Emergency Medical Services

The Red Wing Fire Department provides advanced life support ambulance services for 450 square miles. The department’s service area ranges from the Prairie Island Community to surrounding townships. This includes the Wisconsin border and up and down the Mississippi River. The population of the service area is estimated at 23,000 people. There are 21 firefighters that operate the municipal ambulance service. Last year, paramedics answered 2,203 medical calls.

EMS History

The Red Wing Fire Department began offering emergency medical transports in May of 1907. The first motorized ambulance was added to the station in the 1920s. Firefighter Steve Rosner was assigned as the first ambulance driver.

Pre-hospital patient care was minimal. Until the 1960s, the ambulance drivers worked alone, receiving help from police officers with loading patients. Most often, the patient rode in the back without an attendant. Ambulance drivers were trained only in basic first aid. Equipment was limited to oxygen, bandages and wooden splints. Patient care was secondary to a rapid transport to the hospital.

In 1976, the Fire Department trained most of the firefighters to the level of Emergency Medical Technician, providing them with the training and equipment to better treat patients prior to arrival in an emergency room. More personnel were assigned to the ambulance ensuring that patient care continued en route to the hospital.

In 1995, 12 firefighters were enrolled in Paramedic Training, enabling the Fire Department to offer patients the highest level of care available in the pre-hospital setting. Currently there are 18 Nationally Registered Paramedics. With advanced training in cardiac, pediatric, and traumatic emergencies, paramedics have the skills and equipment to provide patient care that was, until a few years ago, only offered in emergency rooms.

All of Red Wing’s career firefighters are cross-trained which enables them to operate both as firefighters and ambulance personnel.

In addition to providing pre-hospital emergency care to the citizens of Red Wing, the department also provides ambulance service to surrounding townships, resulting in over 2,200 calls for medical service annually.

EMS Education

The following are courses and education that must be completed to become a Red Wing Fire Department EMS Technician:

  • EMT basic course- 120 hours
  • EMT intermediate course- additional 90 hours
  • EMT paramedic course- additional 1,200 hours

EMS Training and Continuing Education

Red Wing EMS personnel have both Minnesota and Wisconsin certifications. Annual training is required to maintain certification at all three levels. There is a minimum of 72 hours of continuing education every two years as well as practical evaluations on EMS skills by the City of Red Wing EMS Director.

2006 Fire and EMS Training Statistics

For more information on Emergency Medical Services, please contact:

Kevin Smith
EMS Training Specialist
kevin.smith@ci.red-wing.mn.us
651.385.3678

Important Links

Local CPR Certification information