Growth of EMS Fostered By Support From Citizens
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Nampa, Idaho, Fire Department
Emergency medical service started to evolve in Nampa, Idaho, in 1972 when two members of the local Jaycee Club observed Nampa Fire Department members trying to revive a youngster who had a respiratory problem. They asked fire officials at the scene why they responded with a pumper and why a smaller, faster vehicle wouldn’t be more appropriate.
At that time, all that EMS amounted to in our area was a privately owned ambulance service that was located between Nampa and Caldwell and served both cities. It was about 5 1/2 miles from our city core area, which made response times extensive. There were no training requirements or standards for ambulance or fire department personnel beyond basic first aid.
The ambulance service was strictly a scoop-and-run operation and the fire department’s role was that of an engine company with a resuscitator and men poorly trained in its application. The privately owned ambulance service was always in financial trouble and was partially subsidized by Canyon County. All in all, EMS was in poor shape in our area.
Fire fighters aid cause
These two Jaycee members, Jim Watson and Dick Messinbrink, approached the fire department about starting a public information campaign to fund a rescue-type vehicle to better serve our community. At first their efforts were in vain as the fire department was reluctant to take on any additional service and the city didn’t want any more expense. They did, however, have some success with a group of fire fighters who were interested in EMS and thought that increasing the fire department’s productivity would be good for both the department and the community.
Working together, the fire fighters and Jaycees raised about $2000, but then they were unsuccessful until they decided to take what money they had and buy a truck so people could see something tangible. They purchased a used 3/4-ton pickup and a new utility bed. Fire fighters installed the utility bed and painted the vehicle in the fire station. They also mounted a new warning light and siren and talked a local sign painter into painting “Rescue Nampa Fire Department” on the doors.
This strategy worked, as from that day on, the vehicle was taken to local civic organizations and public meetings and very seldom failed to come away without a donation. Equipment was soon purchased and the truck was put in service in 1973.
Donations continuing
Since that time the donations have never ceased coming in. We have been able to buy a new truck with all the latest equipment and we have built up a reserve account to purchase another unit when it is needed.
The additional budgeting and service proved to be minimal compared to the good done for the community. Because all the funds for the equipment and vehicle were donated by the community, the citizens looked on the project with pride. It has also been the best public relations project the fire department has ever had.
I must confess that shortly after the campaign was started, the TV show, “Emergency” was aired in our area and did much to aid the fund raising.
Shortly after the truck was placed in service, the State of Idaho funded the Emergency Medical Service Bureau under the Department of Health and Welfare and appointed Paul Anderson as bureau chief. Under his leadership, EMT training was established in all areas of the state and many ambulance and quick rescue units were placed in areas that never had any service. Naturally, our department took full advantage of the EMT training and we soon qualified all members of our department as state-certified EMTs.
Paramedic service started
After much urging from the medical community, the county decided in July of 1975 to fund paramedic service for the county. By December of 1975, paramedic interns were placed with the private ambulance service and they got their certification in September 1976.
The private ambulance service was still troubled financially, so the county purchased its own ambulances and placed them in service in November 1977. The ambulances were placed at the hospitals in Nampa and Caldwell. It was felt these locations could best serve the county and the paramedics could keep up their skills by working with the medical staffs at the two hospitals. In my opinion, this has worked well as the skill level of our paramedics is high.
The emergency medical response in our community now consists of a quick response vehicle from the fire department that provides basic life support and a followup response from the paramedics that supplies advanced life support. This combined effort has served our community well. We have been able to reverse many cardiac arrests and transport patients to hospitals in much better condition than had ever been done before. The medical community, which as a whole was at first skeptical, has seen the results and is now fully behind our EMS program.
Besides being a part ot the EMS team, our vehicle is equipped for vehicle extrication, rescue from all types of entrapment, and extinguishment or stabilization of vehicle fires or gasoline spills.
Homemade equipment
Since we got our rescue vehicle, many innovative pieces of equipment have been built by fire fighters and placed on the vehicle, such as:
- A floodlight system of five 500-watt telescoping floodlamps powered by a 4-kw motor home generator.
- A high-pressure air, 100-foot, hose reel for cutting tools that utilizes a starter from a motorcycle as a rewinding mechanism.
- A center console to control all the floodlamps and to start the generator.
- A compressed foam applicator that expands AFFF foam so well that we have been able to use a 2 percent mixture from a 6 percent concentrate. This system was built for only $600. It incorporates a 50-gallon tank from a water heater charged with 125 psi of compressed air that is mixed with more air in the discharge line to expand the foam.
With this small tank, we are able to lay a foam blanket of approximately 40 X 80 feet.
Everyone is an EMT
Staffing our rescue unit has not been a problem as we have trained all fire department personnel as EMTs and extrication specialists. This allows us to transfer the crew around easily during vacation periods, sick leave, etc. We also feel that this training is applicable on the fireground as well. There have been many times that extrication training has been utilized in opening up unusual structures, such as metal grain bins and metal buildings. Of course the value of medical training on the fireground goes without saying. The experiences we have had with this training has led us to require EMT level as our minimum medical training standard.
To sum it all up, EMS has come a long way in our area in a short time. The reason for this is the support we have had from our community and the added support from our state and local officials.
Sometimes, as in our case, when you cannot get support from local officials at first, you must go ahead and prove the worth of the emergency service you are purporting. When this is done, I am sure any community will support the service as it has been done here. From a modest $2000 start in 1972, we have been able to completely fund our vehicle and equipment and build a reserve account of approximately $30,000. In all, we have gathered about $60,000 in donated funds and only campaigned for them in the first six months. Since then, contributions have kept coming in from different organizations and individuals.
