Welcome to my Memories page! Rescue has been a big part of my life. I
have 26+ years as a volunteer on one fire department and 4 rescue squads.
I served on the Orange County New Hope Fire Department
as a charter
member. I also was a member of the Orange County New Hope Rescue Squad.
I helped with pulling some duty on the South Orange Rescue Squad when they
needed some daytime help. When we merged our district with Orange County
Rescue I served with them until I graduated from Pharmacy School. I then
joined the Zebulon Area Rescue Squad, Inc. I have been with them since.
I have served several terms as Assistant Chief, as Chief, and President of
the Board of Directors. I still remain active with the administrative
portion of the squad, but find it hard to pull duty with my work schedule.
Orange County New Hope Fire and Rescue 
was my first experience in the
Emergency Services field. We were located just North of Chapel Hill, NC
on Whitfield Road. My first certification was thru the mailing in a $3.00
fee to the State and receiving an ambulance attendants certification. Boy
was that a long time ago!!! Things sure have changed now. We soon progressed
to the American Red Cross Certifications for "Standard First Aid". 
We took the "Instructors" training and became our own
Squads trainers. The next progression was to the American Red Cross Certifications
for "Advanced First Aid". 
We also obtained
our Instructors Certification at this level. North Carolina progressed to the
Emergency Medical Technicians Level of care. It first started out wit three
levels:
1. AA - Ambulance Attendant
2. EMT - Emergency Medical Technician
3. MICT - Mobile Intensive Care Technician
and an additional level was made for the training on MICT's. MICN's could give
orders over the ER Radio and precept in the field but were not State certified
to perform patient care in the field ...
4. MICN - Mobile Intensive Care Nurse
The progression moved to the adding of several "Advanced Levels" and the deletion
of some. The level of EMT-I - Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate was added.
The level of MICT was deleted and the EMT-P - Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic
was added. The MICN level was removed.
An additional level was added for some rural Counties that were a test level to
allow for more advanced care without the requirements of the EMT-P level. It
was the EMT-D level. It allowed some Paramedic skills but only under the direct
radio communications between the ER physician and field technician. No use of
nursing staff was allowed.
Later this level was revised to a level between EMT - Emergency Medical Technician
and EMT-I - Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate. They could administer a
limited amount of drugs and use the semi-defibrillator. Which by the way had
already been added to the EMT-I certification.
Today the level of EMT has given away to the EMT-D level. A logical step as even
Fire Fighters trained as First Responders have Semi-Automatic Defibrillator training.
Well so much for the progression of the EMS in North Carolina history. Now back
to my other Squad involvements. After leaving New Hope Rescue Squad when our
territory was divided, between Orange County Rescue and South Orange Rescue, I
moved to Hillsborough and pulled with Orange County Rescue.
I have been a member of the North Carolina Association of Rescue
Squads as long as I have been involved in EMS. They have been very
active in helping advance Emergency Medical Care in North Carolina.
EMS is a very rewarding career option for a young person. If you feel
you would like to serve your community, contact your local Rescue or EMS
service to see how you can help.
kd4wiw@ipass.net
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