Jeff Stephens, public information officer and EMT for the Nucla-Naturita Fire Department, told the Forum last week additional EMTs are now needed. There are 21 now working for EMS in the West End — including the ambulance drivers, EMTs and other first-responders — but the department is short on EMTs.
Now a date is in the works for an upcoming EMT class, which will include some online training and some live, in-person training. He said the main class will be run out of Mancos, with some of it streamed in a distance-learning format. Stephens will be teaching some hands-on portions.
Those who want to sign up and get on the list for the class should contact Stephens or paramedic Andrea Fox. Stephens would like to get 10-12 people in the class ideally.
Additionally, volunteers are needed for the Paradox Valley area. The Nucla-Naturita Fire Department now includes Paradox, and it’s a 30-minute haul for first-responders to get out that way. Having EMTs already living out there would be beneficial.
The Forum asked about calls for service these days, and Stephens reported they’re about the same. EMS is seeing in between 30 and 50 calls each month. Most frequent are calls for trouble breathing, and Stephens said that the majority of the calls are for those over the age of 60. He added summer seems to slow down a bit, but fall through spring are busier times for the department. According to him, EMS isn’t really seeing a lot of calls regarding drugs or overdose.
He said local EMS does transport to Montrose for most cases, since it is a bit shorter of a distance than going to Grand Junction.
Those in the community know that when not dispatched for a call, local EMS are on site in the event they’re needed. They stand by for high school ball games, rodeo and gymkhana events, bicycle and motorcycle races that are held around town, events in Uravan that host runners, as well as other community events.
Other times, Stephens is charting, completing paperwork, checking equipment and making sure things are stocked.
“We stay busy,” he said.
Stephens is the only paid EMS worker at this time, and he’s been doing the work for the last 25 years. He’s always on call, though he admitted he did take a few days off in 2019 before COVID struck. The Forum asked if he’d “seen it all,” but he said he hadn’t — and that when one begins to think that way, life will show them there is indeed something more.
Just two weeks ago all three ambulances were deployed at the same time — and all before noon. Those calls were all health related.
Regarding equipment and technology, Stephens said local EMS is in pretty good shape right now. The new expansion at the fire house will help with storage and will house EMS equipment.
With questions or to sign up for the future EMT class, Stephens can be reached by email at nuclaemt417@gmail.com.
Currently on the fire department’s board of directors are Jeremy Quigley, Chris Quigley, Matt Weimer, Dick Starks and John Reams.
