Guthrie EMS adds two paramedics; zero to eight in three years

The Guthrie Fire Department gained two additional Paramedics to their EMS staff last week with two firefighters passing their National Registry Paramedic certification.

Firefighters Sam Kohler and Justin McCaughey successfully passed their certification testing this past Friday. With the two additions, the fire department has gone from zero paramedics to eight in three years.

Paramedics are the highest skilled pre-hospital provider and provide treatment to patients that is on par with that of an emergency room. During a medical emergency, paramedics can provide various types of advanced life support care.

There are currently five levels of EMS licensure within Oklahoma; Emergency Medical Responder (1st Responder), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Intermediate EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic.

“This is a huge mark,” Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow said. “We will continue to provide the best in service to our citizens through the latest in lifesaving technology and training for our personnel.”

Now, the department can staff two of their three shifts with three paramedics on duty and the other shift with two. Two more GFD personnel are currently attending paramedic classes at EOC Tech Center in Choctaw, with graduation expected in September 2016.

Kohler joined the department in March of 2013 after serving several years as a volunteer firefighter with the Meridian VFD east of Guthrie. McCaughey joined the department in February of 2013 after serving with the Spencer Fire Department and the United States Marine Corps.