DeSoto EMS is located in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana in the northwest corner of the state. It has a population of 25,494 and encompasses an area totaling 877 square miles. Its western border consists of the Sabine River and northern part of Toledo Bend Reservoir.
2000 - A need for a parish-owned ambulance service was recognized, and a proposal was formed
and brought before the voters of DeSoto Parish and a four percent millage tax was
passed.
2001- On Friday, August 31, 2001, at 0700hrs., DeSoto Parish EMS began operations with two
ALS medic units being based at DeSoto Regional's former x-ray department. At 0745hrs.,
DeSoto EMS made its first 911 call. On September 2nd at 0015hrs., Medic 1 was put
into service after a "loaner truck" that was being used - broke down. On September
10th., Medic 2 was put in service replacing the final loaner truck. December - crew
quarters were moved to a house on Forest Avenue.
2002- January 15 - Medic 3 was brought online - making it the third 24-hour staffed ALS
medic unit in DeSoto Parish. It was stationed in Stonewall at DeSoto Fire District 3
Central Station. On this same day, Medic 1 was moved to Logansport where it was
housed at DeSoto Fire District 1 - giving DeSoto Parish residents an ambulance within
fifteen minutes maximum response time anywhere within the parish. Before, it could
take up to an hour in some instances for response. Medic 2 was moved from Forest to
DeSoto Fire District 8.
March - Medic 2 was moved to a building in downtown Mansfield at the corner of
Franklin and Monroe Streets.
May - EMS Dispatch was put into operation - employing four full-time dispatchers
working 12-hour shifts.
June 4th - Joe Magee, NREMT-P became Administrator replacing Chief Don
McMullen of Caddo District 3 who served as "start-up" administrator.
July - Joseph Farquhar, MD replaces Charles Black, MD as medical director.
2003- December 24th - Tragedy strikes DeSoto EMS; Part-time employee FF/Paramedic Shane
Brown was killed while responding to an EMS call early in the morning while working
for DeSoto Fire District 8.
2004- March - Medic 4 comes on-line, becoming the fourth ALS medic unit serving the citizens
of DeSoto Parish.
April - Medic 5 placed into service, giving DPEMS four frontline trucks and one reserve.
December - Medic 2 station was relocated to 208 Gibbs Street.
2005- June - Jane Manning was hired becoming DeSoto EMS's first Office Manager - creating
a business office at the Gibbs Street location.
August - 29 DPEMS takes part in hurricane Katrina rescue efforts, with many
employees taking part of the recovery efforts through December.
2006- January - Jamee Carter becomes first to graduate a DeSoto EMS Paramedic class and
get her Paramedic. DPEMS adopts first shoulder patch (designed by EMS Supervisor
Lane Johnson).
February - Melissa Jones becomes second to graduate a DeSoto EMS Paramedic class
and get her Paramedic.
March - DPEMS launches its web site.
April 1st - Tragedy strikes DeSoto EMS again; full-time employee EMT Joe Prock was
brutally murdered during a home invasion of his mother's house.
June 1st - Medic 1 moves out of DeSoto Fire District 1 and into a new station located at
1204 Gum Street in Logansport.
July 6 - The original Medic 2 was replaced as a frontline unit and placed into
reserves. A 2006 Chevy 4500 remount was placed into service as the new Medic 2
giving DPEMS four frontline trucks and two reserves.
August 31 - DPEMS celebrates five years of providing quality care to the citizens of
DeSoto Parish.
December 31 - DPEMS makes 3257 runs for the calendar year.
2007- September - A 2007 Chevy 4500 remount was placed into service as the new Medic 3.
December 31 - DPEMS sets a record with 3747 runs for the calendar year with
January and April, 2007 tying for the most runs - 335.
History of The "Star Of Life"
|
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration registered the
"Star of Life"
symbol as an EMS trademark in 1977.
According to early documents, the "Star of Life" was to be used on emergency medical care vehicles to certify that they met U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) standards, to identify medical equipment and supplies for installation and use on those vehicles, by emergency care personnel to certify they were trained to meet US DOT standards, by administrators, supervisor or dispatchers of EMS services, on road maps and signs to indicate the location of or access to qualified emergency care services, and on printed materials with direct EMS application. Other uses were prohibited. Lettering was not to be superimposed on the "Star of Life." The "Star of Life" consists of a six-barred cross, printed in blue on a white background, if the article is in color. The "Star" represents the six primary system functions of EMS: (1) detection of the incident, (2) reporting of the incident, (3) response to the incident, (4) on scene patient care, (5) patient care in transit, and (6) transfer to definitive care. In the center of the "Star" is the staff of Asclepius, a son of Apollo, who in Greek mythology learned the art of healing from a centaur. Coiled around the staff is a curative serpent. In ancient Greece, worshippers used to sleep in Asclepius' temples in the belief that he cured the sick during their dreams. |
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