Type of Organization

Private EMS

Job Function

EMT - Paramedic (or Other ALS)

Years in Fire/EMS:

24 years

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

American Medical Response, Topeka, Kansas

Years With Department/Agency

11 years

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Rock Creek Township Fire Department Merdien, Kansas
Jackson County Fire Dist. # 1 Mayetta, Kansas

My Training:

Nims instructor, Paramedic, Fire Fighter, Company Officer, Aparatus Operator, Rescue Tech, Law Enforcment Officer, Kansas Department of Correction (correctional officer)

Day Job:

American Medical Response (paramedic)

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

To keep the family tradition going. Brought up that you should give back to the community in some way and help those that you can. Small towns in the USA need people to volunteer to support the emergency service and neighbors helping neighbors. Thats the way I was raised.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

Meeting the people you help in the community that come up to you and say thank you for helping them in their time of need.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

The lack of people willing to volunteer and do services for their community. The lack of retention. Inadequte rembursments for mandatory training set forth by NFPA (people with full paying jobs).
The lack of pay to retain EMS personal throughout the US is very alarming due to the shortage of paramedics nationwide. The lack of insentive for the younger generation to enter this profession for the wages earned in today's world.