 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The history of Butler County EMS is a fairly short one, as is overall history of EMS as a whole. Organized EMS has only been around for about 35-40 years. When compared to other historical events this is a very short time for EMS and pre-hospital medicine to have evolved to where it is today.
Butler County is not unlike other areas of the United States in that the first ambulances in the county were operated by local funeral homes. From the late 1930’s to the mid-1960’s the ambulance in Augusta, KS was operaed by Dunsford’s Funeral Home. Ambulances were also operated by funeral homes in Douglass and El Dorado, KS. In some cases, there may have only been one attendant working on the "ambulance" rather than the standard two found on today's ambulances. Most attendants of that time were either paid staff of the funeral home or local volunteer fire department personnel. The responders little to no medical training, and for the most part, first aid and CPR training were not available until the late 1960’s. These dedicated responders more or less responded where requested, simply loaded the patient into the back of the Packard-Hearse, and drove the patient to the hospital. That’s right, a hearse--only some of which had lights and sirens. They weren’t fancy, but they were available and they provided a way to the hospital, which is was far better than not getting there at all. The other benefit, of course, was that the patient or victim could be laid down in the back.
The first organized ambulance service came to Butler County in 1968 and was the Metropolitan Ambulance Service operated out of Wichita, KS. Metropolitan Ambulance staffed paid ambulance crews in both El Dorado and Augusta, KS. The Douglass ambulance was still operated by the local funeral home. Prior to the Metropolitan Ambulance Service operating these staffed ambulances, Mr. Bob Dietz operated ambulances from the Dietz Funeral Home in El Dorado. Mr. Dietz opened a private ambulance service in 1970 with an ambulance "barn" at the corner of Sixth Street and Oil Hill Road in El Dorado. Mr. Dietz staffed full-time crews in Augusta and Douglass, which took over ambulance service operations from both Metropolitan and the Douglass Funeral Home. The ambulance crews in Augusta and Douglass ran the ambulances from their own houses, responding from home 24 hours a day.
In 1972 Mitch Roberts purchased the ambulance service from Mr. Dietz and moved the El Dorado ambulance station further east on Sixth Street across the street from the Galen Blackmore football stadium. The three ambulances in Butler County at that time were 1971 & 1972 high-top Suburbans and a 1971 Ford Van. The crews in Augusta and Douglass still responded from their homes. In 1972, University of Kansas taught the first Instructor Coordinator class in the state. Soon after, the State of Kansas taught the first EMT classes in 1973. In June of 1974, 12 personnel from Butler County received their EMT certification. This made Butler County the first in the state of Kansas to have one or two EMT’s on an ambulance at all times. However, some personnel with minimal training worked as ambulance drivers because there were were so few certified EMT’s available around the entire state.
On June 1st, 1975, Butler County purchased the EMS service from Mr. Roberts, and signed a contract with Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital (SBA) to provide ambulance bays and crew quarters. The El Dorado crews moved into the station at SBA in October of 1975. SBA acquired responsibilities for the operations of the service, funded by the county, including records and billing. The County signed an agreement with the Augusta Medical Complex (AMCI) in 1976 to provide ambulance bays and crew quarters so the crews would not have to respond from home. The crews moved into the station at AMCI in 1977. Emergency calls for an ambulance rang directly to the hospitals and the crew quarters in each respective area. Therefore, the hospital switchboard operators dispatched the ambulances. This was nice for the crew back then, because they could listen to the actual 911 call and ask questions if needed.
Geographically, Butler County is the largest county in the state of Kansas at 1,427.85 square miles. Because of distances they traveled, it was difficult for two full-time ambulances and one recall crew to respond in a timely fashion to every call. For this reason, the service started providing training for the volunteer units and fire departments in the late 1970’s. Volunteer first response ambulances were placed in Andover and Douglass. The county added a volunteer unit in Rose Hill in 1981 and one in Potwin in 1992. The training provided to volunteers was a great benefit to the citizens of Butler County and to Butler County EMS. This tradition continues today.
In late 1979 and early 1980, the State of Kansas adopted the National DOT program for EMT-Paramedic, which was controlled by the Kansas Highway Patrol. The Kansas Highway Patrol chose to give technicians the title of Emergency Mobile Intensive Care Technician (EMICT), which was eventually shortened to Mobile Intensive Care Technician (MICT). This title was coined by a man who also began the program in Hawaii, making Kansas and Hawaii the only states with this title. In 1981, the first EMICT class was held in Newton, Kansas, and two personnel from Butler County EMS attended. In late 1982, the station in El Dorado became Type I, which means at least one paramedic on the each truck at all times. The station in Augusta followed shortly thereafter in early 1984.
In 1987, the county took over the operations of the service from the hospital, moving into an office for records and billing. The dispatching center moved to the county communications center located at the County Court House, which was operated by the sheriff department. Enhanced 911 was added in 1996.
In 1990, Butler County EMS opened another full time station in Andover, sharing the station with the fire department. This change replaced the Andover volunteer unit. In 1994, Butler County opened a new Andover station in combination with Andover Fire and the county’s Emergency Management. Also in 1994, Butler County began construction of a new EMS office and station in El Dorado, and it was opened in 1995. The crews moved out of SBA and in to this new station. The Augusta crews followed suit in 2001, and moved into a new station in combination with the Butler County Health Department and the Augusta Department of Public Safety.
At this time there were three full time stations, one recall unit, 18 full time personnel, 10 part time personnel, and over 60 volunteers and first responders. This was adequate to cover the needs of Butler County citizens and visitors for a few years. Starting in 2004, Butler County experienced some large increases in call volume, and it was soon noticed that this impacted the safety and well-being of the staff. This increasing volume coupled with a large construction construction project along Highway 77 (which cut off EMS access to the City of Douglass) prompted the addition of a 10-hr EMS unit in Douglass, Kansas at the fire station. This unit operated from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday and was staffed by part time EMS employees. The addition of this EMS unit prompted an increase in part time staffing to a total of 15. Although the construction project was completed in about a year, it was decided to leave this unit in place and it is still staffed on this same schedule today.
On January 1, 2006, a second full time ambulance was added in El Dorado and recall was abolished, which lifted the residency requirement for full-time staff. Although this addition helped to provide more timely service to citizens, EMS call volume then began to rapidly increasing throughout the south and west parts of the county as the populations of Rose Hill and Andover grew rapidly. This increase in population and EMS demanded prompted the county to place another full-time ambulance into service operating from the Rose Hill Fire Station beginning in March of 2008. This increased total service staffing to 30 full time and 15 part time EMS technicians.
Butler County EMS continues to work on expanding its services to meet the ever changing needs of the citizens and visitors of the county. Currently, there are plans to start construction on two new stations on the west side of county, possibly in the Andover and Rose Hill areas. This could start as soon at 2012. Today, Butler County EMS is proud to be a progressive and staff-driven service. Many committees formed by staff or administration are operated by the staff members, allowing the staff to lead change, and guide the direction of this rapidly evolving service. Many employees enjoy this opportunity and look forward to the future of this versatile and progressive service.
The 1970 low-top Ford van had a 302 2-barrel carburetor. There could be either power-steering OR air conditioning, but not both due to space limitations under the hood. It is said the air conditioning worked very well.
November 1974-Two high-top Dodge vans purchased.
September 1975-Chevrolet high-top van purchased.
November 1975-Rescue Squad started by L.E. & Randy Mitchell and operated out of Mitchell’s Truck Stop. Squad 48 was the Rescue Squad’s first rescue unit. It was a repair truck donated by Mitchell Truck Stop. Squad 48 met all requirements for an ambulance at that time (c. 1977) and was the only rescue truck licensed by the State of Kansas. There were no pagers at this time. When EMS called for rescue, the hospital switchboard called the truck stop and the cashier had a list of phones number for the members and would call until they made contact with four members.
1975-Crew quarters at SBA were in a former patient room next door to the father’s waiting room on the OB floor.
January 1976- Rescue Squad operated under the Sheriff's Department.
1978-Water rescue capabilities added to Rescue Squad.
1978-First Type I Modulance Ambulance purchased out of Colorado, and was given the CB handle, “Orange Blossom Special.”
April 1981-First Van-Modular ambulance purchased. It was a 1980 Excellence built on a Ford E350 chassis.
1983 & 1984-Due to operating costs and purchase price, two high-top Ford vans are purchased.
1987-Rescue Squad now under the County budget.
1987-Butler County took over operations, and the service became Butler County EMS. Crews began unofficially calling the service Butler County EMS in the early 1980’s because of the “cool” factor.
1990-Transitioned from van-style ambulances to current Type III chassis.
1990-Lieutenant position created.
April 26, 1991-Personnel, who shall remain nameless, lay in a ditch taking pictures of an F5 tornado in Andover, and then realize there is no film in the camera.
1994-Rescue capabilities now in Augusta.
1996-Zodiac boat obtained and assigned title, “Boat 2.”
1997-Rescue capabilities now in Andover.
1998-Lieutenant position made a full time position with the department.
1998-Transitioned to Life Pak 11 ECG monitors.
2000-New heavy duty rescue truck purchased and is still in operation today.
2000-Responsibility of Rescue Squad taken over by EMS.
2002-Rescue capabilities now in Rose Hill.
2004-Augusta Department of Public Safety obtains water rescue “Boat 3.”
2006-Achievement Designation Program initiated.
2007-Lieutenant position reclassified and titled as Captain.
2008-Transitioned from Life Pak 11’s to Philips MRX EKG monitors.
2008-Preventative Maintenance and a regular Maintenance program developed. Local El Dorado Firefighter and Mechanic Mark Riddle utilized for local service.
2009-Rescue capabilities now in Douglass.
2009-Logisics position created.
2011-Butler County transitions from 400 MHz radio communications to a digital 800 MHZ system.
Dean Dexter and Stuart Gordon responded on the first ALS cardiac arrests in both the north and south response areas of the county. The first was a cardiac arrest on Orchard Street in El Dorado for a man that collapsed shoveling snow from his driveway. The second was an assist with the Augusta ambulance (that was BLS at the time) at Haverhill and HWY 54/96.
Dean Dexter applied the first set of MAST pants in the county on a motorcyclist with a torn aorta. They were instrumental in keeping him alive, and the patient survived.
Joe Dickinson inserted the first EOA in Butler County.
Grant Helferich was the first EMT-I certified in the state of Kansas.
Mitch Roberts, 1972-1975?
Dan Leonard, 1980-1987
Jim Emrick, 1987-1990
Grant Helferich, 1990-Present
1973 Ford Van Modular-Horton
1975 Chevy High Top, Unit 66-Safety Equipment
1976 Chevy Truck Modular, Unit 76-Modulance
1981 Ford Van Modular, Unit48-Excellance
1984 Ford High Top Van, Unit 93-Collins
1984 Ford High Top Van, Unit 03-Collins
1985 Ford Van Modular, Unit 76-Collins
1986 Ford Van Modular, Unit 18-Collins
1990 Ford Van Modular, Unit 75D-Road Rescue
1990 Ford Van Modular, Unit 76D-Road Rescue
1990 Ford Van Modular, Unit 77D-Road Rescue
1994 Ford Van Modular, Unit 96D-Road Rescue
1995 Ford Van Modular, Unit 36D-McCoy Miller
1996 Ford Van Modular, Unit 87D-McCoy Miller
1999 Ford Van Modular, Unit 16D-McCoy Miller
1999 Ford Van Modular, Unit 04D-McCoy Miller
2000 Ford Van Modular, Unit 22D-MedTec
2001 Ford Van Modular, Unit 76D-Road Rescue
2003 Ford Van Modular, Unit 80D-MedTec
2005 Ford Van Modular, Unit 38D-MedTec
2006 Ford Van Modular, Unit 07D, MedTec
2006 Ford Van Modular, Unit 15D, MedTec
2008 Ford Van Modular, Unit 21D-Osage
2008 Ford Van Modular, Unit 88D-Osage
2009 Ford Van Modular, Unit 14D-Osage
2009 Ford Van Modular, Unit 46D-Osage
*Denotes current employee or volunteer
Larry Charles*, 2000
Joe Megredy, 2000
Steve Seymour*, 2000
Frank Williams*, 2000
None awarded.
Dan Pugh*, 2008
Lindsey Shaw, 2008
Kenny Allman, 2002, 2003
Kim Barnes, 2007(2)
Shelly Black, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002
Bradley Brown, 2002, 2003, 2004(2), 2005
Jeb Burress, 1995, 2003, 2004
Shannon Buss*, 2007
Chris Cannon, 1999, 2000, 2002
Larry Charles*, 1997, 1998, 2006(2), 2007, 2009
Russell Clark, 2007(2)
Brett Cole, 1995
Quentin Cunningham, 1999, 2000
Debbie Davis*, 2006
Curtis Diehl, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003
Jeff Dilliard, 1998
Dom Domebo*, 2007
Carla Ficken*, 2007(2)
Elizabeth Foster, 2003
Stuart Funk*, 2007
Jeremy Goerzen*, 2009
Chris Gray*, 2006(2)
Francine Harp*, 2007(2)
Grant Helferich*, 1995, 2000
Sabrina Henry, 1997
Jeanneatte Hurly, 2002
Jeff Johnson*, 2008, 2009
Ken Keller, 1998
Darrel Kohls*, 2003, 2005(2), 2007
Shawn Lamm*, 2007, 2009
Kevin Leis*, 2009
Patrick Light, 1998
Dillon McArthur*, 2008(2)
Kathy Miller*, 1998
Titus Norris, 2000
Dan Pugh*, 2006, 2008, 2009(2)
Tracy Relph, 2005
Mark Riddle, 2000
Deryk Ruddle, 2005, 2008
Jason Runnalls*, 2007(2)
Ashly Runnells*, 2009
Brandon Russell*, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007
Chris Shaft*, 2005
Bryan Shastid, 2008
Amy Sobanek*, 2005, 2009
Scott Stueven*, 2002, 2006, 2008
Veronica Trip*, 2009
Kevin Webster*, 2007
Gene White, 2000J
osh Whiteside*, 2008, 2009
Amy Wiebe, 2006
Jeb Burress, 1996
Larry Charles*, 2005
Russell Clark, 2005
Brett Cole, 2002
Jennifer Deere, 2003
Darrel Kohls*, 2005
Shawn Lamm*, 2003
Joe Megredy, 2005
Deryk Ruddle, 2007
Brandon Russell*, 2002, 2005
Chris Shaft*, 2007
Steve Storm*, 2007
Scott Stueven*, 2008
Frank Williams*, 1999
Shawn Lamm*, 2008
Josh Whiteside*, 2008
Chris Atwater, 2007
Samie Byers*, 2005(2), 2007
Chris Cannon, 2002
Larry Charles*, 2005
Paul Christner*, 2009
Russell Clark, 2005
Debbie Craig*, 2003, 2007
Amber Curtis, 2003
Debbie Davis*, 2009
Jennifer Deere, 2005
Curtis Diehl, 2003
Chris Gray*, 2003
Grant Helferich*, 2003, 2007
Jeff Johnson*, 2005, 2009
Dana Jordan, 2003
Darrel Kohls*, 2006(2), 2007
Kevin Leis*, 2007
Joe Megredy, 2005
Joe Menadue*, 2006, 2007
Beth Pompa*, 2003
Mark Riddle, 2003
Jason Runnalls*, 2005, 2006
Brandon Russell*, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007
Brad Schwintz*, 2003
Steve Storm*, 2009
Fran Trosper*, 2006
Kevin Webster*, 2007
Josh Whiteside*, 2007
Lisa Willhite, 2003
Debbie Craig*, 2009
Chris Gray*, 2005
George Kasper, 2002
Kevin Leis*, 2005
Beth Pompa*, 2006, 2009
Brad Schwintz*, 2003
Amy Sobanek*, 2003
Kevin Webster*, 2007, 2009
Kenny Allman, 2003
Kim Barnes, 2006
Bob Brautman*, 2006
Sarah Callier*, 2009
Russell Clark, 2005
Brett Cole, 2002
Debbie Craig*, 2002
Quentin Cunningham, 2002
Amber Curtis, 2002
Debbie Davis*, 2002, 2005
Curtis Diehl, 2002
Dom Domebo*, 2006
Torrey Easter, 2008
Carla Ficken*, 2002, 2009
Elizabeth Foster, 2002, 2003
Cristina Goodrich, 2006
Chris Gray*, 2005
Matt Hogan*, 2009
Jeannette Hurley, 2002
Troy Jellison, 2005
Blad Klein*, 2008
Darrel Kohls*, 2005
Shawn Lamm*, 2002, 2005
Dillon McArthur*, 2009
Joe Megredy, 2002
Joe Menadue*, 2009
Kathy Miller*, 2002
Randi Mitchell, 2005
Aaron Parker, 2002
Beth Pompa*, 2002
Dan Pugh*, 2006, 2009
Tracy Relph, 2002
Deryk Ruddle, 2006
Jason Runnalls*, 2005
Ashly Runnells*, 2009
Brandon Russell*, 2002
Amy Sobanek*, 2005
Steve Storm*, 2005, 2009
Veronica Tripp*, 2009
Fran Trosper*, 2006
Josh Whiteside*, 2006
Kenny Allman, 2002
Bob Brautman*, 2006
Jeb Burress, 2002Sarah Callier*, 2009
Chris Cannon, 2002
Larry Charles*, 2002
Russell Clark, 2003
Brett Cole, 2002
Clay Cox, 2002
Mike Crego*, 2005
Quentin Cunningham, 2002
Megan Davis, 2002
Ryan Evans, 2008
Elizabeth Foster, 2002
Chris Gray*, 2005
Grant Helferich*, 2002
Dana Jordan, 2002
Dillon McArthur*, 2009
Kathy Miller*, 2002
Aaron Parker, 2002
Tracy Relph, 2002
Deryk Ruddle, 2006
Brandon Russell*, 2002, 2010
Josh Whiteside*, 2005, 2009
Shannon Buss*, 2008
Larry Charles*, 2002
Paul Christner*, 2008
Debbie Davis*, 2005
Francine Harp*, 2008
Chris Shaft*, 2006
Steve Storm*, 2005, 2009
Scott Stueven*, 2005
Larry Charles*, 2007
Grant Helferich*, 2007
Kathy Miller*, 2007
Kim Barnes, 2009
Stacey Blair*, 2009
Bob Brautman*, 2009
Shannon Buss*, 2009
Samie Byers*, 2009
Sarah Callier*, 2009
Larry Charles*, 2009
Paul Christner*, 2009
Debbie Craig*, 2009
Mike Crego*, 2009
Debbie Davis*, 2009
Dom Domebo*, 2009
Carla Ficken*, 2009
John Foulston*, 2009
Stuart Funk*, 2009
Jeremy Goerzen*, 2009
Chris Gray*, 2009
Francine Harp*, 2009
Kaitlyn Heitman*, 2009
Grant Helferich*, 2009
Matt Hogan*, 2009
Jeff Johnson*, 2009
Lori Johnson*, 2009
Ashley Kichler*, 2009
Brad Klein*, 2009
Darrel Kohls*, 2009
Shawn Lamm*, 2009
Kevin Leis*, 2009
Dillon McArthur*, 2009
Byron McNary*, 2009
Joe Menadue*, 2009
Kathy Miller*, 2009
Dustyn Morgan*, 2009
Meredith Phipps, 2009
Beth Pompa*, 2009
Herbert Presley*, 2009
Dan Pugh*, 2009
Deryk Ruddle, 2009
Jason Runnalls*, 2009
Ashly Runnells*, 2009
Brandon Russell*, 2009
Brad Schwintz*, 2009
Chris Shaft*, 2009
Lindsey Shaw, 2009
Gabriel Shults*, 2009
Amy Sobanek*, 2009
Steve Storm*, 2009
Scott Stueven*, 2009
Veronica Tripp*, 2009
Fran Trosper*, 2009
Kevin Webster*, 2009
Josh Whiteside*, 2009
Chris Atwater, 2006
Chris Gray*, 2003
Curtis Diehl, 2003
Deryk Ruddle, 2006
Russell Clark, 2007
Ryan Evans, 2008
Jeff Johnson*, 2008
Daniel Kliewer, 2007
Darrel Kohls*, 2008
Byron McNary*, 2008
Russell Clark, 2006
Debbie Davis*, 2009
Kevin Leis*, 2008
Joe Menadue*, 2009
Dan Pugh*, 2007
Deryk Ruddle, 2007
Scott Stueven*, 2009
Fran Trosper*, 2009
Josh Whiteside*, 2008
Kevin Leis*, 2010
Josh Whiteside*, 2010
A special thank you to Jeb Burress, Dean Dexter, Joe Moreland, and current staff for all the help in acquiring the historical information contained on this page.
