New EMS director fulfills dream
Staff reporter
For Steve Smith, being Marion County Emergency Medical Services Director is an opportunity for him that's been a long time coming.
The Marion resident recently was hired by the county commission after applying previously two times for the position.
"It has been a dream of mine to be able to step up and do this in the EMS field," Smith said.
Since taking the training in 1994, and working as a volunteer on the Marion crew, he has wanted to work full-time at a medical profession. If this opportunity hadn't presented itself, Smith said he also considered going into the field of nursing.
Initially trained by former EMS director Joann Knak, he considers Knak his mentor and is relying on her expertise in training other volunteers.
Currently, Smith is trained as an EMT intermediate which allows him to administer IVs but no medicines. He is allowed to teach up to his qualifications but cannot teach EMT basics. Knak will assist in the training until Smith has been trained to teach those classes.
The former Centre USD 397 transportation director has found similarities in his current position and the transportation director.
EMS volunteers have to maintain their certifications through continued education and other training sessions.
"There are some similarities but the EMS department is more intense," he said.
Smith oversees 95 volunteers in the county. Only being on the job a week or two, he already has one of his goals being bringing together the volunteers of the various county crews.
"What the county firefighters have done is a prime example of groups working together," Smith said. "We need to get everybody on the same page, particularly in case of disaster."
He also would like to coordinate a water rescue class at Marion County Lake, and have an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) placed at the county lake.
Smith moved with his family to Marion in 1968 when his father purchased Wint's Service. He graduated from Marion High School in 1976, and worked at Marion Auto Supply for 18 years. He also worked in the USD 408 school system before the Centre position.
His wife, Stacie, works at Newton Medical Center.
