History

Excerpt from the SDEMSA History Books

The forerunner of the South Dakota Emergency Medical Technician Association was known as the South Dakota Emergency Services Association.

During the later months of 1973, it was brought to the attention of Montie Horn, Deputy Civil Defense Director of Minnehaha County, and Gerald Kisecker, Sgt. of the Sioux Falls Police Department, that volunteer ambulance services were complaining about the reception and attitudes of other emergency services and hospitals towards them.

A general meeting was organized with invitations sent to hospital Emergency Room personnel, Police, Sheriffs, Highway Patrol, Wrecker-Towing Services, Fire, Rescue Personnel, and Ambulance Services. The purpose of this meeting was to exchange thoughts, ideas, and to bring forward differences.

Because of the success and goodwill created from the original meeting, it was decided that a meeting of this nature should be held each month.

In 1974, this group decided to form an association and took the name of the South Dakota Emergency Services Association. A Constitution and By-Laws were drawn up, and on August 22, 1974, they received their final reading and were accepted.

During this period, many ambulance services in the area became very active in the Association. People from Sioux Falls Ambulance Service, Vermillion/Clay County Service, Lennox Community Ambulance Service, Garretson Ambulance Service, and the State Health Department became intrigued with the accomplishments experienced through the meetings.

Acting officers were installed on September 26, 1974, to hold office until the first annual meeting. They were: Gerald Kisecker, President; James Shields, Vice President; Montie Horn, Secretary; and Norman Eide, Treasurer. At the meeting, it was also decided that membership dues would be $0.50 per month to handle the cost of mailings.

Because of the Association's success, it was suggested that expansion throughout the state should be considered. The statewide concept would allow all persons connected with Emergency Services to belong. Regions could be formed, monthly meetings could be held in each region, and one annual meeting would be held in Pierre each year. Each region would have members on the State Board, and the State Board would govern the regions.

On January 23, 1975, regular officers were elected to guide the South Dakota Emergency Services Association: President, Montie Horn; Vice President, Tom Sanborn; Secretary, Phyliss McMartin; Treasurer, Robert DeVries; one-year board members, James Shields and Jerry Kisecker; two-year board member, Harold Timmerman.

Ambulance rules and regulations were a hot topic during this time. Association members attended several regulatory hearings and Governor's Medical Care Council meetings.

In January 1976, Tom Sanborn became President of the South Dakota Emergency Services Association. The Association was registered with the South Dakota Secretary of State. Ambulance rules and regulations were being formulated to improve services and training with input from ambulance services.

In June 1976, Tom Sanborn and Tom Morgan set out to establish a State Association. They had heard that there was interest in the West River Region in forming such an organization and thought it advantageous to contact that group. Initially, both groups were hesitant, but they agreed to meet. Mrs. Lacroix was chosen from the West River group to meet with Mr. Sanborn, Mr. Vic Steffen, and Mr. Frank Krogman on neutral ground at Mr. Krogman's office on July 20, 1976.

During that meeting, it was agreed to hold a general assembly of both groups on August 13, 1976, with Noble Lacroix as chairman. In August 1976, approximately 190 EMTs met at the Kings’ Inn in Pierre to draw up a Constitution and Bylaws for the association, with Tom Sanborn and Tom Morgan presiding over the meeting. After much debate and discussion, areas were designated as Districts, and officers were elected for each district. Interim State Officers were also selected, with Mr. Steve Williams elected as Interim President, T.J. Sanborn as Interim Secretary, and Geraldine Heck as Interim Treasurer.

The first Interim Executive Council met in Mitchell at the Methodist Hospital Conference Room on October 9, 1976, with representatives from every district and all the State Officers present. Many topics were discussed at length, including setting a date for the first annual meeting. Huron was selected as the site, and it was decided to meet in January 1977 at the Marvin Hughitt Hotel. The first regular officers of the State EMT Association elected were Steve Williams, President; Wayne Everson, Vice President; Essie Marie Kirk, Secretary; and Geraldine Heck, Treasurer. A new State EMT Patch was selected, but only after much discussion and voting. The final outcome was a white patch with a yellow-gold border, black and red print, a blue star-of-life center, and the initials H.V.S. embroidered in the top right corner in memory of Mr. Steffen.

The second annual conference was held in Rapid City in January 1978. At this conference, EMTs elected a new slate of officers: T.J. Sanborn, President; Montie Horn, Vice President; Sam Rhoadarmer, Secretary; and Sam Kirkpatrick, Treasurer. Douglas Kirkus received the Vic Steffen Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to Emergency Medical Services that year. For the first time, South Dakota EMTs formally committed to supporting the State Department of Health in implementing and enforcing ambulance service rules and regulations.

The third annual conference was held in Mitchell in November 1978, during the season's first blizzard. Fittingly, the topic of hypothermia was introduced to South Dakota EMTs by Lt. Commander David S. Smith. Presentations on blunt trauma and burn care were also delivered. Ron Jorgenson of Madison received the Vic Steffen Award for his significant contributions to the field.

Throughout the years, much discussion revolved around creating and distributing a newsletter. The first issue, called the S.D.E.M.T. Association Newsletter, was published by Steve Williams and Wayne Everson. Later, Darrell Loecker of Lewis and Clark Health Education Center in Yankton took on the task for a year. However, the membership felt that not enough news was included, so the responsibility was brought back within the Association. Montie Horn and Chuck Bakker then rebranded the publication as "Empty Thoughts."

In 1979, the EMT Association became politically involved. EMTs participated in a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on rural health care in South Dakota, expressing their support for the 81-hour Dunlap Course as a requirement for ambulance attendants and drivers. The Association also testified before the State Sunset Health Rules Committee in support of the State Health Department's authority to establish rules and regulations.

The year 1979 marked the beginning of the South Dakota Emergency Technicians Association's emergence as a key advocate for the state's Emergency Medical Services program. It was also the year the Association began involvement with the National EMT Association.