In 1999, Thurston County voters approved a permanent Medic One levy to provide emergency Basic and Advance Life Support to all residents. A model of collaboration and efficiency, Medic One continues to work across city and district fire agencies to provide emergency care for illnesses and injuries. Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are trained in current standards of care by a team of medical experts.  This county-wide system assures that all responders are properly trained and equipped. We depend on Medic One. 

Medic One saves lives and prevents deadly outcomes. Last year, Medic One trained responders answered 33,200 calls for assistance. Paramedics respond to the most serious situations and can treat and care for patients during transport to the hospital. Medic One supports a fast, effective emergency medical response to 291,000 residents with teams of EMT trained firefighters and 7 fulltime Paramedic units strategically located throughout the County .

Due to State laws, the original levy decreases and no longer sustains Medic One into the future.  A growing and aging population increases call volumes.  Equipment and medical supply costs are rising faster than inflation.  Combined, this is more than the tax levy can support.  Proposition 1 will restore the levy in a reasonable way over the next six years.  Only Medic One can use these funds and the Emergency Medical Services Council of elected officials, medical professionals, responders, and appointed citizens will continue to provide effective and transparent financial oversight. 

Community doctors and officials thank you for voting “YES”.  

-              Sheila Fay, JW Foster, Joe Pellicer

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Dear Thurston County Voters -

As Mayors of our communities here in Thurston County, we fully support and appreciate the Medic One Emergency Medical Services program. Since pioneering a county-wide, tiered EMS response system in 1974, Medic One has consistently provided excellence and efficiency in delivering critical emergency medical services.

If not for the Medic One system, each community in the County would have to provide for its own emergency medical response service at great expense. By collaborating and creating the Medic One system, taxpayers enjoy the best EMS response at a reasonable cost. This continues to be the national model and communities across the country look to Thurston County Medic One when developing their own EMS systems. It is simply the best, and it saves lives.

No matter where you live in the County, Medic One provides support for rapid ALS (Paramedic) response and the training and equipment for hundreds of BLS Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who serve their community fire departments. It is an efficient, dependable system that we are fortunate to have here in Thurston County.

Even while being frugal and cautious in budgeting, revenue collection has fallen behind the voter-approved rate. Restoring that support over the next several years is an effective, affordable way to continue providing the service we hope we never need but expect to be there when we do.

We encourage you to support Medic One with your vote.

Thank you,

Mayors Selby (Olympia), Kmet (Tumwater), Ryder (Lacey), Foster (Yelm), Fournier (Tenino), Shaw (Rainer), Carr (Bucoda)