GILROY
– Implementation of the Gilroy Fire Department’s new paramedic
program took another step forward with the hiring of Phil King as
the department’s first EMS Division Chief.
”
He’s got a real lengthy background in fire service in a busy
fire department,
”
GFD Chief Jeff Clet said of King.
”
Operationally, he’s got a real high level of experience.
”
GILROY – Implementation of the Gilroy Fire Department’s new paramedic program took another step forward with the hiring of Phil King as the department’s first EMS Division Chief.
“He’s got a real lengthy background in fire service in a busy fire department,” GFD Chief Jeff Clet said of King. “Operationally, he’s got a real high level of experience.”
King was one of 50 applicants for the position and one of approximately 15 candidates to interview. King stood out, Clet said, because of his unique combination of experience, personality and skills.
“His demeanor seemed like it would be a good fit for our department,” Clet said. “He’s articulate and a critical thinker.”
In his new role as head of emergency medical services for the GFD, King, 44, will be responsible for the fire department’s new paramedic program which will place one firefighter/paramedic on each engine.
On Jan. 15, Gilroy’s Las Animas fire station began staffing its engine with a firefighter/paramedic certified to provide advanced life support (ALS). The Chestnut station will begin the practice on March 1. The changes allow the fire department, which is usually the first responder to medical emergencies, to provide ALS, instead of basic life support (BLS) to patients.
“Basic life support includes oxygen, taking vital signs and applying splints,” King said. “ALS adds i.v.s, giving medication, intubation (insertion of a tube in the trachea to assist breathing), cardiac monitoring, defibrillation and pulse oxymetry (monitoring blood oxygen levels).”
The higher level of service means faster response time for patients, who usually saw a BLS-certified firefighter from a GFD engine first before an ambulance carrying ALS-certified paramedics arrived a few minutes later under the old system, King said.
Faster response times can be critical for patients in a variety of life-threatening situations.
King, who is from San Bernardino, a city with a population of 200,000 and 11 fire stations, said his first priority is to become familiar with the city of Gilroy and how its public safety departments operate.
The GFD’s new EMS program has been run by a consultant, Clet and the other division chiefs up until now.
“They did an amazing job,” King said. “I’ll be working to fine-tune the program and ensure a smooth transition.”
King has nearly 20 years experience as a fire officer. After graduating from Crafton Hills College’s paramedic program in 1984 he interned with the San Bernardino fire department, which hired him as a firefighter/paramedic. He was promoted to fire captain in 1992.
King graduated from Cal State – San Bernardino with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and administration and was considering pursuing a career writing environmental impact reports, but was discouraged when potential employers preferred applicants with a master’s degree.
While working at a Cask and Cleaver restaurant, he met some firefighter/paramedics and became interested in the emergency medical field. He gained some experience as an emergency medical technician while working ski patrol for Big Bear and attended paramedic school.
“I worked my butt off to come out number one in my paramedic program,” King said, in part because it would allow him his choice of internships.
King knew he wanted to intern for the busy San Bernardino fire department, and he got his wish.
“After I got hired, they put me directly into fire academy,” he said.
King’s wife, Natalie, and 9-year-old son Ian are still in San Bernardino while their house is being sold and Ian finishes the school year. He expects they’ll join him in Gilroy in late May or early June. In the meantime, he’s staying with a friend, house-hunting on weekends, and trying not to be too sticker-shocked by Bay Area home prices.
King, who started work Monday, Feb. 17, will earn a base salary of $104,184 per year.
