HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Terry David, chief of Reno County EMS, will be retiring next month after 21 years of service to area emergency preparedness organizations.

He started with Reno County EMS in 1990 and moved on to lead EMS in Rice County before returning to Hutchinson in 2016.

David talked about the changes EMS service has seen over the years. EMS responders are now considered separate from fire department officials who also respond to emergencies.

“Probably the greatest change that’s happened over the last 30 years is that we are now truly a part of health care,” David said.

He also talked about the changes in dealing with heart attacks and what they consider a good outcome for patient success.

“When I was on the street as a paramedic, if we got those people back and literally they have no heartbeat, they’re not breathing when you get to the scene and we deliver them to the emergency room and they’re breathing on their own or we’re at least helping them, we’re all high-fiving each other and saying that’s a wonderful thing,” David said. He says it’s different now. “The standard now is that we only want to high-five and pat each other on the back if they leave the hospital and continue to live a productive life.”

David is respected nationwide for his innovative efforts. That includes still working with the National EMT Association where he serves on the board of directors. David says he will continue serving in that capacity for at least another two years after he leaves his current position.

He will also continue to do consulting work after retiring.

In 2016, Kansas EMS named Reno County EMS the winner of the Career Service of the Year award. EMS has had very little turnover under David’s leadership.