[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23409]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF NAPA'S PARAMEDIC 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2003

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the Napa City Paramedic Program as it celebrates its 25th anniversary 
of service to the community.
  In 1973 the standard level of care for emergency responders in Napa 
as in many communities throughout the nation, mirrored the advanced 
first aid training taught by the American Red Cross. Acknowledging a 
need for a higher standard of care, all Napa City Fire Department 
personnel were provided with EMT-1 training beginning in 1974. While 
this was seen as a positive first step, there was a recognized need for 
a full EMT/Paramedic Unit.
  In 1976 the Napa City Council submitted Ballot Measure C to voters to 
authorize a tax levy for paramedic services. Measure C was approved by 
a 2 to 1 margin in November 1976.
  The first four firefighters, Don Barstad, Steve Butter, Bob Putney 
and Kim Suenram received their paramedic training through Stanford 
University and graduated in 1978. The five other firefighters to 
receive their training in that inaugural season were Dave Mellow, Skip 
Rains, Jon Treebotich, Joe Baez and Tony Balsa, who were schooled in 
Southern California.
  As the call volume increased, so did the need for another paramedic 
unit. In 1992, the department decided that the most effective way to 
deliver paramedic services was by attaching them to engine companies 
rather than as a stand-alone unit. In 1994 three paramedic engine 
companies where put into service. In July 2003, the city's paramedic 
capability increased with the addition of a fourth paramedic engine. 
The new fire station for Engine Company 4 will open in January 2004.
  Mr. Speaker, in a city of 74,000 people where more than 60 percent of 
the emergency calls require paramedic intervention, the Napa City 
Paramedic Program provides an invaluable service to our community. It 
is therefore appropriate that these men and women be honored and 
acknowledged for their commitment to the well being of the citizens of 
Napa, California.

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