HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICE

THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 

The Columbiana Emergency Medical Service was established August 15, 1978 by the Village Council
under the direction of Village Manager Albert E. Wardingley. Its purpose was to provide
Emergency Medical Services to the residents of the Village of Columbiana and surrounding areas
not served by an Emergency Medical Service.

The Columbiana Emergency Medical Service began to answer calls on the 1st day of November 1978.
The first call for assistance was received the next day. During its first year of operation, the Emergency
Medical Service answered 198 emergency calls. The service was funded solely on donations, and the
Emergency Medical Technicians worked strictly for free. The service was started at the Basic
Emergency Medical level with one ambulance. In the beginning, the service was a division of the
Columbiana Auxiliary Police Force and was headed by then Police Chief Dan Sumrock. Village
Patrolman Robert Hum was appointed coordinator to handle training, scheduling the volunteers,
and stocking the ambulance. Ptl. Hum was greatly responsible for bringing the service into existence.

The first ambulance was a well-used Ford box style squad, which was purchased from Gold Cross
Ambulance Service. The car was purchased on October 6, 1978 for $20,821.22, which was
provided by a local family.

It was soon apparent as the service grew, that a back-up ambulance was needed. On November 21,
1978 the service took delivery of a 1975 Dodge van style ambulance, due largely to a donation from
a local bank.

In 1980 the two ambulances were equipped with high band "HEAR" radios that allowed for the EMT'S
to talk directly to the staff and doctors at the receiving hospital. This allowed medical command to
approve of the treatment, give further orders, and to prepare for the arrival of critically injured patients.

At first the ambulances had to be kept across the street from the Police Station in a private garage.
However, with the completion of the new Municipal building in 1979, the squads were moved into their
own heated garage. This allowed the cars to be kept warm for better patient care, and provided
facilities to wash and maintain the equipment and store supplies.

The cost of equipping the ambulance was $3,741.35. The equipment was purchased mostly used from
Gold Cross Ambulance Service in July of 1978. The first ambulance was only equipped at the basic
E.M.T. level.

The EMTS were equipped with voice pagers that would be "tripped" by the Police Dispatch Center.
Upon receiving an "alert" the EMTS would be notified via the pager what the nature of the call was,
and the location. EMTS would then respond to the Police Station, pick up the ambulance and continue
on to the call. The average on scene response time was six minutes. Thanks to the pager systems,
EMTS could go about their daily lives without having to be tied to a telephone. It was not uncommon
for an EMT to be in the middle of shopping when an alert was given, and have to leave a cart of
groceries in a local store. Sunday Church Services were also a frequent location to be called from for
an emergency.

A day (24 hours) was broken into three eight-hour shifts with three technicians on call per shift. It was
a rude awakening when you were on call and your pager tripped at 3:00 AM. The pagers plugged into
amplifiers and were said to be loud enough to wake the neighbors.

As EMTS responded from home, work or other daily activities they responded in the clothes of their
profession, be it suit and tie or casual attire. The first uniform issued were blue colored smocks with
identifying black lettering. Winter Coats were also soon issued that identified the wearer as an EMT.

The first class of EMTS consisted of 13 volunteers and formed the beginning of the service. The 13
EMTS scored a test average of 92%. Members of the first class were: Jim Ford, Carol Harris,
John Dunlap, Keith Crider, Robert Hum, Anne Young, Mary Louise Dicken, Pam Zitto,
Richard Johnson, Lowell Schlonger, Ken Glavin, Paulette Untch, and Fred Conser. This core
group graduated in August of 1978.

A second class was started (to be continued)

A free blood pressure clinic was started at the National City Bank on February 6th 1982. Area residents
could stop in and have their blood pressure checked on the first Saturday of each month.

In 1980 several providers continued their training to the Advanced EMT level. This allowed the service
to offer a higher level of care in the field, such as establishing IV lines. Advanced EMTS were also
permitted (under direction of medical command) to administer Epinephrine to counter the allergic
reactions of bee stings.

1983 brought the level of care to the Paramedic level with the training of two providers at the Paramedic
level Alan Fitzsimmons and Jay Schloneger. They were joined a year later by Mike Garrett and Sally Bricker.
The service could now offer the highest level of Pre-Hospital Care available in the field.

In 1984 our first "new squad" was purchased, which was a 1984 Ford Medtec "Mod" style squad
which replaced the well used 1972 Ford truck box style ambulance. An open house was held to show
off the new squad.

Our second new squad was purchased in 1988, which also was a Ford Medtec "Mod" style squad.

TO BE CONTINUED.

 

 

 

 

Rev.-2004 K. Kloss