Commentary: Voting to support EMS levies is a lifesaving act

Published 1:30 am Sunday, July 29, 2018

By Bruce Stedman

For The Herald

As fire chief of South County Fire, with 40 years of fire service experience, I would like to share with you the vital role that emergency medical service has played in my life.

EMS is by far our most requested service, accounting for 85 percent of the nearly 30,000 calls we responded to last year. Every second counts in a life-threatening emergency and that’s why our paramedics are at our 14 neighborhood fire stations to provide the highest level of care.

As a fire chief, I can tell you about the training and equipment needed to support this response level. But as a son, I can tell you how EMS has touched my life in ways that go beyond the statistics and deployment models that are part of my every day work as a fire chief.

The first time was in 1986. My mother did not know how to swim, but that didn’t stop her from floating on a pool toy by herself when temperatures exceeded 100 degrees. At some point, she fell off and my father found her lifeless and face down below the water’s surface. He pulled her out, called 911 and started CPR. Paramedics arrived to provide advanced life support, including drug therapy and intubation so she could breathe.

At the time, I was on-duty as a fire captain and my wife called to tell me what had happened. I was released immediately and was rushing to the hospital. On the way, I witnessed a motor vehicle accident that had just occurred. In those few seconds I questioned if I should pass by or stop and help. Knowing that my mother was in the skilled care of paramedics allowed me the ability to stop and help. I pulled over and checked for injuries and waited until help arrived. Eight days later, my mom walked out of the hospital, and today is a feisty 84-year old. I tried to prepare my family that she may pass away, but now consider this a personal miracle because of the skilled paramedics and hospital care she received.

Recently my family once again called on emergency medical services when my father suffered a massive heart attack. Paramedics arrived on scene in record time, administered CPR, and advanced cardiac care, however it was too late. Although my father passed, I am still beyond grateful for their expert care and compassion and ultimately that EMS services were available for my family.

We all want the best available emergency medical service for our families and loved ones. South County Fire has an EMS levy on the ballot for voters in our regional fire authority, which includes the City of Lynnwood and Snohomish County Fire District 1. This levy would replace two EMS levies paid to those two agencies with one levy paid to the fire authority at the same rate previously approved by voters.

I am asking that voters in South County Fire and other jurisdictions to give serious consideration to funding requests for emergency services.

Editor’s note: Levy ballot measures for EMS and other fire services are also being considered in Mukilteo, Lake Stevens and Fire Districts 5, 16, 19, 21, 24.

Bruce Stedman is the fire chief for South County Fire.