In Oregon’s most rural places—where neighbors are often separated by miles, not minutes—emergencies don’t wait for help to arrive. They demand immediate action from those already in the area.
An example of this is when a man jumped into a geothermal spring in Southeast Oregon to rescue his dog and suffered severe third-degree burns. With no cell service and no nearby medical support, he was forced to drive many miles through pain and uncertainty to Fields to reach help. When he arrived at Fields Station, trained local volunteers were prepared. Their presence may have saved his life.
David Wratchford of Harney County wanted to become an emergency medical responder because the type of story above reinforced the urgent need for timely care, and motivated more residents in Harney County to have access to life-saving training. However, it wasn’t a reality to attend distant course locations for training because many community members need to be available on the ranches and farms they own or are employed on.
“Even if we’re not paramedics, having the training means we can step in until help comes,” Wratchford says. “Action is always better than inaction.”
David shared this desire for himself and other interested community members in Harney County, so the Roundhouse Foundation reached out to Treasure Valley Community College to help develop a solution to this barrier of receiving this training entirely in-person. Community members met at a ranch near Fields, Oregon, and attended classes virtually twice a week. The cohort was taught by an instructor more than two hours away, up in Burns. The technology and meeting space were provided by Trout Creek Ranch, owned by Oregon Desert Land Trust. Now, ten new community members have the training, knowledge, equipment, and confidence to be Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs). They are often the first to arrive on scene in a very remote part of Oregon.
This approach removes the common barriers—geography, cost, time away from home—that often prevent rural residents from becoming certified Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs). Now, trauma kits and AEDs are stationed in strategic locations, and more residents have the ability to respond when it counts. However, gaps remain:
- Certification and recertification fees are still out-of-pocket
- Trauma packs, radios, and protective gear remain in short supply
- Dispatch systems are delayed without fully certified teams
- Continuing education options are scarce and costly
In regions where an ambulance or helicopter may take an hour or more to arrive, these delays can cost lives. That’s why investing in local capacity is not just smart—it’s urgent.
Rural Healthcare Starts in Community
“This is about more than emergency response,” says Sheryl Romans, a longtime EMT educator with Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC). “It’s about building a rural healthcare workforce. We need to grow our own.” TVCC initially partnered with Roundhouse Foundation to provide a virtual class for 10 participants, including David Wratchford, in remote Harney County.
“The individuals getting this certification did so after long days and nights working on local ranches and the calving season in Eastern Oregon,” says Rebeckah Berry, Grant Program Director with Roundhouse Foundation. “I am beyond excited that they have new skills to help respond to accidents and events, caring for loved ones, their communities, and the people who visit such a stunning and truly remote part of our state.”
Through programs like TVCC Community Health Worker training and partnerships with rural fire districts, Romans and others are laying the foundation for sustainable, community-based healthcare. These are local people, stepping up to serve their own towns—not as a temporary fix, but as a long-term investment in health, safety, and stability.
The People Behind the Response
Donald Taggart has been committed to rural EMS since second grade. After decades on the job, he’s direct about what rural communities need: “Train, pay, and prepare rural responders—or people will die waiting.”
Taggart has piloted flexible staffing models—like 48/96 shifts—to help EMTs maintain other jobs, but access to training remains a hurdle. In Oregon, EMT certification runs through community colleges, where some community members live far from campus. Hybrid models used in neighboring states aren’t yet widely available here.
“Most of our rural crews want to help,” Taggart says. “But we’ve made it too hard to get the training they need.”
In Umatilla County, Fire Chief Scott Stanton is addressing this head-on. With support from The Roundhouse Foundation, his intern program covers tuition, housing, and hands-on experience. It’s opening new doors—but it also highlights the emotional demands of the work.
“We had someone go through the training,” he says. “But after a suicide and a fatal crash, they knew it wasn’t for them. And that’s okay, but those who stay need our support.”
His district covers 620 square miles, and some calls take 40 minutes to reach. As Chief Stanton notes, “That’s a long time in an emergency.” In towns like Echo (population 622) and Pilot Rock (population 1307), volunteers are often the only response available during daylight hours.
Supporting first responders in rural Oregon is more than emergency training. It’s about empowering locals and building a stronger, healthier future.
