By Jayson Henderson

Leonardville, KS – October 18, 2023

The opening of the new EMS station in Leonardville is poised to make a significant impact on the response times and quality of emergency medical care for the northern part of Riley County, according to a recent interview with David Adams, head of the county’s Emergency Medical Services.

In the interview, Adams emphasized the crucial role that the new station will play in reducing response times. He stated, “We will reduce response times anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Anytime we can reduce response times, the net result increases the quality of care that the citizens in North Riley County are going to receive.”

The improved response times are expected to be a game-changer for the community, as faster medical assistance can be a matter of life and death in emergencies. The northern part of the county has long needed an EMS station to provide quicker access to medical services for its residents.

Adams also shared insights into the design and construction of the new station, highlighting the careful consideration that went into its planning. He explained, “A lot of care and design work went into the design and the construction of the facility. We looked at our staff comfort, as well as the ability for it to house personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As far as the exterior design, it was done very purposefully because it is going to be in a residential neighborhood. We wanted it to fit into the neighborhood and not look like a sterile government building. And so that’s why it was designed and built the way it was.”

The station’s thoughtful design not only caters to the needs of the local EMS staff but also ensures that it integrates seamlessly into the Leonardville neighborhood.

Community support for the new EMS station has been overwhelmingly positive. Adams shared, “The residents of all of northern Riley County have been very supportive of us. They have been very welcoming to our staff. You could see that in the turnout for the ribbon-cutting and the open house. I think there were 40 or 50 people there in total who were really interested and very happy that we’re there, and they’ve always shown us nothing but great support for our department being in their community.”

While the community didn’t have direct involvement in the station’s design, Adams explained that there was communication with a county committee that played a role in shaping the facility based on the community’s needs and expectations.

In closing, Adams expressed his excitement about the new station, saying, “We’re excited anytime we can enhance our services. That is the goal of any emergency service department. We’re excited to be there and we’re excited for the value we hope to bring to North Riley County.”

The opening of the Leonardville EMS station represents a significant step in improving emergency medical services in the northern part of Riley County, with the promise of quicker response times and higher-quality care for the local community.