SAN JUAN ISLAND EMS

Applications being taken for San Juan Island EMS

posted 05/26/05
San Juan Island EMS is now accepting applications from anyone interested in becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). SJIEMS will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician- Basic class starting August 1, 2005. Training is Wednesday nights and all day Saturday until December 2005. The only cost will be a $100 textbook fee if you are accepted. Applications are available at the Aid Unit Building located at 540 Spring Street in Friday Harbor.

Candidates must be 21 or older with a valid Washington State Driver License with 4 points or less and no DUI convictions. Successful applications must pass a criminal background check, interview, physical exam and drug screening before official acceptance in the program. The only prerequisite is active CPR certification which will be available prior to the start of the class if not already certified.

For further details and to obtain your application, contact Weyshawn Koons at 378-5152 or email them at sjiems@rockisland.com. Completed applications are due July 1, 2005.

Record number of aid calls on San Juan Island

The young couple involved in this bicycle accident on Beaverton Valley Road on May 8 have recovered and plan to visit the islands again.

posted 05/20/05
The EMTs of the San Juan Island EMS are celebrating National EMS Week. SJEMS is having the busiest season to date, according to Chief Jim Cole.They are experiencing record numbers of calls and have already logged the busiest January, February, and April on record. March was the second busiest to date only behind March of 2000. "We have already responded to 65% of the calls that we responded to last year. If this trend continues, we will have the highest annual responses in the history of the Aid Unit, and we are ready." Cole said.

With the additional of a third paramedic responder vehicle, upgraded equipment, and record attendance by volunteer EMTs at calls this year, the system has shown itself ready to handle whatever comes their way, he said. SJIEMS continues to outpace the average rural response times by five to six times the national average. "This means that San Juan Island residents and visitors receive even better Emergency Medical Services than in some large urban areas, and certainly in most rural areas," Cole said.

The Aid Unit SJIEMS continues to offer community based CPR and first aid classes and public information outreaches in an attempt to prepare the community in the event of an emergency, and especially to prevent accidents and injuries. They offer free bicycle helmets and car seats to those in need. Call them at 378-5152 for further information.

National EMS Week May 15-21, 2005

Volunteer EMTs

Steve Alluise

Dan Bacon

Robert Benton

Patricia Benton

Frank Chaffee

Brad Creesy

Kyle Davies

Thomas Eades

Deborah Grimes

Emily Hallock

Ron Heeren

Shirley Hart

Joaquin Hubbard

Birgit Kriete

Stewart Lott

Cheyenne Maudlin

Noel Monin

Michael Rennick

Alan Roochvarg

Jeremy Talbott

John Volk

Lainey Volk

Bette Weiss

Steve Williamson

Full Time Paramedics

Jim Ricks Weyshawn Koons

PRN Paramedics

Mike Damoth

Ryan Nelson

Administrative Assistant

Cady Chapman

Chief/Administrator

Jim Cole

Life saving capabilities increase

posted 04/27/05
The addition of a third paramedic, San Juan Island EMS has increased its capabilities to respond to emergencies. Chief/Administrator Jim Cole, hired in January of this year, is a nationally registered and State of Washington certified Paramedic. He is also an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor for the American Heart Association. The EMS has outfitted an additional paramedic responder vehicle which allows all three paramedics to be fully utilized in the event of a call with multiple patients or with simultaneous calls in progress.

The chief's vehicle now carries state of the art equipment including a Medtronic LifePak 12 lead EKG monitor/defibrillator, life saving medications, and advanced airway capabilities for adults and children.

With the busy tourist season rapidly approaching, this will also allow the EMS to have additional advanced life support capabilities at events such as the County Fair, July 4th weekend, and at a host of other large scale events throughout the year without diminishment of services for the rest of the island.

These enhancements will further improve the EMS's impressive response times. Most importantly, it allows for life saving cardiac defibrillation and advanced life support to arrive early at the scene of a heart attack.

"San Juan Island EMS has over 25 volunteer EMTs that are the backbone of the EMS service here on the island. I feel fortunate to be working with these talented professionals," Cole said.

Chairman of the Hospital Board Lyle Tarte says, "This is part of the Hospital District's ongoing commitment to provide superior health care services for San Juan Island." San Juan Island EMS is nationally known for its superior cardiac arrest survival rates.

If you'd like to have Chief Cole speak to you civic or community group, please call 378-5152.

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