THE BEGINNING
For years the small town of Gowrie relied on Palmer Funeral Homes to provide an ambulance service to its residents.  This all changed in 1972 when governmental regulations made changes on training and staffing that made it impossible for the funeral home to continue the task.

Not wanting to see their town without an emergency service, the Gowrie Kiwanis held call to action meetings and members of the community rose to the call of duty.  Through their determination to keep an emergency service in their community, through many fundraisers and finally through the volunteer efforts of a select few the Gowrie Rescue Service had its first call to action on June 4, 1973. 

Surrounding towns soon saw the importance that this service could be to their towns as well and asked to be a part of the Gowrie Rescue Service.  In the latter part of 1973 the towns of Callender and Harcourt were added to the service area thus forming the Southwest Webster Ambulance Service.

The Southwest Webster Ambulance Service has grown in so many ways in the years since it was first founded.  Towns and townships have been added to the service area, the number of calls has increased slowly, and the training required by the volunteers has changed drastically. 

CHANGING TRENDS IN TRAINING
The initial training over three decades ago emphasized control of bleeding and getting the patient to the hospital.  Today’s training has complex cardiac assessment, airway management and the use of extrication devices used in a motor vehicle collision.

Since 1998, the Southwest Webster Ambulance has provided yearly initial EMT-Basic training in Gowrie.  This enables volunteers from our community as well as volunteers from the surrounding communities the opportunity to take their training locally.  The EMT-Basic course is a 116 hour course with six credit hours applied towards college credit.  The recertification is 24 hours of continuing education every two years.

In 2000, the Southwest Webster Ambulance Service became a conditional EMT-Intermediate service.  Being an EMT-Intermediate service means that qualified crew members are able to perform advanced assessment techniques and have the ability to start intravenous fluids if needed.  However, all EMT’s on the Southwest Webster Ambulance Service are certified and have the ability to use the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and the King LT (an advanced artificial airway used on a cardiac arrest victim to ensure good oxygenation added in 2009).

The Southwest Webster Ambulance Service is dedicated to ensuring that their crew is trained and practiced on all of the equipment and to the most up to date standards.  But we don’t stop there.  We are also committed to the education of our community.  The Southwest Webster Ambulance director and crew regularly offers  CPR classes, Car Seat Inspection Clinics and Vial of Life training to the community.   

MILESTONES
On October 11, 1998, the Southwest Webster Ambulance Service proudly celebrated its 25th Anniversary.  At this time the ambulance was responsible for responding to an average of 120 calls per year in the towns of Callender, Gowrie, Harcourt and the townships of Clay, Gowrie, Lost Grove and Roland.  All take part in supporting the ambulance financially, but financial support also comes in the form of taxation dollars and the cost of the actual runs.

On October 11, 2008, the Southwest Webster Ambulance Service celebrated its 35th Anniversary.  A formal celebration was held in September 2009 to remember the humble beginnings and the many volunteers and hours of dedication that they gave to ensure that our communities were protected.  Our volunteer crew now makes up a total of 24 members ranging from housewives to farmers to the average working husband/wife.  Together we bring 150 years of combined experience to our community and we respond to an average of 150 calls per year in the towns of Callender, Gowrie, Harcourt and the townships of Clay, Gowrie, Lost Grove and Roland.

In 2009, the Southwest Webster Ambulance broke another record. Their total amount of calls for the year were at 185, which exceeded the top year prior by 35 runs.