My origins in EMS began during high school. The Sandy Fire District had
a "Fireman's Club" that students could join, and at age 16 we could respond
on calls. The first time I ever did CPR was when my Dad (a Sandy FD
Volunteer still today) & I responded on a code 99 near our home. I was 14
at the time. When I was 17, he and I saved a fellow Sandy High student who
stopped breathing after a motorcycle accident. I was hooked!!
I became an EMT 1 (before the B, I & P levels we have now) in 1980
during my senior year of High School. My instructor was Ted Farr (now with
Salem FD). I became a Sandy Volunteer Firefighter in 1980, and that fall I
attended Chemeketa Community College earning my Fire Science degree in
1982. I served with the Turner Fire District as a resident volunteer while
attending Chemeketa. I never thought I could get used to sleeping next to
train tracks, but I did there.
In 1983 I went to work for the Lake Oswego Fire Department and served
there for 17 years, while still volunteering and working part time for
Sandy Fire. I was an EMT 2-D for several years before the levels changed
and I became an EMT-Intermediate. I am very grateful that LOFD put me
through Paramedic school in 1995. That was difficult with a family and
two jobs, but it enabled me to feel like I had completed an important goal
in my career. I only wish I had done it years earlier.
As a Lieutenant Paramedic in Lake Oswego I had a lot of fun! Most of the
time, at least two of us on the engine crew (and sometime all three of us),
were Paramedics, and we enjoyed the ability to quickly assess and begin
treatment on any patient. It's fun, especially when your entire crew can
work so fast, each knowing what the other is thinking and doing. We were
also a transport agency in partnership with AMR for a few years. That gave
me quite a lot of one-on-one experience with patients. At the time that I
left LOFD to take on my new role in Sandy I was a Battalion Chief.
The Sandy area is a frequent host of traumatic events. U.S. Hwy 26
travels through our area and happens to be one of the primary routes to
Central and Eastern Oregon. Weekend traffic swells while Portland area
residents head east for recreation, and unfortunately some of those people
don't reach their destinations. Our Hurst tool gets regular use. We also
have a fair share of agricultural incidents. We utilize Life Flight quite
often for a variety of situations. Over the years that I have worked in
the fire service I can say that I have seen some of the most amazing types
of incidents that you would never believe anyone could survive.
As a Fire Chief and an incident commander, I find that being a Paramedic
is highly valuable. I am fortunate enough to still be able to respond on
many calls and I am fairly active as a Paramedic. My community also
benefits by having another practicing Paramedic. I hope that I am showing
my department members that I believe these skills are important and I
encourage others to pursue becoming ALS providers.
I can also say that maintaining skills and proficiency is very
difficult. As an administrator, my main responsibilities are to run the
Fire District, and quite often I listen from my desk as the rigs go out.
Continuing education is critical and it is tough to take the time away
from the office to attend outside training. I think that my ALS
background is very helpful in supporting our EMS program.
My advice for anyone planning the beginning of their career is to
achieve the goals that you desire at the youngest age possible. It will
be easier to reach those goals, you will have more of your career to enjoy
your achievements, you will reach a higher level of competency, and you may
have the opportunity to save more lives.
Gary McQueen, EMT-P
Fire Chief
Sandy, Oregon
Oregon certified since 1980
Page updated: September 22, 2007
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