Operations

Sedgwick County EMS hires Kansas certified paramedics (MICT) to work on the ambulance. We staff two paramedics per ambulance: the Lieutenant serves as the lead paramedic on the crew. In addition, two Operation's supervisors (Captains) work each shift to provide additional paramedic assistance on calls as needed, and to oversee the daily street operations.

Our paramedic crews work 12 hour shifts, beginning at 7 am and 7 pm. The shift pattern is based on an 84-hour pay period: two shifts on, two shifts off, three shifts on, two shifts off, two shifts on, three shifts off. EMS provides service to the Sedgwick County community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

During the day, EMS paramedics staff 16 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances spread throughout the county. After midnight, the staffing reduces to 11 ALS units, as a portion of the population moves out of the County at the end of the workday. We receive First Responder support from volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in Derby, EMS Reserves and EMTs on the Wichita and Sedgwick County Fire Departments.

In 2002, Sedgwick County EMS responded to 42,090 requests for emergency medical response, approximately 115 calls per day. The average response time was 5.70 minutes county-wide which encompasses 1,008 square miles. In 88.2% of emergency calls received, EMS response time was 8:59 minutes or less county wide. Within the city limits of Wichita the average response time was 5.43 minutes with 91.07% less than or equal to 8:59 minutes. The five leading calls for EMS assistance were:

Motor Vehicle Crashes
Sick Person
Fall
Cardiac/Chest Pain
Difficulty Breathing