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Dear
KEMTA Members:
Congratulations
on celebrating 30 continuous years, as an organization providing service and
representation to the ambulance industry… now modern day EMS. I have been called
a pioneer in Kansas EMS, since my history in the profession dates back to January
of 1966. I think that’s just a nice way of saying, “I’m as old as dirt”! I
wish that I could be with you to help celebrate this very important occasion, but
I had a prior commitment out of State. This letter is a result of a request by
JoAnn Knak that I share some noteworthy events in KEMTA’s early history.
The
roots of the Kansas Emergency Medical Technician Association (KEMTA) can be traced
to the former Kansas Ambulance and Rescue Association (KARA). KARA was organized
in 1973 by a handful of Kansas’s ambulance service directors with the goal of
improving ambulance service, and patient care, to the citizens of Kansas.
In
the early 1970’s nobody had ever heard of an EMT, much less a Paramedic.
“Ambulance attendants” (as they were called in those days) in Kansas and
across the Nation had little to no training. The only training available to
Kansas’s ambulance attendants was the American Red Cross’ standard and
advanced first aid courses. The standard course was 10 hours in length and the
advance course was 12 hours. The Board of EMS, EMS regulations, and standards for
ambulance vehicles and equipment were non-existent.
The
Kansas National Guard Armory in Hutchinson Kansas became the site of the first, of
what would be many, annual KARA, and later KEMTA seminars. They would begin on a
Friday morning and conclude with a banquet on Saturday evening. One of the
challenges of the seminar committee was finding presenters for the educational
tracts. Since EMS and Paramedic training was non-existent in the early 1970’s,
there were very few qualified presenters within the EMS profession. Thus,
physicians were asked to teach on most medical topics. Trying to get doctors was
sometimes difficult, and last minute cancellations due to their busy schedule
occurred frequently. We were very fortunate to have had a great EMS advocate in
Dr. Norman E. McSwain. Dr. McSwain had accepted the newly created position of
Director of the Kansas University Medical Center’s Emergency Medical Training
Program. He was very faithful to attend our seminars, and would “save the day”
many times when a physician would not show. No matter what the scheduled topic,
Dr. McSwain could always do a good job.
I
remember a seminar when our featured banquet speaker cancelled due to a medical
emergency with a family member. One of Dr. McSwain’s hobbies was underwater
diving and underwater photography. He had just returned from a week in the Bahamas
islands where he had taken about 40 slide pictures of tropical fish. He stated
that he had the pictures in the back seat of his car. Well you guessed it! Dr.
McSwain, and his tropical fish slides made for one of the most unusual EMS banquet
programs we ever had. Afterwards, many of those in attendance told me that the
program was actually enjoyable after listening to medical and rescue presentations
all day!
The
Federal Highway Safety Act of 1966 was an early attempt to improve patient
survival rates on our Nation’s Highways. One of the major components of the act
was aimed at improving ambulance services. States were to comply with the
provisions of the Act or face the loss of their Federal highway funding. Kansas
was among some of the first States in the Nation to start the process of meeting
the requirements. The current Board of EMS initially started as the Office of EMS,
which was under the authority of the Governor’s office in approximately 1973.
KEMTA
played a major role in the improvements in ambulance services in the State of
Kansas. When the Office of EMS needed committee members to develop, and recommend
standards for ambulance design and on-aboard equipment KEMTA members stepped
forward, and were selected. It may be hard to believe today, but in the early
days, it was not uncommon for many ambulance units to only be equipped with a
first aid kit, a portable 0/2 tank, and a main stretcher. Many pieces of equipment
recommended by these committee members are still carried by EMS units today.
Equipment such as, trauma kits, OB kits, onboard and portable oxygen, folding
stretchers, splints, onboard and portable suction, bag mask resuscitators, blood
pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, oral airways, etc all stemmed from the efforts of
KEMTA members.
A
few years later the office of EMS changed to the Bureau of EMS, and, again, KEMTA
members were asked to help in the improvement of patient care for the citizens of
Kansas. This time the need was for a patient report and data collection form.
KEMTA members again, stepped up to the plate, and as a result the “Green
Sheet” was developed. The slang name “Green Sheet” came from the top sheet
of the NCR form, which was the patient report, being the color green. The form
provided patient medical information in a standardized written form to the
Emergency Department staff. A carbon copy was also available for the technician
following the call, which provided statistical information to the Bureau of EMS
office.
Several
members of KEMTA also filled roles and shared their expertise, and experience, in
the establishment of the Kansas EMT certification process, which was developed for
Kansas by the University of Kansas Medical Center under the direction of Dr.
McSwain.
In
1976 the Kansas Ambulance and Rescue Association (KARA) became the first
organization to publish a statewide newsletter for Kansas EMS personnel. The
publication was entitled KARA NEWS, which later changed to KEMTA NEWS. The
newsletter was published on a bi-monthly basis.
In
approximately 1977 a new national organization was starting to emerge by the name
of the National Association of EMT’s. (NAEMT) NAEMT was contacting State EMS
organizations in an attempt to develop a chapter of NAEMT in each State of the
Nation. The Kansas Ambulance and Rescue Association executive board met with
officials of NAEMT and decided to become the first official chapter representing
Kansas at the National level. As a result of this move KARA officially changed
their name to the Kansas Emergency Medical Technician’s Association, or KEMTA
for short.
Around
the same time, and in an effort to strengthen the Association, KEMTA hired their
first staff member. Ned Arthur was hired to develop KEMTA chapters around the
State. Ned had an extensive background in marketing. Thus, he took to the job like
a duck takes to water! I had just finished a term as President and was asked by
the Board, under the leadership of President Bob Prewitt, to serve in an Executive
Director’s role. Serving also, as the Director of the Newton Ambulance
Department, it was all I could do just to keep up with Ned. Ned established
approximately 10 chapters around the State. He was also successful in bringing
James O. Page to our annual seminar, which was held in the 4-H building on the
Garden City Fair Grounds. A strong friendship was developed that year between
James Page and several KEMTA members that still exists today. Just as an example
of Ned’s abilities he nearly had General Motors Corporation talked into giving
KEMTA a brand new car. I still feel that he would have been successful if I
hadn’t stepped in and told Ned that the organization would not be able to afford
insurance, tags, taxes, and other expenses associated with the upkeep of an
automobile. After increasing KEMTA’s membership to almost 900 members from less
than 200, in less than two years, Ned resigned to take on other challenges. I am
sorry to report that Ned passed away in late 2002, as a result of cancer.
I
continued to fill the role of Executive Director until the fall of 1978, and I
would be amiss if I did not give credit to my wife Linda who served the membership
and assisted me greatly with the administrative functions of the organization
during my tenure as Executive Director. The KEMTA office was in our home for
several years, and Linda was faithful to process membership renewals, as well as
assisting in the many business tasks of a statewide organization.
Thank
you, for allowing me to take a trip down memory lane. Obviously, time does not
permit the listing of every aspect of KEMTA involvement or accomplishment over the
past 30 years. Hopefully, I have provided some history of the early years that has
been interesting for some of you, who are new to the EMS profession, and made some
of the old-timers smile, as they remembered “the good ole days”.
As
members of KEMTA, you can be proud of your association’s accomplishments over
the past 30 years. You can also be assured that EMS, as you know it today, is
built on a foundation provided by dedicated EMS providers, and KEMTA members, such
as yourself. Although I have now retired from the profession, I know that through
the efforts of those of you who “still carry the pager” Kansas EMS, through
organizations like KEMTA, will continue to meet the challenges of the future.
Sincerely,
Jim L. Werries, MICT, Ret.
Newton Kansas
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And God populated the earth with broccoli
and cauliflower and spinach and green and yellow vegetables of all kinds, so Man
and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
An Satan created McDonald's. And McDonald's
brought forth the 99-cent double-cheeseburger. And Satan said to Man, "You want
fries with that?" and Man said, "Super size them." and Man gained pounds.
And God created the healthful yogurt, that
woman might keep her figure that man found so fair.
And Satan froze the yogurt, and he brought
forth chocolate, nuts and brightly colored sprinkle candy to put on the yogurt.
And woman gained pounds.
And God said, "Try my crispy fresh salad."
And Satan brought forth creamy dressings, bacon bits, and shredded cheese.
And thee was ice cream for dessert. An woman
gained pounds. And God said, "I have sent your heart healthy vegetables and olive
oil with which to cook them."
And Satan brought forth chicken-fried steak
from Cracker Barrel so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained pounds, and
his bad cholesterol went through the roof.
And God brought forth running shoes, and Man
resolved to lose those extra pounds.
And Satan brought forth cable TV with remote
control so Man would not have to toil to change channels between ESPN and ESPN2.
And Man gained pounds.
And God said, "You're running up the score,
Devil."
And God brought forth the potato, a
vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off
the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fat fried
them. And he created sour cream dip also. And Man clutched his remote control and
ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol. And Satan saw and said, "It is
good."
And Man went into cardiac arrest.
And God sighed and created quadruple bypass
surgery.....
And Satan created HMOs...
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