Dane County Thanks Emergency Medical Service Personnel During National EMS Week
May 22, 2019
Ariana Vruwink (608) 267-8823
County Executive
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi is recognizing the efforts of the highly trained men and women who work to serve their communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with prompt and effective emergency services. This recognition comes as communities across the country celebrate EMS Week and honor those in the chain of survival.
“Through great coordination and teamwork, Dane County’s emergency dispatchers, fire, police, and medical service providers have been able to save the lives of many members in our community,” said County Executive Parisi. “I cannot thank them enough for their dedication to serve.”
2019 marks 42 years that Dane County EMS has provided vital public service, with the EMS system responding to 41,600 calls for service in 2018. Over 1,000 emergency medical personnel in Dane County are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Approximately half of those individuals are volunteers.
The Dane County Public Safety Communications (911) Center has dispatchers who use a template of questions to determine the severity of an emergency medical situation and can then send appropriate help. Dane County Emergency Management helps coordinate a seamless network of emergency responders that team together, regardless of municipal boundaries, ensuring every day that those with the most critical emergencies receive the highest level of care.
“The men and women who are Emergency Medical Technicians in our communities demonstrate honorable and dedicated service to every person who calls for emergency assistance. Our utmost respect and admiration of the more than 1,000 EMTs in Dane County. Thank you from all citizens and visitors for your dedication and commitment to excellence,” said Bob Salov, County Board Supervisor and Chair of the EMS Commission. The County Board passed a resolution recognizing May 19 to May 25 as EMS Week in Dane County to recognize the hard work of EMS providers, including emergency physicians, emergency nurses, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, educators, and administrators.
Included in Dane County’s 2018 budget, the County purchased a total of 48 new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and acquired a four year service contract for these units from Cardiac Science. When every second counts, this vital tool can help save the life of someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to this agreement, 51 AED units are now in place at a total of 19 different County sites, with a unit on each floor. AED sites include the Henry Vilas Zoo, Highway Department, Job Center, Northport, City-County Building, ADRC, and Alliant Energy Center, just to name a few.
Last year, Dane County also acquired a new command vehicle to help coordinate emergency responses at major public safety incidents. County Executive Joe Parisi included $500,000 in the 2018 county budget to purchase the vehicle, known as CV-1, and outfit it with the most state of the art communications and public safety response equipment. The vehicle responds to severe weather, criminal investigations, power outages, and other emergencies requiring coordination of significant public safety resources.