This past Friday was another reminder of just how fragile emergency medical services have become, not just for East Boise County EMS District, but for rural EMS agencies across Idaho. Throughout the day, East Boise County EMS District responded to emergency after emergency. Calls came in back-to-back, leaving our crew with little time to catch their breath before responding again. At one point, while RA-2 was still returning from a previous emergency, three additional emergency calls were dispatched one right after another.
The reality is that East Boise County EMS District only has enough staffing to keep one ambulance in service. When that ambulance is already committed to a call, there isn’t another fully staffed ambulance waiting in the station. There isn’t a backup crew sitting on standby. As those additional calls came in, our Chief immediately requested assistance. Without hesitation, our neighboring agencies answered the call.
We would like to sincerely thank the dedicated members of:
– Boise County Search & Rescue EMTs
– Wilderness Ranch QRU
– Clear Creek Fire Department
– Robie Creek Fire Department
Because of these partnerships, every patient received care. Every emergency was answered. Together, we made sure no one was left without help for the day. But this isn’t about one busy Friday. This is happening more and more. Running multiple calls at once is no longer rare. It is becoming part of everyday life for our agency and for many other rural EMS systems across Idaho. Despite these challenges, our crews continue running from call to call, providing the highest level of patient care possible. Every person who calls 911 deserves compassion, professionalism, and emergency medical care. That is exactly what our EMTs, firefighters, QRU members, and Search & Rescue personnel strive to provide every single day.
- We love serving this community.
- We want to be there for every call.
- We want every patient to receive the best care possible when they need us most.
Unfortunately, rural EMS systems across Idaho are reaching a critical point. East Boise County is not alone.
Our neighbors in Horseshoe Bend continue to face staffing challenges. Garden Valley EMS faces many of the same struggles. Rural ambulance agencies throughout Idaho are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers, hire personnel, and keep ambulances staffed. Difficulty finding ways to fund operations. At the same time, we continue to face rising costs for ambulances, medical equipment, medications, insurance, training, and everyday operational expenses. Rural EMS agencies are expected to provide the same high level of emergency care as large urban systems, but with significantly fewer financial resources. Many agencies are underfunded and are forced to stretch every dollar just to keep an ambulance on the road. Too often, agencies are forced to postpone replacing equipment, delay vehicle purchases, or simply struggle to remain in service.
The Idaho EMS Task Force recognized this growing crisis. Their findings made it clear that many rural EMS systems are operating under increasing financial and staffing pressures and that, without long-term solutions, access to emergency medical care in many communities is at risk. This includes all agencies in Boise County!
Yet, EMS is still not recognized as an essential service in Idaho. Every month that passes without meaningful change brings another rural EMS agency closer to the breaking point.
Boise County is no different.
Without sustainable support, any one of our local EMS agencies could face circumstances where maintaining emergency coverage becomes even more difficult. If that happens, our communities may have to wait for ambulances responding from the Treasure Valley or other neighboring communities when available. During a cardiac arrest, severe trauma, stroke, or airway emergency, those extra minutes can mean the difference between life and death. That is not the future any of us want. The encouraging news is that we are not standing still. East Boise County EMS District, Horseshoe Bend, and Garden Valley are working together more than ever before. We are training together, sharing ideas, and building stronger relationships because our focus is larger than any one district. Our focus is the people of Boise County, those who live here, work here, and visit our beautiful mountains.
Emergencies do not stop at jurisdictional boundaries, and neither should our commitment to one another.
EBCED’s goal is simple: strengthen every EMS agency in Boise County so that no community is left without help when they need it most. By working together, sharing resources, and preparing side by side, we are building a stronger future for emergency medical services throughout our county.
When one community needs help, the rest of us answer. Regardless of the name on the ambulance or the patch on our shoulder, we are one EMS family with one mission, to provide the very best emergency medical care possible to every resident and visitor in Boise County. But cooperation alone cannot solve the challenges facing rural EMS.
- We need our legislators, community leaders, and citizens to recognize that emergency medical services are essential.
- We need sustainable funding.
- We need support.
We need investment in rural EMS before more communities find themselves without timely emergency medical care. Most importantly, we need EMS to be recognized as the essential service it has always been.
Please help us make our voices heard.
Help us tell our elected officials that every ambulance service in Boise County matters.
Help us protect the emergency medical care that our families, friends, neighbors, and visitors depend on every single day. Because once an ambulance service is gone, rebuilding it is far more difficult than saving it.
To the men and women of East Boise County EMS District, Horseshoe Bend EMS, Garden Valley EMS, Wilderness Ranch QRU, Wilderness Ranch Fire, Clear Creek Fire Department, Robie Creek Fire Department, Thorn Creek Fire, Placerville Fire, Centerville Fire, Idaho City Fire, Lowman Fire, Boise County Search & Rescue, and every rural EMS agency across Idaho
Thank you.
You continue answering the call, no matter how many times the pager goes off.
You continue showing up for your neighbors.
You continue proving that rural Idaho takes care of its own.
Now, we simply ask that Idaho help take care of the people who have always been there to take care of everyone else.