West Liberty is getting an upgrade in emergency health care.
West Liberty Fire Chief Kirt Sickles announced this week the department’s Fire and EMS services has been upgraded to Advanced Life Support (ALS) status, now able to offer paramedic service to emergency health victims.
Sickles, reaching out to the public “in these crazy times of COVID-19,” encouraged residents in the communities of the West Liberty School District to “stay safe and take all the needed precautions” to keep residents healthy.
“Remember, it’s so important to wash your hands and clean surfaces and wear a mask,” he said. “One day in the near future this craziness will be behind us and we can resume some sort of normalcy.”
The chief pointed out that “until it is over we are here to help,” noting if residents don’t feel well. don’t go out. “If you think you have symptoms get tested or contact your doctor,” he added.
He said the volunteers on the department have “been incredibly busy this year on the ambulance side of the house!”
Sickles pointed out that providing an ambulance is not considered an essential service. “Which means when you dial 911 we don’t have to respond. We get no monies for providing an ambulance service.”
On the other hand, the chief said the Fire Service is considered essential and the department does get tax funds to provide the service.
“We really need the state to fix this and make both services, Ambulance and Fire, an essential service, encouraging residents to to talk with state legislators.
“Please tell them the ambulance service needs to be an essential service in the state of Iowa,” Sickles said. “We need to reach out and make noise about this now as it is desperately needed in communities everywhere. In fact some communities do not have any service and rely on other departments to provide the service. “
He said the West Liberty Fire & EMS Departments has worked “tirelessly to try and improve our services over the past few years” as call volume has increased significantly.
“We are very fortunate that we have a very talented and dedicated staff that have been responding, helping us all keep safe.” The chief said the Paramedic ALS Service is available Monday thru Friday 24 hours a day while the weekends are covered by volunteers.
“This is really a great deal for the community. Our service and how we have creatively operated has been used as an example for other services across the state,” Sickle said noting the community has “much to be proud of.” He said West Liberty is fortunate to provide such a high level of service with dedicated staff.
“We have had to be a bit creative, but it has worked out fine and again we are very fortunate to have this elevated ALS service coverage.
The Ambulance Staff that helps us serve our community every day includes a great group of dedicated members. “They continue to serve this community throughout this pandemic with the greatest of courage putting themselves at risk because they believe in this community and simply want to help those in need,” Sickles said, noting he is extremely proud of his team, calling them “true heroes responding to every call no matter the circumstance,” through the pandemic and through any and every emergency! The chief pointed out everyone on the list is CPR Certified.
“If you happen to bump into one of these individuals please tell them thanks!" the chief said. The list includes:
Bret Carlson – Paramedic - ALS
Dillon Christensen – Driver
Eric Christensen – EMT - BLS
Tom Christensen – EMT – Assistant Chief Fire & EMS
Maria Cruz Ambriz – Driver
John Duytschaver – Driver
Kathleen Esmoil – EMT - BLS
Brian Flake – Advanced EMT – ALS – Fire Captain
Janelle Geiger – Paramedic – ALS
Brain Grassi – Advanced EMT – ALS
Kurt Heckman – EMT - BLS
Sandra Heick – Paramedic – ALS – Lead Medical Officer WLFD
Carlos Jacques - Driver - Trustee
Travis Kaalberg – EMT - BLS
Clayton Karr – EMT - BLS
Blaine Kelly – EMT – BLS
David Lechuga – Driver
Andy Lopez – EMT - BLS
Tonya Lopez-Vileta – Driver
Omar Martinez – Driver
Grace Millage – Paramedic – ALS
Larry Miller – EMT - BLS
Ken Morrison – EMT – BLS
Zach Newcomb – Driver - Trustee
Mario Ortiz – Driver
Bill Pace – EMT - BLS
Keith Penrod – EMT - BLS
Daniel Powers – Paramedic – ALS
Robert Rock – Paramedic - ALS
Katrina Rogers – EMT - BLS
Brian Schafer – Driver - Trustee
Kirt Sickels – Advanced EMT – ALS – Chief Fire & EMS
Mindy Sickels Sterbenz – EMT – BLS - Secretary/Treasurer
Joshua Snetzler – Paramedic – ALS
Matt Tracy – Paramedic – ALS
Jonathon Weiland – Paramedic - ALS
Tamara Wigim – Paramedic – ALS