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Lakes Area EMS, the advanced life support ambulance service in this region, was recognized by the County Board of Commissioners last week for exemplary service here and for their work at remote disaster locations. (See photo.)

Lakes Area EMS handled about 4100 runs in 2008 with three rigs stationed at all times in the Chisago County area.

As a self-supporting, non profit organization the program receives no tax funding. Executive Director Aarron Reinert told the county commissioners the main challenge for the program is ever-increasing expenses and inequity in revenues. Reinert added that keeping up with technological needs and the equipment depreciation are costly. Drivers of ambulances can put 50,000 miles on each rig annually.

In addition the unpaid charity care expenditures and other outreach expenses that the EMS program contributed in 2008 came to $2.7 million.

Reinert briefly mentioned the unanticipated expenses operating Ford ambulance units, which are being replaced with Chevrolet Duramax diesel rigs, as another challenge that's being addressed. (Lakes Area EMS is involved in a class action suit pending against Ford.)

In 2008 61 percent of the calls for the ambulance were 9-1-1 generated. The ambulance transfers amounted to 32 percent and "other" runs represented about 8 percent of the calls.

All this 24 hour a day, seven days a week activity requires lots of personnel and EMS invested $1.74 million in 2008 employee wages and benefits, Reinert said.

The EMS organization is led by its Board of Directors Chaired by Jonathan Dodge, Chisago City, with Vice Chair Dr. Peter Overgaard and North Branch Council member Larry Erickson is secretary/treasurer. Lindstrom Mayor Keith Carlson sits on the Board along with Steve Mork of North Branch, Gene Olson, Lent Township and Chisago County Chief Deputy Bob Shoemaker.

Lakes Region EMS is headquartered in North Branch, website at www.lrems.com.

The organization started an Explorer Post in October and now has seven youths ages 15 to 18 learning alongside four employees. Reinert said this is something the Lakes Region EMS hopes to be able to continue to offer and even expand.

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