Are you doing things that make it more difficult for first responders? The issue recently came up in my rural enclave, where many of us have roads/driveways to our abodes that most generously can be described as "primitive." I really hadn't given the issue much thought until a member of my household needed to summon EMS.

The cut of my driveway meant it took the ambulance an extra 30 minutes to transport her to the hospital — it could not negotiate the turn out to take the most direct route. Fortunately, it was just a fracture as opposed to something more serious that would fall within the confines of the "golden hour," but the incident did give me pause, cause to do some research, and ultimately to take action.

The county in which I reside does not have minimum standards for driveways. I suspect any attempt to do so would produce a civil insurrection as most of the structures in these parts are seasonal hunting cabins connected to the roads by a series of ruts and overgrowth. These "driveway" entrances are generally poorly marked, and it is easy to get lost "finding" them even if you have been there before.

Property owners have a general idea that we have a local ambulance and a couple of fire trucks, but they have no idea how large these vehicles are, the turning radii they require or the road-bed strength needed to support them. These vehicles are manned by an all-volunteer force that does not spend a lot of time driving them and often does not have the experience to get them into and out of tight spots.

When I called the local fire chief to inquire about our emergency vehicles, their dimensions and requirements, he seemed appreciative but also thunderstruck — no one had ever asked the question before. Armed with this information, I'm making the needed changes to my driveway this summer.

I'm also giving our local fire department all the related contact information including cellphone number, medical alert information, entry-door lock box combination, GPS coordinates of my house and GPS coordinates of the nearest suitable helicopter landing zone. They won't guarantee my survival in all scenarios, but they will eliminate many of the unnecessary obstacles to the fastest possible EMS response and access.

First responders have a tough enough job as it is. Providing them with reasonable access and up-to-date information is reasonable and necessary.