In June, 1986, our community became aware of a need for an emergency unit made up of people trained in basic emergency medical procedures to provide assistance to area residents until an ambulance could arrive.
Wayne Christy, Joe Moore and Tom Watkins were instrumental in promoting the idea that was accepted by the 14 first trainees.
A cooperative effort by the Wayne County Hospital, the Humeston Fire Dept. and Indian Hills Community College began with a 40-hour intensive training class led by Sandy Nash, R.N.
On Oct. 19, 1986 certification for each volunteer was issued by the Iowa Department of Health after successfully passing exams at IHCC.
Certified as First Responders were Janell Boor, Ellen Danner, Joan Langloss, Doug Moore, Joe Moore, Nancy Moore, Richard Tait, Trudy Tait, Linda Watkins, Tom Watkins, Ted Williams and Keith Wishmeyer.
Butch and Susie Gibbs, already certified Emergency Medical Technicians, also became part of the team. (The Gibbs are now the only remaining members of the original group.)
Area residents and organizations were also inspired with the new program and were very generous in their financial support for equipment and educational needs to put the program in action.
The Humeston Fire Department must also be recognized as instrumental in the success of the First Responders.
In the beginning, they allowed the use of their equipment truck until the First Responders were able to purchase their own van. The firemen helped put that van in top mechanical shape, re-painting it and helping to equip it with emergency lights and radios. They shared their building, fire equipment and radios with the First Responders, plus assisted at all accident scenes with traffic control, lights, rescue and any other assistance requested.
Today our First Responders unit consists of 11 dedicated members and they have a newer van, purchased with donations.
