Calhoun County Emergency Medical Services

06/04/2026

As summer begins, Calhoun County Emergency Medical Services is seeing more injuries involving bicycles and e-scooters.

The department is seeking grant funding to provide free bicycle helmets and safety education to children across the county.

Read more in the comments.

05/22/2026

We had a blast with South Central Calhoun Middle School and Elementary for the Careers on Wheels event! We can't wait to do it again next year. Thank you for having us!

05/22/2026

We appreciate everyone who joined us for our Open House last night. Numerous awards were given out last night including the following:

Dispatcher of the Year: Cherri McKenney, Calhoun County Sheriff Dept.
Friend of EMS Award: Richard Hall, Calhoun County IA Emergency Management Agency
Friend of EMS Award: Calhoun County Sheriff's Office-Iowa
Volunteer of the Year: Logan Higgins Higgins, Iowa United First Aid
Volunteer of the Year: Logan Hansch, Iowa United First Aid

05/22/2026

CCEMS would like to thank Stewart Memorial Community Hospital for the snack basket for EMS Week! We appreciate your support!

05/20/2026

What’s New at CCEMS? AmbuMan Advanced!

CCEMS was awarded a grant from the Calhoun County Foundation, the Grow Green County Grant, in February 2025. This grant funded the purchase of an AmbuMan Advanced Manikin- we’ve named him “Timmy”!

Timmy provides skills training for airway management, ECG simulation, defibrillation, and training on IV and IO access techniques. Timmy is equipped with the Ambu Manikin Management Module- which allows wireless control, documentation, and monitoring while providers are performing skills on him. The management module can record CPR parameters and report back how well the skills are performed. The instructor can create custom training scenarios that can be adjusted anytime during the training, making Timmy very versatile for training opportunities!

05/19/2026

What's new at CCEMS? Intraosseous Access Drills (IO Drill)!

CCEMS was able to purchase Intraosseous Access Drills (IO Drill). While most patients that need fluids or medication access can use a traditional IV, some trauma situations make placing a traditional IV difficult or impossible. The IO Drill provides a way for medics to place a line directly into the bone marrow in the shoulder or shin, giving fluids and life saving medications a direct route into the circulatory system.

These IO Drills are an upgrade from the IO “Punch” that was used previously on our ambulances. The drills require less force, have a higher success rate, and can provide less complications from a access line being placed.

05/19/2026

What's new at CCEMS? Video Laryngoscopes!

CCEMS was able to purchase video laryngoscopes last year. When a patient is unable to breathe on their own, measures need to be taken to intubate the patient so that we can provide an airway to breathe for them. These video laryngoscopes give medics a way to see inside the larynx to get between the vocal cords to place an ET tube (a flexible plastic catheter) into the trachea to maintain an airway for oxygen delivery.

Video laryngoscopes can cut down on the time it takes to provide an airway to a patient, and gives a higher rate of first-time placement when placing an ET tube for airway management. This video provides information on how these devices work:

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05/18/2026

CCEMS partners with Iowa United First Aid- a program being piloted in three Iowa communities (Calhoun, Cass, and Van Buren Counties). The program’s mission is to “train and equip community members to provide immediate medical intervention during the critical window between the onset of an emergency and the arrival of traditional ambulance assistance.”

Our community members are trained and provided with first aid materials, AED, and Stop the Bleed kits to initiate emergency aid until our EMS staff can arrive. The program is currently grant funded through Empower Rural Iowa.

To find out more about IUFA, please see the following resources:
https://opportunityiowa.gov/media/7390/download?inline

https://opportunityiowa.gov/community/revitalization/center-rural-revitalization/iowa-united-first-aid-grant-program

CCEMS thanks our 18 volunteers for participating in the program. We appreciate your support and willingness to participate in such a valuable program!

There are a few local "celebrities" in the video below!
https://youtu.be/mZIP-2FinkA

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02/18/2026

CCEMS Employee Spotlight: Tony Grabowski

Position: Full-Time Paramedic

Years at CCEMS: 1.5 years

What Made You Get Into EMS?: I started with a volunteer fire service and switched to full time EMS after working in corrections for 5 years.

One fun fact about Tony: During my motorcycle crash, I broke or rearranged every bone in my leg/foot besides the fibula.

CCEMS appreciates all you do, Tony!