Labette Health Assists Joplin Tornado Victims

PARSONS, Kan., May 24, 2011– Labette Health Emergency Medical Services personnel were among the early responders after a tornado swept through Joplin, Mo.,Sunday night. EMS Chief Chris Way said that Labette EMS responded to a mutual aid request for ambulances and command staff immediately after the tornado hit. Two ambulances and two supervisors worked in Joplin until Tuesday afternoon, and three rescue technicians, part of the Southeast Kansas Task Force, worked there until late Tuesday night.

Way noted that because of the threat of bad weather, Labette Health EMS had four staffed ambulances on duty in Labette County Sunday night and additional personnel on call, so sending two units to Joplin did not leave county residents without ambulance coverage.

Six tornado victims were treated in Labette Health's Emergency Department Sunday night. By Monday afternoon, the number had grown to 24, and more were expected. Fourteen patients were admitted after treatment, nine were treated and discharged, and one was transferred to another facility.

Labette Health Emergency Services Chief Chris Way, center, congratulates Paramedic of the Year Korey Lucian, left, and Emergency Medical Technician of the Year Brandon Howard. Lucian and Howard were honored May 20 during a National EMS Week luncheon provided by the Parsons Elks Lodge.

Labette Health EMS is a county-wide Advanced Life Support (ALS) transport EMS system serving all of Labette County and portions of Neosho and Cherokee Counties in Kansas and Craig County, Okla. Labette Health EMS responds to approximately 3,500 requests for service annually with calls ranging from medical emergencies and trauma calls to significant rescue situations and disasters like the Joplin tornado.

Labette Health has operated the county’s EMS service since 1996. EMS Stations are located at the hospital in Parsons and in Oswego.