My meetings with constituents throughout the month of April had a prevailing theme: they were all about the volunteers, professionals and donors involved in saving lives. We are so fortunate to be here in America, and more specifically, in upstate New York, where there are so many caring people around us who are compelled to save the lives of others. I just wanted to take a moment to share the ways you can help save lives in your community.

Recently, you may have noticed your local volunteer fire departments participating in the RecruitNY open house weekend. Local firehouses opened their doors in an effort to attract potential volunteers. Volunteer firefighters not only save lives and homes, they save taxpayers nearly $7 billion annually. They do a great service and are looking for more help. Visit the Fire In You Web site for more information. Additionally, there are volunteer needs in our EMS volunteer ambulance corps. Like firefighters, they help save lives and are also facing a shortage of volunteers.

Volunteers certainly play an important role in our community, but as the demands on our health care system increase, there are growing career opportunities in nursing. Recently, a wonderful group of soon-to-be registered nurses from the Jefferson Community College Nurses Program visited me, sharing their ideas about providing quality care to patients in our region. New York, especially in its most rural regions, has had difficulty recruiting and retaining nurses and other qualified health care professionals.

Donations are another way in which you can actively play a role in saving someone’s life. Whether it is through blood, organ or tissue donation, they all are critically needed to help save others. For more information about blood donation, visit the Red Cross Web site for Watertown or Central New York. To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit the Donate Life NY Web site.