EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS SQUAD

by Joan Rogers

Entry T68 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

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

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.