Miami County EMS began June 1, 1989 with six (6) EMT’s, one (1) paramedic and an account clerk. Mike Welter was the only paramedic that worked for the county at that time. We utilized part-time paramedics for 1-2 years, until we had people start going to school. In 1992 we started teaching our EMT’s to become EMT-Defibrillator technicians. This allowed the EMT’s to monitor and defibrillate patients that were found in cardiac arrest. In 1994 we started sending one person to paramedic school every year. The county paid for the student’s tuition and in turn the employee had to sign a four (4) year agreement to work for the county after graduating. Since then the county has sent eleven (11) employees through the paramedic training. In 1997-98 the Baehr Foundation gave the EMS funds to support an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program for the county. The AED’s were places in all the city police departments, sheriff’s department, Louisburg Fire Department and Kansas Wildlife and Parks at Hillsdale Lake. Since placing the AED’s in the first responder units, there have been several documented saves. One such save was televised on WDAF-TV 4 by Linda Waggert with Osawatomie Police. The police officer (Donnie Basehor) responded to the call and saved an individual at 12th & Parker after losing his pulse and running into the Osawatomie School sign.

Miami County EMS also takes care of making sure all responders that carry the AED’s are up to date on current certification. We also provide training to local fire departments for continuing education for re-certifying their EMT and First Responder status free of charge. Anyone is welcome at the station to obtain continuing education credits for recertification.

In 2003 the Kansas Board of EMS adopted into regulation the advancement of EMT skills. These advancements included: nebulized breathing treatments, aspirin administration, monitor blood glucose levels, the use of Epi-pens in allergic reactions and monitor O2 saturations on patients with breathing problems. Miami County was one of the first counties in the state to teach these new advancements to our people.

In 2004 Miami County EMS took another big step in providing more advanced level care to our citizens. The intermediate level was introduced to five (5) EMT-Defibrillator technicians. The intermediate level allows the EMT to establish an IV line prior to taking the patient to the hospital; it also allows the paramedic to take care of other critical areas in patient care while the intermediate starts the IV. These five completed the class that was taught at Miami County EMS by Darren Hall and all passed Kansas State Boards the first time through. In January 2005, five (5) EMT’s began their training to the intermediate level and successfully attained their certifications in June 2005.