GCEMS News Archives

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September 29, 2007 - Software Enhances Fleet Maintenance:    Over the last month we have been testing some demo software that tracks vehicle maintenance.  The software, Vehicle Manager, will allow us to keep track of repairs, parts that have been installed, track preventative service intervals, fuel economy, and store detailed information on all the vehicles in our fleet.  The addition of this software will further enhance our fleet maintenance program and help to ensure that our vehicles see a long service life and remain dependable.

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September 29, 2007 - Students Pass NREMT Exam:     GCEMS is pleased to announce that EMT/B students Nancy Underwood and Raylee Thompson have successfully completed all of the requirements to be certified as nationally registered EMT/basics.  The practical examination was held Saturday, September 29th at GCEMS station 1.  Once their national certifications have arrived and they have received their state ones through reciprocity, they will be ready to begin orientation with our department as new EMT/basics.  Congratulations Nancy and Raylee!

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September 22, 2007 - GCEMS Paramedics Go To Standardized Shift Format:    With the department being fully staffed, GCEMS took the opportunity to standardize the shift format that our FT paramedics follow.  Starting October 1, 2007 at 0700, all GCEMS paramedics will do 3, 12-hour shifts per week.  An A, B and C-shift rotating schedule has been devised that allows for all paramedics to have equal amounts of 1st-out and 2nd-out shifts.  The new schedule also allows for some weekends off each month. In the past, some paramedics did 3, 12-hour shifts while others did 4, 10-hour shifts with set days each week.  All paramedics will now spend from 0700 to 1900 in the station, with the rest of the shift being spent on-call.  The on-call time allows staff to spend their nights at home, with the only requirement being that they stay within an 8-minute response radius to the station.

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September 22, 2007 - Paramedic Position Filled:    The interviews for the FT paramedic opening were conducted this last week, and GCEMS is pleased to announce that Paramedic Rhonda Grainger was offered, and accepted the position.  She will go on-shift starting October 1st.  Rhonda worked full-time for Great Falls Emergency Services and also as a PT paramedic for us here at Glacier County EMS.  She is a welcome addition to our team, and we look forward to working with her.  We thank all the applicants for their interest in the position, and encourage you to apply again should another opening arise.  Resumes are accepted anytime.

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Chief Laidlaw (left) and Floyd Peterson demonstrate some of the items we use to make us more visible to motorists.

September 12, 2007 - Safety Paramount at GCEMS:    Glacier County EMS has always stressed safety to our staff.  When we are often the ones who emphasize safety to others, we must lead by example.  We are always looking for new ways to increase safety in all aspects of our operations.  One of the most dangerous activities that public safety workers face is working around moving traffic.  The danger increases dramatically the faster the traffic is moving.  We often find ourselves working on the shoulder of highways, roads and interstates.  This is why we have switched our standard-issue duty parka to an ANSI class-3 parka last year.  We also carry reflective signs and cones to inform drivers that an emergency scene is ahead of them.  When you come upon an accident scene, please slow down and move as far into the other side of your lane as safely possible to give us room.

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September 12, 2007 - GCEMS Urges Caution:    School is back in session, and that means a lot of kids will be out riding bikes and walking to and from school.  Please observe the posted speed limits in school zones and pay extra attention for children crossing the streets.  Let's all help our local children have a safe school year.

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September 9, 2007 - Congratulations:    EMT Student Nancy Underwood has successfully passed her national EMT/basic written examination, which was held September 5th.  Nancy will be taking her practical exam this month, and has signed on to work for GCEMS as a paid-on-call EMT/B upon receiving her license.  Nancy will be a welcome addition to our team. 

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September 2, 2007 - August Call Volume:    The call volume for the month of August was 75 calls.  This is mix of 911 responses and inter-facility transports. 

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September 1, 2007 - Employment Update:    The employment process will be moving forward around mid-September.  Applicants will be hearing from Chief Laidlaw in the near future.  In the meantime, applicants are encouraged to peruse our website to learn more about the department. 

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August 29, 2007 - Pamida Awards Grant:    The Pamida Foundation has generously awarded $500 to Glacier County EMS to be used to purchase EMS textbooks for EMT and first responder students.  Captain Kyle Starr wrote the grant since textbooks, which can range in price from $50 to $70+ can present a financial burden to some.  Our EMT's and first responders are paid-on-call and many choose to do the job just as a way to serve their community, not as a primary income.  While our EMT's and first responders are paid a stipend, most of them do EMS in addition to other jobs.  By being able to provide some textbooks free of charge, we hope to draw more EMT students into our classes.  The end result is more medically-trained people in our community, making everyone a little bit safer.  The next class will begin sometime after the holiday season.  Check back often for further information on upcoming classes or contact Chief Laidlaw or Training Officer Williams.

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August 29, 2007 - Station 2 Construction Update:    The old station has been demolished and work is currently underway on the foundation for the new station.  The framing materials have been delivered and will be going up as soon as the concrete pad is completed and other necessary preparation tasks have been performed.  Check our photos section for construction photos that will be posted soon.

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August 25, 2007 - Skyland Fire Update:    The latest statistics on the Skyland Wildland Fire as of 8/15/07:

Personnel on-scene:        462

Fire size:                           45,760 acres

Contained:                        67%

Recent rainfall has been of great benefit to firefighting  crews and allowed them to make good progress.  Fire activity is now mostly on ground level and is out of the trees. 

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August 22, 2007 - Station 2 Construction Update:   Progress is being made on the construction of the new station 2 in Babb, MT.  The current structure has been made ready to demolish, and many of the bids have been received and reviewed for heating/cooling, furnishings, etc.  Some minor changes needed to be made to the floorplan, which is expected to be finalized this week.

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August 22, 2007 - Skyland Fire Update:    The latest statistics on the Skyland Wildland Fire as of 8/22/07:

Personnel on-scene:       471

Fire Size:                          45,215 acres

Contained:                        51%

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Fire map - 8/17/07

August 18, 2007 - Skyland Fire Update:    The latest statistics on the Skyland Wildland Fire as of 8/18/07 at 0645 hrs:

Personnel on-scene:    553

Fire size:                        41,857 acres

Contained:                     54%

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August 12, 2007 - Skyland Fire Update:  Latest statistics on the Skyland Fire as of 8/12/07 at 1440 hrs:  Current fire size 39,820 acres, personnel on scene: 926, percent contained: 34%, terrain difficulty: high, growth potential: high.  Numerous structures endangered.  Discontinuing night operations.  Photos from Inciweb.org.

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August 11, 2007 - GCEMS Has a Record July:  After ending a record fiscal year for call volume, GCEMS is off to a record start in the new fiscal year.  We set a new record for call volume for the month of July at 84 calls.  This number beats the previous record of 67 set in fiscal year 2002. 

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August 2, 2007 - Skyland Road Fire Update:  High winds on Saturday caused significant spreading.  The fire is only 2% contained at time of this update, with 954 personnel on the scene and the fire area at 30,457 acres.  There is high potential for growth, and terrain remains difficult, hampering firefighting efforts.  Montana remains the national priority for firefighting resources at this time.  There is a level-1 evacuation notice in effect for the city of East Glacier to the Heart Butte cutoff road.  A level-1 notice means that there potential for evacuation and for all residents to be prepared and have a plan.  There is a level-2 evacuation notice in effect for everyone south of highway 2 and the Heart Butte cutoff road.  Level-2 means that evacuation is likely and to be prepared.  A level-3 evacuation is in effect for the Heart Butte Cutoff road at the South Fork Two Medicine River, east to BIA Hwy 1, then north to the Two Medicine River, west along the Two Medicine River to the South Fork Two Medicine River.  Level-3 means that evacuation is necessary or recommended.  A level-1 incident team is enroute and will be arriving to assume command this weekend.  No estimated containment date is being given at this time.  Information obtained from www.inciweb.org.

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Smoke from the Skyland Road Fire approaches Cut Bank Saturday evening. Photos by Kyle Starr

July 29, 2007 - Cut Bank Gets Smoked:  With just the right (or wrong) wind conditions, smoke from the nearby Skyland Road fire invaded Cut Bank and the surrounding areas Saturday, causing irritation to eyes, throats and casting an eerie haze over the land.  The smoke even threatened to cut the Relay for Life short, but fortunately the wind changed direction during the event.  Residents with respiratory problems are advised to stay inside as much as possible.  If you require the use of an inhaler, be sure to keep it close at hand.  Smoke and other irritants in the air can trigger or worsen respiratory problems. 

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The Skyland Road Fire as seen from US highway 2. Photo from Great Falls Tribune.

July 28, 2007 - Glacier County Activates Incident Command:  On Saturday afternoon, the Skyland Road Fire that has been burning in Rocky Mountains off of highway 2 crossed over into Glacier County.  The countywide incident command team was activated, and county commissioners were called in to declare a state of emergency.  EMS Chief James Laidlaw, as part of the incident team, was activated and responded to the command post at fire camp.  While medical standby was already being provided before the fire crossed the county line, GCEMS personnel remain on a heightened state of readiness in case additional medical personnel are requested at the fire.  The fire was caused by lightening on July 23rd and is 1000 acres in size as of July 29th.  With only 2% of the fire being contained at this time, there is high potential for growth. For further information on the fire, go to:   http://inciweb.org/incident/877.

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"Team Life Savers" at the 2007 Relay for Life in Cut Bank. Photo by Brian Kavanagh.

July 29, 2007 - Weekend Events: This weekend saw a good turnout at our communities annual Lewis and Clark Days.  GCEMS was at the event performing both medical standby and public relations duties.  The bike medic program was active, with one paramedic on bike detail during the event.  The Relay for Life event that began Saturday evening was a big success.  The GCEMS team, "Team Life Savers" still found energy to walk in the event after being in the sun all day.  EMS personnel who took part in the event included Chief James Laidlaw, Captain Kyle Starr, Paramedic Rhonda Grainger, EMT/B Michele Laidlaw, EMT/B Angie Eppinger, EMT/F Floyd Peterson and EMT Student Nancy Underwood.  Several friends of our personnel also joined us and walked for our team.  Thanks to everyone for coming out to support a great cause!

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July 25, 2007 - Parade: Every year, our community holds a parade that coincides with Lewis and Clark Days.  This year, you can look for us to put a large portion of our fleet in the parade.  Included will be A-1, A-2, A-4 and Command-1.  We hope to see lining the parade route!

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Randy Eppinger (aka The Singing Deputy), husband of EMT/B Angie Eppinger, sings at Lewis and Clark Days. K. Starr Photo

July 25, 2007 - GCEMS to be Active at Lewis and Clark Days:  The annual Lewis and Clark days festival that is held each year in Cut Bank is one of our larger annual events.  GCEMS is always eager to be a presence at the event.  This year, we will once again be at the event.  We will have a bike medic detail patrolling the event and available for quick response should a medical emergency arise.  Our booth, which will be located at the southeast end of the park, will be available for first aid and will be serving free refreshments.  As always, our ambulances and crews will be available so that people can ask questions, visit and see our vehicles and equipment.  Safety literature will be available as well.  With the heat that the community has been experiencing this summer, we will be keeping a sharp lookout for people showing signs of heat exhaustion.  GCEMS also has a team that will be participating in the Relay for Life that night to support cancer research and treatment.  Come see us at Lewis and Clark Days!

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July 20, 2007 - Station 2 Construction Update:    The problems that have been holding up the start of construction on the new station 2 have been resolved and construction is set to begin soon.  The framing materials, exterior materials and roofing have arrived and are ready to be constructed when the concrete slab is poured and ready.  The delay will have an effect on the timeline of the project, but we are confident that we will have the exterior work complete by the time the weather begins to turn this fall.  Check back often for updates and construction photos.

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July 17, 2007 - Now Hiring:     Glacier County EMS is currently seeking a full-time paramedic.  Approval has been granted to fill the vacant paramedic position within the department.  We have been utilizing part-time and PRN paramedics to fill openings on the schedule, but it is sometimes difficult to cover all the shifts since most of our part-time medics have other jobs and commitments that limit their availability.  In addition to helping cover open shifts, the addition of another FT paramedic will allow the chief to focus more on administrative duties, where lately he has been pulling shifts on a truck.  Anyone interested in applying should contact Chief James Laidlaw at 406-873-2722 for information.  Check out our employment page for information on benefits and how to apply.

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July 8, 2007 - The Year in Review:    Here is a quick rundown from the last fiscal year:

Total calls for fiscal year:  708

Busiest month:  March – 78 calls

Slowest month:  August – 47 calls

Transfers from NRMC:  209

Transfers from IHS:  83

Transfer from others:  55

911 and other calls:  361

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July 8, 2007 - Stockpile to be Established:    In order to allow our department to better function in the event of another large incident, we are taking steps this fiscal year to allow our personnel to be self-sufficient in the event of a major response.  We will be establishing a cache of MRE-like food rations and drinking water to allow us to function for a minimum of 3 days before requiring food or water from outside sources.  During major incidents, such as a forest fire, it can take several days for the logistics to be set up to support responders, this will allow us to function fully during this period.  GCEMS in conjunction with the Glacier County Sheriff's Office, is looking to purchase a trailer that can be stocked with the food and water reserves and be ready to respond on short notice to an incident.

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July 1, 2007 - Record Year For Call Volume:    A very busy week right before the start of the 2007 county fiscal year allowed GCEMS to set an all-time record high for call volume.  The final tally for fiscal year 2006 was 708 calls, beating the previous record of 702 calls set in 2002.  This record-setting year came at a time in which we are operating with less personnel than previous years, but everyone pulled together and got the job done.  In this age where call volumes all around the country are increasing annually, GCEMS is looking ahead to ensure that we will be able to meet the needs of our community.

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June 22nd, 2007 - GCEMS Expanding Capabilities:    As we begin the new fiscal year July 1st, we will be purchasing some items that will enhance our ability to serve the community in new ways.  In the past, we have had to rely on Glacier County Search and Rescue (GCSAR) for assistance in high-angle situations.  Due to a small membership, and many of them already working for our department and committed to incidents on the EMS side, we have had to get by with little or no help from the SAR unit.  Since many of our members have firefighting or SAR backgrounds and have worked with ropes and rigging before, it was decided to add high-angle and technical rescue to our capabilities.  We will be purchasing technical rescue equipment and sending as many of our personnel as possible to training in it's use.  We will still activate the SAR unit if any technical rescue is required, though having the equipment and training within our department will allow us to access the patient and start care faster.  The specialty equipment will be carried in Special Ops-1 so it may be deployed quickly. 

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June 22nd, 2007 - Incident Command Training:    This weekend, Chief James Laidlaw and Training Officer Brian Williams attended a "train-the-trainer" Incident Command for Medical Personnel course in Billings, MT.  The course was offered by the State of Montana, and goes hand-in-hand with the NIMS training that all GCEMS personnel are required to complete.  By attending this course, they will be able to bring the information back to our department to teach all our personnel.

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June 22nd, 2007 - New Safety Program:    GCEMS is proud to announce a new public safety program.  The program, called "Safety Patrol", is aimed at the youth in our community.  Our local McDonald's has generously donated a supply of cards that are good for free food items.  When we see children playing safe, such as wearing a bike helmet or wearing knee and elbow pads when roller-blading, we will stop them and give them a McDonald's card.  We will also be giving out sections of reflective tape that children can put on their bicycles to increase visibility.  This is just another way in which GCEMS strives to keep our community safe.

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June 17, 2007 - Rescue Gear:  GCEMS has ordered several sets of extrication/rescue coveralls to evaluate.  In the past, the department has issued "bunker gear" for use during vehicle extrications, which is worn with a helmet, rescue gloves, and fire boots.  Many of our personnel dislike the bunker gear for various reason such as bulkiness, difficulty in storing it in their vehicle, discomfort in warm weather, etc.  The extrication/rescue coveralls offer greater flexibility, which is a plus when working on a patient inside a vehicle.  The coveralls are also easier to store, quicker to don, and do not require fire boots with them.  The greater freedom of movement will allow for their use during technical rescue operations as well.  Two units have been ordered, which will be evaluated in the field before placing a larger order for the entire department. 

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June 16, 2007 - GCEMS Welcomes New Staff: We are glad to welcome aboard first responder Lyle Rutherford, who will be EMS-43.  Lyle is enrolled in our current EMT/basic class, and will finishing the program in August.  Welcome aboard Lyle!

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June 16, 2007 - GCEMS Offers Classes Free of Charge:    In an effort to bring more new EMT's and first responders into our ranks, GCEMS is now offering classes free of charge.  Students may still be required to pay for books, but the tuition will be waived in exchange for one-year of service to the department upon completion of the class.  In the past, some prospective students have indicated concern for the cost of the classes, which can sometimes cost hundreds of dollars.  We hope that this will open up the classes to more people who would normally be unable to pay the tuition.  For more information on upcoming classes, see our training division page or contact Training Officer Brian Williams.

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June 8, 2007 - So long "mini-mods":  As we get closer to drawing up specs on our next ambulance, we have stated intentions that we will no longer be utilizing the mini-mod boxes on our type-3 ambulances from now on.  In the past, we have utilized mini-mods because they are slightly more fuel efficient, which made a difference to use with all the long-range inter-facility transports that we do.  The downside to mini-mods is that there is less room in the patient compartment, and our cabinet layout does not allow for a captains chair in the back.  Our new ambulances will have a full box with more room for patient care as well as more storage space.  Another big plus will be safety.  The small seat in the front of the patient compartment is very small and some of our personnel have to sit sideways in it.  Our future rigs will have a full captains chair, which will have lap and shoulder belts, making it safer for our staff in the back.  When it comes to fuel economy, the savings between a mini-mod and a full box have been found to be so little that it is not worth making a deciding factor.  The news was welcomed by GCEMS staff, who look forward to having a bigger space to work in.  The captains chair will also be far more comfortable for staff during our typical 1-2 hr transports.

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6/2/07 - GCEMS Continues to "Go Green":  In an on-going effort to make our station and operations more eco-friendly, we are pleased to announce that almost all of the incandescent light bulbs in our station have now been replaced with the new, energy-efficient CFL's (compact fluorescent light bulbs).  CFL's use up to 70% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.  There are seven large light assemblies in the main east bay, which used to have 200 watt bulbs in them.  Over time they were replaced with 100 watt bulbs to save energy.  When we found that they made CFL's with light output equivalent to 120 watts, we switched to the CFL bulbs.  The bay lights, which see a lot of use, would use 1400 watts when on.  Now they only use about 200 watts.  CFL's are now also in use in the medic office, bathroom and report desk.  In the near future, the shower lights will also be switched over.  Now that dimmable CFL's are available, the 3 lights in the training room may be switched out as well.  Not only do we save energy and reduce emissions, we also save the county and our citizens money on electrical bils.

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Chief Laidlaw (back row, 4th from right), Captain Starr (back row, 2nd from right) and EMT/B Angie Eppinger (back row, 1st from right).

6/2/07 - GCEMS Participates in Law Enforcement Torch Run 2007:  We were pleased to have the opportunity once again to lend our support to the Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics.  We put three vehicles in the procession, which went directly down main street (Hwy 2) on it's way to Great Falls.  Command-1, A-2 and Special Ops-1 joined the procession.  GCEMS members who participated were Chief James Laidlaw, Captain Kyle Starr, and EMT/B Angie Eppinger.

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Station #2 personnel and their families enjoy their EMS Week cookout May 26th.

Chief Laidlaw and his wife, Michele, enjoy the cookout at station #2.

6/1/07 - GCEMS Recognizes Staff With EMS Week Cookouts:  With the arrival of National EMS Week, Glacier County EMS took the opportunity to recognize the hard work of it's personnel with it's annual awards banquet and cookout.  On Saturday, May 26th, Chief Laidlaw spent the afternoon at station #2 where he grilled steaks and hot dogs for the station #2 personnel.  Several awards were given to station #2 personnel at the cookout.  See our awards page for details.  The station #1 banquet was held that evening, with steaks being the main course.  All GCEMS personnel received t-shirts, water bottles, lapel pins, and other items to celebrate EMS Week 2007.  For the 2nd year in a row, an EMS trivia game was held.  The winners got to pick an item out of a prize box.  The annual awards banquet is a long-standing tradition at GCEMS, and our staff looks forward to them every year. 

"Can Man"

5/14/07 - "Can Man" Helps Stock Local Food Pantry:  GCEMS was proud to participate in the annual can drive for the local food pantry.  A competition was held this year to see who could come up with the most creative display utilizing the cans and items they had gathered for donation.  Chief Laidlaw, Captain Starr, and EMT/B Angie Eppinger donated enough items to make a "can man" which was displayed on the cot as if it were a patient.  The food items will go towards feeding families in need in our area.  Thank you to everyone who donated items and helped with the display.

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5/27/07 - GCEMS Salutes our Current and Former Armed Service Members:  Thank you to all the men and women in uniform, both past and present.  Our country would be a far different place if it weren't for your sacrifice and service.  We salute you all and thank you for your service.

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5/26/07 - EMT/B Angie Eppinger to Attend Paramedic School:  GCEMS is proud to announce that EMT/B Angie Eppinger has enrolled in the paramedic program through Great Falls College, slated to begin this fall.  We are sad to be seeing her cutting back her hours here, but are glad to see her advancing her career in emergency medicine.  Good luck Angie!

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EMT/Basics Sherrie Murphy and Angie Eppinger

5/26/07 - Mother / Daughter Team at GCEMS:    When EMT/B Sherrie Murphy joined GCEMS as a paid-on-call member, it was a special day for one of our EMT's.  Sherrie's daughter, EMT/B Angie Eppinger, has served on the department for about one year now, and will now have the opportunity to work side-by-side with her mother. 

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5/26/07 - Paramedic Williams Completes CCEMT/P:    We are pleased to announce that Paramedic and Training Officer Brian Williams has successfully completed a Montana Critical Care Paramedic course in Kalispell, MT.  The course, similar to the UMBC CCEMT/P course, builds upon the basic paramedic curriculum and goes into more advanced skills such as blood administration, advanced pharmacology, intra-aortic balloon pumps, flight physiology, and special transport considerations.  The course is aimed at building skills required for transporting especially critical patients.  Congratulations Brian!

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5/15/07 - All of Our Full-Time Paramedics Now Critical Care Certified:    We are proud to announce that with Paramedic Brian Williams passing his critical care paramedic course, all of our department's full-time paramedics, and two of our part-time paramedics are now critical care paramedics.  This is no small feat, especially for a smaller department, and all our staff is to be commended for their hard work and commitment to furthering their training.  Having multiple critical care paramedics on staff means that we can more readily provide the specialty inter-facility transports that patients in critical condition require.  Before, a critical care paramedic may have be to called in on their day off to take a specialty transport.  Now we are fortunate to have one already on duty and ready to respond readily almost every day.

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5/14/07 - EMT Class to Begin May 29th:     GCEMS is planning on starting an EMT/Basic class for anyone interested.  The class will be taught at GCEMS station #1 and is being taught by GCEMS Training Officer Brian Williams.  For information, see our training division page for further details regarding the class.

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5/7/07 - Promotions:    Glacier County EMS is proud to announce two promotions.  Critical Care Paramedic Kyle Starr (EMS-27) was promoted to Captain on May 7th, 2007.  He has served in an acting officer capacity for approximately 9 months prior to the promotion.  Kyle is a full-time Critical Care Paramedic at station #1 and will be responsible for overseeing daily operations and personnel.  Kyle also moves up to OIC (officer-in-charge) and oversees the operation of the department as a whole when the chief is unavailable.

Station #2 EMT/B Sam Meineke was promoted to Captain on May 7th, 2007.  Sam has worked closely with Chief of Department James Laidlaw in recent months to improve many aspects of operations at station #2, and has carried out those tasks well.  Sam is a paid-on-call EMT/B at station #2 and will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations and personnel at station #2.  

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Department Flags Lowered to Half-Staff:    In honor of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, and in compliance with presidential order, all department flags will be flown at half-mast until sunset on April 22nd in honor of the victims.  Our hearts go out to the friends and families of the victims, and to the responders who had to respond to the incident.

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First Responder Class to Start in May – The Glacier County EMS Training Division is planning a first responder class for May.  The class will be taught over 2 ½ weekends.  Class days are 5/5, 5/6, 5/12, 5/13 and 5/19.  In addition to the basic curriculum, the ambulance endorsement will also be included, allowing them to work on an ambulance in the State of Montana.  If students sign an educational contract with GCEMS, they will not be charged for the class if they offer 1 year of service as a paid-on-call member of the department.  Students who successfully complete the program and come work for GCEMS will be expected to enroll in the next in-house EMT-basic course.   For information, call 406-873-2722.   

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EMS Week Quickly Approaching – EMS Week this year is May 20-26.  This is a time for EMS departments to open up to the public and let people know who we are and what we do.  It is also a time for departments to show their appreciation to their employees and recognize their service.  Look for an EMS Week 2007 section of our website soon with a schedule of events. 

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GCEMS Rank Restructuring – GCEMS has created two new positions to be implemented soon.  Presently, the chief oversees the department, with an OIC (officer-in-charge) being 2^nd in command and assisting in many areas.  Having two stations presents challenges in the areas of oversight and a chain-of-command.  Soon, station 1 in Cut Bank will have a paid captain position and station 2 will have a paid-on-call captain.  With an increasing call load, the chief has found himself often riding a truck, which is great for keeping skills sharp but is a detriment to his administrative duties.  Creating a mid-level management position allows him to delegate more of his responsibilities, freeing him up more for his high-level management duties.  Look for an announcement regarding the new captains in the near future.

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GCEMS Changing Vehicle Call Signs – Beginning in May, GCEMS will be changing some of our radio call signs.  In order to further recognize our department as an ALS-level service, we are incorporating “Medic” into the call sign.  As an example, “A-2” would be called “Medic 2”, etc.  In addition, several of our personnel are having their radio numbers changed to simplify radio traffic.  The chief will change his call number from EMS 9 to EMS 1.  The captain will hold the call sign EMS 2.  We are also looking at possible changes that designate station 2 personnel as such. 

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GCEMS Expands Safety Program – In order to enhance the safety of our personnel as well as the public, GCEMS is taking more steps in its safety program.  A safety manual that is written specifically for GCEMS has been published and is located at the report desk at station 1 where everyone may view it.  Another is being published for use at station 2.  All personnel are required to review the manual, and know where to find it should they wish to reference it further.  Also, a driver training program has been developed to test and sharpen our personnel’s abilities to perform common ambulance maneuvers such as backing, obstacle avoidance, and emergency driving.  Each newsletter features a “Safety Corner” section with safety news and information for GCEMS staff.  In addition to these steps, Safety Officer Kyle Starr performs regular safety “walk-arounds” of the station and the vehicles always alert to anything that might pose a safety hazard to our personnel or the public.  We are always pushing safety in our education programs, and it is important that we be good role models.

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New Station 2 to be Built – Glacier County Commissioners have approved bids for construction of a new GCEMS station 2 to be built in Babb.  At present, A-4 and A-6 have been operating out of the Babb Fire Department’s station due to the conditions in the EMS station.  The new station will feature a dorm for 2, kitchen, day room, shower facilities, an office, a decon/laundry room and a two-vehicle bay.  The station will be a metal frame and exterior structure built on a concrete slab foundation.  While normally a paid-on-call station, the new facility is being built with living quarters to accommodate two personnel, as GCEMS plans to rotate crews from station 1 to station 2 during the busy tourist seasons in order to offer ALS coverage as much as possible.  The new facility will be built on the site of the old station, and our two BLS units in Babb will continue to be housed at the fire department until construction is complete.  Construction is expected to begin this spring, look for the floor plans to be posted on our site in the near future.

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Fleet Changes – A new ambulance has been purchased and will be placed into service at station 2.  Station 2, which is located only miles from the east entrance to Glacier National Park, sees significantly more snow than station 1 does, warranting a 4x4 ambulance.  While not brand-new, a low-mileage used ambulance was purchased and will be picked up April 19^th.  The new ambulance should be outfitted and placed in-service by May 1^st.  As a result of this new addition to station 2’s fleet, A-4, which is a 1999 Chevy type 2 4x4 ambulance, will be moved to station 1.  Station 1 is looking forward to having A-4 in-house, as the truck it will be replacing is a 1980 type 3 that has seen heavy use over the years.  Station 1 will now have a reliable 4x4 with which to respond should the weather render the use of our other ambulances difficult.  The new ambulance will be given the designation of A-5, and will be the first-out ambulance from station 2.

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February 6, 2007, GCEMS Mourns Mercy Flight Crew - We at Glacier County EMS wish to express our deepest sympathy upon learning of the loss of a Benefis Mercy Flight crew that perished Tuesday night when their dual-engine aircraft went down 15 miles from Gallatin Field. Killed in the accident were Pilot Vince Kirol, Registered Nurse and EMT-Basic Darcey Dengle and Paramedic Paul Erickson. To honor our fallen EMS brothers and sisters, Chief Laidlaw has ordered department flags to fly at half-mast until after the memorial services have been held for all crew members. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families, coworkers, and friends of the three crewmembers.

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