Highland County Firefighters Host 2014 Southern State EMS Conference; welcome Randolph Mantooth

By GREGORY GRANT
For The Highland County Press

On Saturday, Jan. 25, approximately 120 Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics from 41 departments in 13 counties and four states braved the cold and snow-covered roads to attend the 2014 Southern State EMS Conference held at the Hillsboro High School.

Attendees were in search of completing courses to improve their skills and earn continuing education credits (CEUs) to help them maintain their certification.

They were also very interested in meeting this year’s keynote speaker who traveled all the way from Hollywood, California.

Randolph Mantooth, better known as Firefighter/Paramedic Johnny Gage, from the TV series “Emergency” which aired 1972-79, served as the event's guest speaker.

Randy’s keynote speech was “Why You Do What You Do.”

The EMS conference, celebrating its fifth year, was started off with opening remarks given by Highland County Firefighters Association (HCFFA) representative Marc Bayless.

Educational programs were presented by conference instructors from three of the helicopter medical programs that serve the Highland County area: MedFlight based in Columbus; CareFlight Air and Mobile Care from Dayton; and Air Care and Mobile Care from Cincinnati.

Each program presented topics that meet the State of Ohio’s requirements for recertification.

Optional breakout sessions where students were able to have hands-on experience in their mobile education labs also were offered. The breakout session for landing zone safety – which was to feature helicopters from all three agencies – was canceled due to the weather preventing the aircraft from flying.

In addition to the training programs, there was a large display of antique and collectible medical equipment on display from the collection of Dan Gilmore, an avid collector from Kingston, who is also an EMT/Firefighter for Plain Township in New Albany.

This display was appropriate, given that one conference topic was on "EMS, Then and Now," presented by Dr. Andrew Hawk, medical director of Careflight. It included equipment like that used by firefighter Johnny Gage on "Emergency," including a Biophone which had actually been autographed by Mantooth.

In addition, the Highland County Farm Bureau had a display highlighting their grain bin rescue program and equipment that is available in Highland County.

After the three education sessions, attendees enjoyed a lunch catered by Ponderosa, and had time to visit the booths of conference sponsors.

Door prizes were awarded, including one for the EMT with the longest service, which was awarded to Bob Sexton of Lynchburg, and Paint Creek fire districts with 48 years service; and to the newest EMT, Alex Wallace of Xenia Township, who has only four months of experience.

In addition to the sponsors mentioned above, The HCFFA would like to thank: Oragami Owl, Mac Printing, Higgins Steel Roofing, Ohio Division of EMS, Sutphen Corporation, Buckeye Ambulance, Boundtree Medical, Coyote Creek Farm, Camp Safety Equipment California Casualty Insurance, Candlelite, and Greenfield Research, along with a donation in memory of Richard McCane for making this conference possible.

After lunch, attendees welcomed Randolph Mantooth (Johnny Gage) to the stage where they anxiously listened to his talk on "Why You Do What You Do."

Mantooth started his talk by thanking Scott Miller (training officer of the HCFFA) for his work to bring him to Ohio in January. He spoke of the influence the the TV show "Emergency" had on the introduction of the paramedic services to the United States.

He was quick to mention that he was not a paramedic, nor did he pretend to be one. He only played one on TV.

Mantooth gave all credit for the influence to the creators and writers of the show. He said that if you were born after 1972, you have never known a world without paramedics. He told the EMTs in the audience that “what you do 95 percent of the time is you care for people with real problems and real feelings.”

He said that what "hooked" you was the humanity of the show that Johnny and Roy showed to the victims. He said the show touched your DNA, and that is what why you do what you do.

"What you do isn’t a job, it’s a calling," Mantooth said, "and it's one of the most important on earth.”

Mantooth told a story about his sister who, in 198,7 was in a car accident along with her 6-year-old son. She was flown from the scene and had to be revived.

Ten years ago, she danced with that same son at his wedding. It would not have been possible without those medics.

Mantooth also spoke about the advances in emergency medicine over the past 30 years.

After his speech, he greeted those in attendance, signed autographs and posed for photos until everyone had the opportunity to meet him. He offered pictures for sale with the proceeds going to the LA County Fire Museum.

Later that evening, Mantooth joined approximately 50 people for dinner at Alley 21 where he hosted a question-and-answer session. Proceeds of the dinner were for the Highland County Firefighters Benevolent Fund.

The committee organizing this year's conference included: Scott Miller, HCFFA Training Officer; Bryan Spanlger of Medflight; Mary Lou Kyne of Miami Valley Careflight; Kate Morgan of UC Air Care; Marc Bayless, HCFFA; Jay Post, president HCFFA; and Nelson Thompson, HCFFA vice president.

Miller said that he made the suggestion to have Mantooth as the keynote speaker since this was the five-year anniversary of the conference. The committee was in agreement.

Miller said it took nearly a year to get it set up. He said Mantooth was a pleasure to work with, and that he, along with his wife (who is his agent) as well as a representative from the LA County Fire Museum "bent over backward to help."

"A lot of hard work paid off," Miller said. "Randy was so easy to work with. While in town, he visited some area businesses, met with some EMTs at the hospital and visited a couple of fire stations. He liked to harass me about bringing him to Ohio in January and told me to bring him back here when it was warm! 

"A lot of people give him credit for encouraging them to entering into the Fire and EMS service; however, he disagreed with that and stated the reason we do what we do is because of the four doctors that started the paramedicine program. He made sure everyone that wanted something autographed, was given the opportunity before he left.”

Association President Jay Post added: “A very special thanks to Mr. Snively (principal) and the Hillsboro High School staff. Without them, all of the sponsors, and the committee this could not have happened.”