The History of Waunakee Area EMS
Waunakee Area EMS is proud of our history and how we’ve continually grown, expanded and evolved to keep the communities we serve as safe, strong and healthy as possible.
1977
Village of Waunakee Board President Ann Helt, at a meeting pertaining to emergency medical services in Dane County, asked if the County would provide an ambulance for Waunakee if we could provide staff for this new district. The answer was yes. From there, Ann worked with Bob Brunning from the Dane County Emergency Board to create this EMS district. With the help of Marvin Anderson, Ann drew a map for the district which included Waunakee, Westport, Dane, Vienna and Springfield.
George Kolb, a Waunakee resident, was asked to help organize and develop the EMS. He obliged stating that someday “my wife may need emergency medical care during a complicated pregnancy and I want to do know to do if the need should arise.” George became the first EMS director.
1979
The EMS District was chartered with these signers from each community:
Ann Helt, Village of Waunakee
Lawrence Kalscheur, Village of Dane
Bernard Kennedy, Town of Westport
Robert Pulvermacher, Town of Vienna
Robert Lee, Town of Dane
Leonard Meier, Town of Springfield
1979-1980
Upon its founding, the WAEMS operated out of the Kobriger building on 808 South Division Street. Curtains between cots provided members with a place to sleep while on duty. Members later recalled sharing their accommodations – and their popcorn – with mice.
The first ambulance was a van furnished with very simple equipment needed to provide basic emergency services to patients.
1981
A new EMS building was dedicated on North Klein Drive. Dorm rooms with two beds each and a training room with a kitchenette provided comfort as well as a needed training area.
1990
Through community fundraising efforts, WAEMS’s first heart defibrillator units were purchased.
Late 1990s
WAEMS began our involvement in auto crash simulations, educating area high school students about the perils of drinking and driving.
2001-2002
WAEMS received the Robert L. Brunning Dane County Service of the Year Award and the Wisconsin Service of the Year Award. In addition, we piloted a state program: the electronic transmission of EKGs from the field to the hospital. The following year, our service became an IV-Tech service.
2008
For the second time, WAEMS received the Robert L. Brunning Dane County Service of the Year Award.
2011
As Waunakee grew, so did the WAEMS. In 2011, the EMS station was remodeled to update existing facilities and add space and then rededicated.
2013
WAEMS acquired a SimMan training mannequin and power stretchers.
2015-Present
In April 2015, we hired WAEMS’s first paid director. In January 2016, three paid full-time EMTs were added to the service. In June of 2020 we added three additional full-time employees to bring us to six “line” Medics and eight full-time employees total. Also in 2020, we increased our level of service to the paramedic level, the highest level of care available in a pre-hospital setting.