Newsroom > DHHS News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2008

CONTACT
Marla Augustine, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047 or marla.augustine@dhhs.ne.gov

North Central Emergency Medical Services Region

Lincoln— Last year, ambulances in Nebraska responded to 97,866 calls, an 11 percent increase over the previous year, according to information collected from the Nebraska Ambulance and Rescue Service Information System by the Department of Health and Human Services. There currently are 438 ambulance services and rescue squads serving Nebraska.

Ambulances in north central Nebraska made 10,666 emergency runs last year, according to Carol Jorgensen, DHHS emergency medical services specialist for the North Central region.

"It was a busy year for the services in our region," Jorgensen said.

The North Central Emergency Medical Services Region is composed of Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Garfield, Greeley, Hall, Holt, Howard, Keya Paha, Loup, Rock, Sherman, Valley and Wheeler counties.

The region has 47 basic transport services, seven basic non-transport services and nine advanced transport services, as well as 735 emergency medical technicians and 58 paramedics, Jorgensen said.

To recognize emergency medical services providers, Governor Dave Heineman has proclaimed the week of May 18^th through May 24^th as Emergency Medical Services Week in Nebraska. Emergency Medical Services for Children Day is Wednesday, May 21^st.

"Emergency medical service providers help ensure that all Nebraskans have timely access to medical services," Governor Dave Heineman said. "These Nebraskans use their knowledge to help other Nebraskans every day. Emergency Medical Services Week presents an opportunity to recognize them for their devotion and efforts, and carry on that recognition throughout the year."

Northeast Emergency Medical Services Region

Lincoln—Last year, ambulances in Nebraska responded to 97,866 calls, an 11 percent increase over the previous year, according to information collected from the Nebraska Ambulance and Rescue Service Information System by the Department of Health and Human Services. There currently are 438 ambulance services and rescue squads serving Nebraska.

Ambulances in northeast Nebraska made 18,710 emergency runs last year, according to Jason Olesen, DHHS emergency medical services specialist for the Northeast region.

"It was a busy year for the services in our region," Olesen said.

The Northeast Emergency Medical Services Region is composed of Antelope, Boone, Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Platte, Stanton, Thurston, Washington and Wayne counties.

The region has 70 basic transport services, four basic non-transport services and 19 advanced transport services, as well as 1,151 emergency medical technicians and 133 paramedics, Olesen said.

To recognize emergency medical services providers, Governor Dave Heineman has proclaimed the week of May 18^th through May 24^th as Emergency Medical Services Week in Nebraska. Emergency Medical Services for Children Day is Wednesday, May 21^st.

"Emergency medical service providers help ensure that all Nebraskans have timely access to medical services," Governor Dave Heineman said. "These Nebraskans use their knowledge to help other Nebraskans every day. Emergency Medical Services Week presents an opportunity to recognize them for their devotion and efforts, and carry on that recognition throughout the year."

Panhandle Emergency Medical Services Region

Lincoln—Last year, ambulances in Nebraska responded to 97,866 calls, an 11 percent increase over the previous year, according to information collected from the Nebraska Ambulance and Rescue Service Information System by the Department of Health and Human Services. There currently are 438 ambulance services and rescue squads serving Nebraska.

Ambulances in the Panhandle of Nebraska made 7,920 emergency runs last year, according to L. D. "Wally" Wallace, DHHS emergency medical services specialist for the Panhandle region.

"It was a busy year for the services in our region," Wallace said.

The Panhandle Emergency Medical Services Region is composed of Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Sioux counties.

The region has 19 basic transport services, three basic non-transport services and nine advanced transport services, as well as 357 emergency medical technicians and 48 paramedics, Wallace said.

To recognize emergency medical services providers, Governor Dave Heineman has proclaimed the week of May 18^th through May 24^th as Emergency Medical Services Week in Nebraska. Emergency Medical Services for Children Day is Wednesday, May 21^st.

"Emergency medical service providers help ensure that all Nebraskans have timely access to medical services," Governor Dave Heineman said. "These Nebraskans use their knowledge to help other Nebraskans every day. Emergency Medical Services Week presents an opportunity to recognize them for their devotion and efforts, and carry on that recognition throughout the year."

South Central Emergency Medical Services Region

Lincoln— Last year, ambulances in Nebraska responded to 97,866 calls, an 11 percent increase over the previous year, according to information collected from the Nebraska Ambulance and Rescue Service Information System by the Department of Health and Human Services. There currently are 438 ambulance services and rescue squads serving Nebraska.

Ambulances in south central Nebraska made 9,323 emergency runs last year, according to Julie Smithson, DHHS emergency medical services specialist for the South Central region.

"It was a busy year for the services in our region," Smithson said.

The South Central Emergency Medical Services Region is composed of Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Furnas, Gosper, Hamilton, Harlan, Kearney, Merrick, Nance, Nuckolls, Phelps, Polk, Thayer, Webster and York counties.

The region has 55 basic transport services, 19 basic non-transport services and eight advanced transport services, as well as 830 emergency medical technicians and 44 paramedics, Smithson said.

To recognize emergency medical services providers, Governor Dave Heineman has proclaimed the week of May 18^th through May 24^th as Emergency Medical Services Week in Nebraska. Emergency Medical Services for Children Day is Wednesday, May 21^st.

"Emergency medical service providers help ensure that all Nebraskans have timely access to medical services," Governor Dave Heineman said. "These Nebraskans use their knowledge to help other Nebraskans every day. Emergency Medical Services Week presents an opportunity to recognize them for their devotion and efforts, and carry on that recognition throughout the year."

Southeast Emergency Medical Services Region

Lincoln—Last year, ambulances in Nebraska responded to 97,866 calls, an 11 percent increase over the previous year, according to information collected from the Nebraska Ambulance and Rescue Service Information System by the Department of Health and Human Services. There currently are 438 ambulance services and rescue squads serving Nebraska.

Ambulances in southeastern Nebraska made 25,221 emergency runs last year, according to Doug Fuller, DHHS emergency medical services specialist for the Southeastern region.

"It was a busy year for the services in our region," Fuller said.

The Southeast Emergency Medical Services Region is composed of Butler, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Saunders and Seward counties.

The region has 66 basic transport services, 17 basic non-transport services, six advanced transport services and one advanced non-transport service, as well as 1,381 emergency medical technicians and 144 paramedics, Fuller said.

To recognize emergency medical services providers, Governor Dave Heineman has proclaimed the week of May 18^th through May 24^th as Emergency Medical Services Week in Nebraska. Emergency Medical Services for Children Day is Wednesday, May 21^st.

"Emergency medical service providers help ensure that all Nebraskans have timely access to medical services," Governor Dave Heineman said. "These Nebraskans use their knowledge to help other Nebraskans every day. Emergency Medical Services Week presents an opportunity to recognize them for their devotion and efforts, and carry on that recognition throughout the year."

Western Emergency Medical Services Region

Lincoln—Last year, ambulances in Nebraska responded to 97,866 calls, an 11 percent increase over the previous year, according to information collected from the Nebraska Ambulance and Rescue Service Information System by the Department of Health and Human Services. There currently are 438 ambulance services and rescue squads serving Nebraska.

Ambulances in western Nebraska made 5,014 emergency runs last year, according to Sharon Steele, DHHS emergency medical services specialist for the Western region.

"It was a busy year for the services in our region," Steele said.

The Western Emergency Medical Services Region is composed of Arthur, Chase, Cherry, Dundy, Frontier, Grant, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow and Thomas counties.

The region has 29 basic transport services, two basic non-transport services and six advanced transport services, as well as 459 emergency medical technicians and 58 paramedics, Steele said.

To recognize emergency medical services providers, Governor Dave Heineman has proclaimed the week of May 18^th through May 24^th as Emergency Medical Services Week in Nebraska. Emergency Medical Services for Children Day is Wednesday, May 21^st.

"Emergency medical service providers help ensure that all Nebraskans have timely access to medical services," Governor Dave Heineman said. "These Nebraskans use their knowledge to help other Nebraskans every day. Emergency Medical Services Week presents an opportunity to recognize them for their devotion and efforts, and carry on that recognition throughout the year."

NOTE: Please consider a photograph of the team members of your local ambulance service or rescue squad to recognize them for their efforts during Emergency Medical Services Week in Nebraska. The theme this year is: "EMS: Your Life is Our Mission."

NOTE: A public service announcement asking listeners to consider becoming emergency medical technicians, to pull over to accommodate ambulances, and to learn CPR is available at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/audio/