There when you need us most.

1970

1970

February: Bob Kalaas, Winton Logan, Alden Schliep, William Steinfeldt, Clarence Benson and Norman Holst appointed to the ambulance committee to look into possible suggestions for Ambulance service. Lohman Ambulance Service (funeral home owned by James Lohman and AC. Larson) made 197 runs in 1969. In June, first ambulance purchased from Bob Seely Ford with 50% of revenue provided by state and federal funds. Cost of the first ambulance was $10,000.

In July, Minnesota State Law takes effect stating that ambulance services can no longer be provided by private funeral directors. All public and privately owned ambulances must be licensed, carry minimal equipment for ambulances, must be operated 24 hrs./day, 365 days/year, staffed by two men trained for advanced first aid duty. Original crew consisted of Norman Holst, William Biwer, Dave Lother, Don Bolster, Don Wendt, Harold Conat, Perry Weeks, Duane Eckert, Rev. Vernon Rice, Rev. Roger Carlson, Robert Post, Joe Goplen, Herb Sorby, Ralph Dawsow, Harris Rude, Bob Rolland, Greg Werth, Mark Zimmerman, Dick Wedge, Bob Tuve, Alden Schliep and Winton Logan. They will undergo 30 hours of training to obtain an Advanced First Aid certificate. Classes were taught by Duane Eckert.

By the end of the year, ten ambulance “beepers” are purchased at a cost of $3280. Dispatch is done from the Zumbrota Community Hospital. Drivers no longer need to stay within earshot of their telephone when on their 12-hour call shifts. Four drivers are on call for a 12-hr. shift from

7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and four more from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The men are subject to call for a period of 30 days before another group of 8 drivers takes over for the next 30 days. They receive two weeks off duty. They are paid $3 per hour while on an ambulance run; nothing for time spent on call.

1970
1973

1973

First defibrillator costing $2375 purchased with donated funds. Ambulance drivers received 18 hours of instruction on the use of the machine from Dr. Roger White of the Mayo Clinic Rochester.

1973
1975

1975

Purchase of second ambulance for $22,000.00 from Road Rescue. Ambulance is a van-type ambulance painted orange and white per state requirements.

1975
1976

1976

Twelve of the 19 ambulance drivers pass Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) test after 81 hours of classroom time. EMT certification is not required except for services that apply for federally matched funding. Rural emergency numbering system for county begins. Emergency signs were made by the FFA at Red Wing High School. Signs are bright red with white lettering of three various heights. The smaller number indicates the township; the middle size one denotes the section; and the larger number is the emergency number assigned an individual house. Residents with a Zumbrota telephone able to dial 911 for emergency service. The Zumbrota Telephone switchboard was closed on this date, and relocated to Rochester. Most long distance calls can now be direct dialed. All 911 calls will be handled by the Zumbrota Community Hospital. Zumbrota will be one of very few cities in Minnesota where 911 will be available. Minnesota state officials want a 911 system in effect throughout the state 1986.

1976
1978

1978

Zumbrota Area Heart Savers Committee formed to teach lifesaving CPR techniques approved by the American Heart Association to the public. Cost for CPR classes was $4 per person.

1978
1979

1979

Dr. John Bachman starts the “Good Neighbor Rescue Program” to offer life-saving help to heart attack victims. When Zumbrota Hospital is notified of a potential heart attack victim through a 911 call, they immediately dispatch an ambulance and at the same time alert the closest “good neighbor” volunteer, which they find by referring to a map with pins marking the locations of people that are trained in CPR. The “good neighbor” then rushes to the scene.

1979
1980

1980

Four counties in Minnesota now have 911 service (Jackson, Steele, Waseca, and Olmsted). Ten cities, including Zumbrota, also have 911 service. The state timetable requires the metropolitan areas to be under a 911 system by 1982 and outstate areas are to have operating programs by 1986. Zumbrota has had 911 service since 1976. Those people outside the Zumbrota exchange could also be dispatched through the emergency center at the Zumbrota Hospital by dialing 732-7200. Towards the end of the year, City Council accepts bid of $79,498 for new ambulance garage from Associated Lumber Mart of Waseca. Purchase of a new modular ambulance for $31,000 was also approved. Financing for the project made possible with the help of a $105,000 loan from the Federal Housing Administration.

1980
1981

1981

New ambulance garage turned over to drivers. New modular ambulance arrived one week prior. New LifePak 5 defibrillator purchased at a cost of $5884 with donations from public. Twenty hours of training was completed by the drivers before it was put into service.

1981
1984

1984

New Ford modular ambulance delivered from EMS Service, Inc. at a cost of $45,000.

1984
1985

1985

Ambulance crew draws large crowds at the Goodhue County Fair demonstrating their new purchase of a “Jaws of Life.” A cutter and a spreader were purchased from Hurst and will be carried on the ambulance to help remove accident victims from wrecks.

1985
1988

1988

Several EMTs complete training, which now is 110 hours.

1988
1989

1989

Norma Scharpen is the winner of the Early Bird drawing of $1000 for the Zumbrota Ambulance Raffle Fundraiser.

1989
1990

1990

Zumbrota Ambulance service celebrates 20 years of service by sponsoring an all- driver reunion with a meal prepared by Allen Schumacher. Building addition of lounge area and large office space possible through the benevolence of the late Delphen Siebrecht. Del and his wife, Ruth, were long-time Zumbrota residents. Ruth was a nurse and volunteer for Meals on Wheels and Del was Zumbrota City Clerk for some time.

1990
1991

1991

Purchase of Hurst Ram and Power Splitter for extrication. Purchase of 2 Lifepak 250 Monitor/Defibrillators – Cost: $15,000.

1991
1992

1992

Zumbrota Area Ambulance service ranked third in SE Minnesota by Saint Mary’s Hospital, Mayo Clinic Rochester.

1992
1993

1993

Chris Kapp hired as the Association’s first director.

1993
1995

1995

Zumbrota Ambulance Attendants 25 year Reunion celebrated at Covered Bridge Park Shelter. The ambulance crew has just finished building the deck on the shelter and were the first group to use it.

1995
1996

1996

Chris Kapp resigns as director of the Ambulance Association. Goodhue County takes over 911 dispatching. Susan Cook hired as second director of Zumbrota Area Ambulance Association.

1996
1997

1997

Eight foot addition to existing garage with widened doors to accommodate larger trucks.

1997
2000

2000

New Braun ambulance purchased. Old rig sold to Wanamingo Fire Responders.

2000
2002

2002

Service received state license and officially started providing part-time Advanced Life support with 4 paramedics on the crew.

2002
2003

2003

Zumbrota Community Hospital closes. The original hospital was built in 1950 and the current structure was built in 1975. The ambulance service becomes even more important to the community now with no ER.

2003
2004

2004

Purchase of two Zoll M Series defibrillators at a cost of $27,000 each. They also have automatic blood pressure and pulse oximetry capabilities.

2004
2005

2005

New Braun ambulance purchased. Zumbrota Ambulance now has 3 rigs and a space issue. Planning begins for a new building.

2005
2006

2006

Land is purchased for new building. Sue Cook resigns as director and a search begins for a new director. In the meantime, the Association Board President, Craig Benson takes on the roll of director.

2006
2007

2007

Gold Cross Ambulance is brought in as a consulting and management team. Zumbrota Ambulance becomes fully Advanced Life Support capable, with the addition of much needed first line medications, 12-lead ECG capabilities, and CPAP support. Sally Haug-Massaro is placed in the office as Director by GCA Management. Ground is broken for a new building on Jefferson Avenue.

2007
2008

2008

The new $1.2 million dollar facility has been built and we moved into it in July 2008. This facility is a much needed change. It includes a separate crew quarter from the public, locked via electronic key fob; 5 bath rooms; 4 separate sleep rooms with individual beds and TVs; large meeting/conference/training room with project/screen for computer presentations, 5.1 surround for movies, and PA system for presentations; and a 3 stall drive through garage that can potentially house 6 vehicles – currently it hold houses the SE MN Disaster trailer and 3 ambulances. This is an exciting year of growth and opportunities.

2008
2009

2009

Vice President of the Association passes away. We remember Scott C. Monsrud, who passed on Oct 6, 2009. Sally Houg-Massero steps down as director and Danielle is brought in as director. Dr. Christopher Russi of the Mayo Clinic is announced as the new medical director. Several of the current EMTs on staff graduate from the Paramedic class that was held at the station, an accredited program through Rochester Community and Technical College. Many of these graduates will be offering their advanced life support skills, knowledge, and services to the community in the coming months. Congratulations! Several 800 mHz radios purchased due to a Federal mandate stemming from the 2001 WTC attack(s) / disaster.

2009
2010

2010

GCA Management is not re-signed as management consulting and the ZAAA Board takes the company back over, offering Danielle the position of director.

2010
2011

2011

Zumbrota Ambulance is entered into the Mayo Clinic STEMI program, allowing the Advanced Life Support crews (about 1/3 of our roster) to take patients experiencing a heart attack directly to the Cath Lab for intervention, bypassing the Emergency Room. This is a tremendous accolade. We are the first, and currently only, volunteer ambulance organization in SE MN (possibly the state) that can provide this service to our communities. As we move forward, there is a future possibility that our Basic Life Support crews will be able to provide this service (time line not set).

New cardiac monitors being purchased providing continued 12-lead ECG capabilities and adding capnography and the ability to monitor carbon dioxide (CO) levels non-invasively.

Electronic (computer) patient care reports go live, making it easier to fill out the”paperwork” and capture run data.

Go live with Federally mandated 800 mHz communications – new radios purchased by the Attendants to fill in a gap left by the initial purchase last fall. Now each member of the roster will have one for enhanced communications with our community First Responders and with State and National response teams should the need arise.

2011
2012

2012

Danielle steps down as director and Sara Calson takes over the position.

2012
2013

2013

New ambulance that was ordered in December 2012 finally arrives and is put into service April 2013. This is a 4-Wheel drive model built on an F-450 chasis. It feels larger, is brighter in the patient care area, and lots of storage.
We become a training institution! We have licensure for Emergency Medical Response (formally First Responder) full and refresher; and, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT ) full and refresher.
In addition to those courses, we teach CPR, PALS, and ACLS. We also begin an AED purchase program with onsite training courses and maintenance program for those that purchase through our program.
An Emergency Response Vehicle is purchased. This vehicle will be used for the paramedics to respond to requests of the on-duty crew. This vehicle will also be assigned to an on-call paramedic on a rotating basis.

2013
2017

2017

Sara Carlson resigns as director and Brett Rima is hired to fulfill the position. Another new ambulance based on a Ford F-450 chassis goes into service.

2017

Our Patch

Zumbrota Ambulance Patch

What the colors symbolize:

The Zumbrota Ambulance Patch incorporates all the Communities that make up the Zumbrota Area Ambulance Association.
The patch is made up of:

  • Zumbrota’s Covered Bridge
  • The Green Valley of Mazeppa
  • The Water Towers of Goodhue and Wanamingo
  • The Pines of Pine Island
  • The Green Grass and Blue Skies of our Townships
  • And the pulse of the attendants who give aid to our communities for which we’re grateful.