How EMS works in Woodbury

In Woodbury, emergency medical services are provided through a collaborative effort between the police and fire departments.

When there is a medical emergency and 911 is called, the Washington County Sheriff's Department Communications Center gathers information while simultaneously dispatching police or community service officer paramedics and firefighter/EMTs. The dispatchers frequently provide first aid instructions over the phone while EMS staff is responding.

The paramedics arrive in police squad cars and the EMTs get paged out from home where they respond to the fire station and take the ambulance to the scene. Ideally a minimum of two paramedics and three EMTs respond to each call. Police and fire then work together on the scene to provide the best care possible.

Depending on the situation, one or more paramedics may be in the back of the ambulance while en route to the hospital or they may choose to send patients in need of basic life support (BLS) only in the care of the EMT crew.

Woodbury has EMT-Basics, EMT-IV Technicians, and EMT-Intermediates to provide BLS care.

If you have questions or want more information please call (651) 714-3600 or email us at ems@ci.woodbury.mn.us.