Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Medic One/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is standing by to help you 24 hours a day with a system that provides a continuum of care that assures every patient the emergency medical attention they need.
Every year more than 300,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) – a condition in which the heart unexpectedly stops beating. It can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time, even to those with optimal heart health.
And when it occurs – seconds count. The Shockingly Simple campaign is aimed at increasing purchases and registration of AEDs by businesses and organizations in Seattle and King County. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/aed.
Contact us
401 5th Avenue, Suite 1200
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-4693
Fax: 206-296-4866
2020-2025 Strategic Plan and Levy
On June 26, 2019, the King County Council unanimously passed both the Medic One/EMS 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and EMS levy measures, clearing the way for the 6-year, 26.5-cent EMS levy to be placed on the November 2019 general election ballot.
The Plan and levy are the direct result of an extensive process recently undertaken by regional leaders, decision-makers and Stakeholders, to ensure the EMS system can continue meeting its commitments into the future.
The levy rate of 26.5 cents/$1,000 AV means that an owner of a $500,000 home in the region will pay $133 in 2020 for some of the nation's most highly-trained medical personnel to arrive within minutes of an emergency – at any time of day or night, no matter where in King County.
Download: Medic One/Emergency Medical Services 2020-2025 Strategic Plan
For information on the EMS Strategic Plan and levy proposal, please contact Helen Chatalas, Assistant EMS Division Director, at helen.chatalas@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-8560. You may also use our online contact form.
Medic One/EMS levy renewal process
The region recently undertook an extensive planning process to develop a Strategic Plan and financing plan (levy) to fund our world-renowned Medic One/EMS system. The process was overseen by the EMS Advisory Task Force, and included regional leaders, decision-makers, and Stakeholders representing all parts of the system.
On September 18, 2018, after months of meetings and a great deal of discussion, the Task Forceendorsed recommendations outlining the services that the county-wide voter-approved EMS levy will support. The core of the Task Force's recommendations is a six year, 26.5 cent Medic One/EMS levy that:
- Assures ALS, BLS and Regional Services programmatic needs will be met:
- Rolls $20 million of 2014-2019 reserves into 2020-2025 reserves for additional security;
- Addresses the Task Force's concerns to protect the system from unforeseen financial risk;
- Continues with conservative financial policies and processes that provide stability; and
- Incorporates policies that provide additional protection and flexibility, including the ability to direct balances into reserves, or buy down a future levy rate.
Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/ems