Esmond Community Quick Response Unit

According to the North Dakota Census Office, out of the 53 counties in the state, 39 of them are completely rural. 

“Small community like this you take any help you can get I guess,” said Emergency medical responder Jason Smith. 

Getting immediate care in these rural towns can take anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes,  but Esmond residents can expect to get help within 10 minutes thanks to the launch of the Esmond Community Quick Response Unit. 

“It’s kind of the middle between the EMT,  or the actual ambulance service,” said Smith.

Smith and seven others in Esmond are state certified to respond to any medical emergency until an ambulance from Maddock gets there. 

“It’s an elderly community so it can be anything from heart problems, it could be an accident in the home, just think of all those things that can happen to anybody,” said Cindy Wilhelm the squad leader for the Quick Response Unit.


When someone dials 911, that call is routed to the Lake Region Dispatch Center.

“They in turn put the call out to their phones,” said Wilhelm.

“Depending on where the call is at least one of us should be there on scene within 5 to 10 minutes versus maybe 40 to 45 minutes for an ambulance,” said Smith.

and while responding they can perform, basic life support, CPR, First Aid, they can give oxygen and get patients ready to transport to a medical facility.

“Whatever happens they need it immediately and the sooner you can get it that can be the difference of a life being saved,” said Wilhelm. 

She says community members in Esmond feel safer and they’re glad the quick response unit is around. 

The EMR’s, in Esmond are ready to respond at all times because they carry their emergency bags with them everywhere they go.