EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS SQUAD

By Joan Rogers

County & Community History • Entry T68

Active Ambulance Drivers 1988 Back Row - L-R Gene Kehr, Doug Boyer Front - Wes Skillings, Dean Boyer, Stanley Boyer, Mike Arends - some not available — Active Ambulance Drivers 1988 Back Row – L-R Gene Kehr, Doug Boyer Front – Wes Skillings, Dean Boyer, Stanley Boyer, Mike Arends – some not available

Active EMTS's 1988 Back Row - L-R - Tom Roseberry, Gary Tuton, Russ Evans, Jodi Phillips, Front - Mike Arends, Mona Brennan, Jan Furrow, Joan Rogers, Jim Marks, some not pictured — Active EMTS's 1988 Back Row – L-R – Tom Roseberry, Gary Tuton, Russ Evans, Jodi Phillips, Front – Mike Arends, Mona Brennan, Jan Furrow, Joan Rogers, Jim Marks, some not pictured

The first classes of E.M.T's were taught by the Nebraska State Fire Department. Jack Freiberg from North Platte was the instruc-tor for the first class in Mullen that started in November 1973. He taught a second class in Mullen with 24 people. At that time the Ambulance Service was well staffed with people from all walks in life. At that time it was set up on a monthly schedule and each team of two took calls for one month at a time. The driver was an E.M.T. and one in the back. There were no pagers so the E.M.T.'s had to always be available by phone.

A few years later the State Health Depart-ment took over the training and management of the whole E.M.T. System in the state of Nebraska, setting standards and require-ments for continuing education.

In 1982 Marge Hardy of Seneca and Joan Rogers of Mullen took training and became certified E.M.S. Instructors. Pagers were installed during the interium between State Fire Department and State Health Depart-ment.

The present system is set up on 1 week call with a driver and 2 E.M.T.'s. All carry pagers and it is much more convenient.

Approximately 75 people have been train-ed in the county for Emergency Medical Services since 1973.