development is the key (to continued improvement)," he said. "We want to find what drives our team members and give them opportunities to grow in those areas. We want to provide opportunities to become better leaders so we can build the next group of people. We believe the only way to get better is through education and development."

It's 50 highly trained emergency medical service professionals, 20 of whom work full time, that make the WCAA go. The WCAA employs 30 emergency medical technicians (EMTs), eight advanced EMTs, 10 paramedics and two pre-hospital registered nurses.

"These folks get into this career because they like to help people and solve problems," said Walker. "We see people at their very worst. We show up and we can help them get the care they need, and we can start the care right there. We try to make their situations better. It's something meaningful, and that's what we want. You have to give people the best care you can."

"But it's more than just providing ambulance services," Walker added. "We also do a lot of community outreach. We do a lot of education programs. We do a ton of first aid and CPR classes. We put our paramedics out at events so they can meet people."

The WCAA performs its compassionate work with the aid of five ambulances, three chase trucks, two e-bikes and a Gator, an all-terrain utility vehicle that can reach places that the other apparatus can't. The WCAA is funded through medical insurance and Medicaid reimbursements, donations, fundraising, grants and subscription services.

"I think there's a lot of misunderstanding about how EMS works," said Walker. "It's a hard business to be in. We operate at a deficit. We lose money every year. But you're always going to get an ambulance when you call."

The WCAA can trace its origins to 1956 when a group of local businessmen purchased a single ambulance.

"(The WCAA has) grown amazingly because of the support we get from the community," Walker said. "I've never been in a place that supports the ambulance service like here. Back in the day, a couple guys would come to your house, throw you into the ambulance and get you to the hospital as fast as they could. Now, we're doing amazing pre-hospital work, just incredible things people wouldn't have imagined 70 years ago. It's night and day."

For additional information about the Warwick Community Ambulance Association, go to http://www.warwick-ems.org.