Meet Mike Nonnemacher, Ambulance Corps. Chief

Full name: Michael D. Nonnemacher

Tell us about your family: Married to Donna, five children, eight grandchildren.

Where do you live?  

Born and raised in Emmaus, Nonnemacher graduated from Emmaus High School. In 2006, Nonnemacher built a home in Lower Macungie with accommodations for his mother to live with him and his family. 

Job Title/Description: 

Chief .

Explain what you do on a daily basis:  

Full-time medic shifts, plus administration and management of corps. operations. 

"My shift starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. First thing I do is a vehicle check to make sure equipment, batteries and narcotics are all signed for and working. Depending on what's going on, we go for breakfast and wait for something to happen.

"We could be at breakfast, at town hall, or just driving down the road, and if we get a dispatch we go. We're pretty much 'on call' in a moment's notice to respond no matter what we're doing.”

What inspired you to do what you do?   

"I started teaching swim lessons and water safety at Meadow Pool in 1968, took a first aid course and started teaching first aid. I joined the Ambulance Corps. in 1972, and as they say ‘the rest is history.’"

What's your favorite part of your job? 

"At the end of the day knowing we had a positive effect on the lives of the patients we serve."

What other ways do you serve your community? 

Former Borough councilman; member Emmaus Board of Health, providing first aid and CPR training to others in the community. 

Tell us a story you'll never forget from your EAC experience. 

"One in particular involving a young lady who was heavily entrapped in her vehicle for 45 minutes, resulting in many life threatening injuries. After much effort by many individuals and departments, she was freed. I was inside of vehicle with her, and all that I could see clearly were her eyes.

"One Sunday afternoon I was on shift, working in my office between calls, and there was a knock on the back door. I got up and opened the door and invited (the person) in. I looked at her and looked into her eyes, and I immediately recognized her as our patient from the auto accident. She and her mother gave me a big hug, and her mother whispered in my ear, 'Thank you for saving my daughter's life.'"  

What would you tell people interested in joining the Emmaus Ambulance Corps?   

"Wanted: Caring individuals with compassion willing to help others. Every day is an adventure!"