Brookings Health System’s Ambulance service received the Career EMS Service Award at the 2024 South Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association (SDEMSA) conference in Spearfish, S.D., this fall. The honor celebrates Brookings Health’s Ambulance team for going above and beyond in their commitment to saving lives and improving healthcare.
White Volunteer Ambulance Service from White, S.D., nominated Brookings Health System Ambulance for the award which recognizes a prehospital care provider that is predominantly staffed by paid career staff.
“Located just 12 miles northeast of Brookings, White runs a volunteer basic life support (BLS) ambulance service,” said Tamara Byers of White Volunteer Ambulance Service in the nomination. “Being volunteer means there have been times when we were unable to cover our 911 calls due to lack of personnel. When this happens, the Brookings Ambulance Service has covered our area and provided much needed and timely care. Also, since we run only a BLS service, there are many times we have called upon them to assist us if we felt advanced life support (ALS) may be able to better treat our patients. During these calls, they not only assist us in giving the patient the best possible care, but also teach us by example with patience and knowledge.”
Brookings Ambulance Service began operations in 1974 with one vehicle, taking over the service from the local funeral homes. Today the ambulance service’s fleet includes four advanced life support vehicles, one mass casualty vehicle and a mobile first-aid trailer. The team of professional paramedics and EMTs average over 2,500 calls in a year, providing ALS services for the City of Brookings and much of Brookings County, including Aurora, Bruce, Bushnell, Sinai and Volga. In addition, Brookings Ambulance also assists Arlington, Clear Lake, Elkton, Estelline, White and Lake Preston with ALS calls when requested.
Area residents are invited to help Brookings Health System Foundation raise money on Tuesday, Dec. 3, the South Dakota Day of Giving, to purchase a new advance life support ambulance. The Foundation hopes to have 500 people give $20 each that day, with the first $10,000 given matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to the generosity of Lynn and Brian Darnall. To learn more and give, please visit brookingshealth.org/SDGives.
