San Juan Island EMS Chief Jim Cole has been elected to the Board of Directors of the International Association of EMS Chiefs.

Cole has also been asked to serve on a Department of Homeland Security task force studying Homeland Security science and technology as they apply to first responders, including fire, EMS, law enforcement and emergency management.

The International Association of EMS Chiefs supports and promotes the leadership of EMS agencies and advocates for the EMS profession. Membership is made up of leaders from career and volunteer EMS organizations around the world.

Homeland Security’s Office of Science and Technology asked Cole to represent EMS providers on the national task force studying current and future Homeland Security technologies that may be useful in EMS and other first-responder activities. The task force will identify ways to make these technologies available to EMS and other agencies. They will be convening as a national panel for four days in February.

“I am deeply honored to be asked to serve on the (international association) board and the (Homeland Security) task force in representing EMS agencies from across the country,” Cole said in a press release. “I will try to share our San Juan Island EMS challenges and practices, and my 25 years of urban and rural EMS experience, with the other participants.

“For San Juan Island EMS, this is a great opportunity to learn additional effective techniques from other EMS and public safety providers. We will use these new ideas to further advance the EMS services that we provide to all San Juan Island and Hospital District residents and visitors.”

San Juan Island EMS is the tax-supported EMS agency serving the residents and visitors of San Juan Island, Town of Friday Harbor, and Brown, Henry, Johns, Pearl, Speiden and Stuart islands. It provides emergency medical services, critical care transport, and injury and accident prevention programs. The staff of career paramedics and volunteer EMTs is available 24 hours a day.