Crystal City, Mo. (Sept. 18, 2025) — The Joachim-Plattin Emergency Medical Service will mark its 50th anniversary with a public open house on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its headquarters, 1235 North Truman Blvd. in Crystal City, Missouri.

The event will feature station tours, equipment and skills demonstrations, a history tour, opportunities to meet the emergency team, and refreshments. Community members of all ages are invited to attend.

Founded in 1975, the Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District (JPAD) is located about 30 miles south of St. Louis and serves approximately 63,000 residents in the southeast portion of Jefferson County. The district responds to more than 10,000 calls for service each year.

JPAD operates out of five stations, each staffed with two paramedics 24 hours a day. The district is governed by a six-member elected board and is funded through local taxes. The emergency team includes 36 full-time paramedics and 40 part-time EMTs and paramedics.

Known for its advanced life support capabilities, JPAD is equipped with cutting-edge tools such as the Lifepak 15 cardiac monitor, which allows 15-lead EKGs to be transmitted directly to hospitals. JPAD works closely with Mercy Hospital Jefferson to ensure rapid cardiac care for heart attack patients.

Other medical technologies used by JPAD include ReVel ventilators for airway management, the “Lucas” device for automated CPR compressions, and medications for rapid sequence intubation to support emergency breathing needs.

In addition to emergency response, JPAD offers multiple public CPR classes each month and helps supply Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to local public buildings and first responder agencies.

For more information about the anniversary event or CPR classes, residents are encouraged to contact JPAD’s administrative office at (636) 937-2224.

Thank you JPAD for the photo used in this article.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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