HISTORY OF THE S. W. WEBSTER AMBULANCE SERVICE

Early in 1972, Palmers Funeral Home received word that their ambulance service was to be terminated. Changes in the governmental regulations on training and staffing made it impossible for the funeral home to continue the task.

Through efforts of the Gowrie Kiwanis, meetings were held that led to action, as the community seemed determined to keep the service going. Fundraisers were held and a core group of volunteers were enlisted.

The first volunteers, fourteen community-minded people, took a 26-week course led by Dr. Tim Murphy, a former Gowrie resident, who drove from Des Moines twice a week to teach the class. He did this for the town he grew up in and so that the volunteers would not have to drive any distance.

All of the financial support and volunteerism paid off, on June 4, 1973, the Gowrie Rescue Service had its first call to action. Later that year, Callender and Harcourt decided that they wanted to be a part of this vital service; hence the S. W. Webster Ambulance Service was formed.

On Oct. 11, 1998, the service celebrated its 25th anniversary. The ambulance responds to an average of 120 calls per year. The cities of Callender, Gowrie and Harcourt and the townships of Clay, Gowrie, Lost Grove and Roland support it financially.

The saying "We've come along way, baby" certainly fits ambulance services. The initial training three decades ago emphasized control of bleeding and getting the patient to the hospital. Today's training has complex cardiac assessment, airway management and the use of extrication devices used in a motor vehicle collision.

In 2000, the service became a conditional EMT-Intermediate service, which means that if certain crewmembers are on the call, there is advanced assessment techniques and the ability to start intravenous fluids if needed. There is one EMT-I and three RN's on the service with this training at present. All EMTs on the service have the ability to use the AED, automatic external defibrillator and the Combitube, an advanced artificial airway inserted into a cardiac arrest victim's throat to ensure good oxygenation.

Since 1998, the service has provided yearly initial EMT-Basic training held in Gowrie. This has enabled the volunteers to take the training locally instead of having to also commit to a long drive twice a week. It is 116-hour course with six credit hours for college. The recertification is 24 hours of continuing education every two years.

The service has grown in community education as well. American Heart Association CPR instructors: Brenda Gleason and Judy Rurup, teach community CPR as well as keeping the crew certified. A big push for child restraint systems inspections brought about interest from the service. Judy Rurup, certified child passenger safety seat technician, along with other crewmembers have held car seat inspection clinics and spoke to community groups and high school students about this training.

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