James O. Page, Father of Modern EMS, Passesfrom Jems Communications . . .
James O. Page, Father of Modern EMS, Passes
James O. Page, whom many consider the father of modern emergency medical services (EMS), died suddenly Sept. 4. He was 68. Page will be greatly missed by his mother, Marion, his wife, Jane, four children and six grandchildren.
Page’s passing shocked the EMS and fire community, which regards Page as an advocate, visionary and among the greatest minds in emergency services. The staff of Jems is deeply saddened by a day they’d hoped would never come.
According to paramedics on scene, Page was stricken while swimming in the afternoon of Sept. 4. Page, a fitness enthusiast who in his writing and speaking often urged the fire and emergency services to embrace healthier lifestyles, had no known history of heart disease.
Carlsbad (Calif.) Fire Chief Kevin Crawford is leading a team making plans for a memorial service. Further information on the service will be made available soon.
Page began his fire service career in Los Angeles County in 1957. He served in numerous locations and roles while working his way through the ranks and completing undergraduate education and law school at night. He has been a licensed California attorney since 1971.
In 1971, Page was assigned by his department to coordinate the
countywide implementation of paramedic rescue services. At the same
time, he served as technical consultant and writer for the
“Emergency!” television series. In 1973, he left the fire department to accept the new position of Chief of
EMS for the State of North Carolina.
Page spent the next ten years based on the east coast. In 1976, he was selected as executive director of the non-profit ACT (Advanced Coronary Treatment) Foundation. In 1979, he founded JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services) and turned it into one of the world’s most respected sources of information for emergency services. While at Jems Communications he oversaw the launch of FireRescue Magazine, for which he wrote the highly regarded “Burning Issues” column.
In 1984, Page returned to the California fire service while maintaining a leadership role in Jems. In 1989, he retired as Fire Chief for the City of Monterey Park (in Los Angeles County) and returned to a full-time leadership role as Chairman and CEO of Jems Communications.
Over the years, Page published five books, wrote more than 400 magazine
articles and editorials, and presented more than 800 public speeches. In 1996
he established and funded an EMS educational foundation at Palomar College in
San Marcos, Calif., because of his intense interest in EMS education.
In 1995, the International Association of Fire Chiefs honored him by creating
the annual “James O. Page Award of Excellence.” In 2000, he was recognized by
Fire Chief Magazine as one of the 20 most influential fire chiefs of the 20th
Century. In 2002, Jems Communications created the annual “James O. Page/JEMS
award,” presented annually to an organization or individual who excels in EMS
leadership in the face of extreme political or organizational pressures.
In December 2001, he retired from Jems Communications and was given
the title of Publisher Emeritus. Page, a partner in the law firm of
Page, Wolfberg and Wirth, with offices in California and
Pennsylvania, continued as a prolific writer and speaker in the fire
and EMS fields. Page was also a collector of vintage fire and
rescue vehicles, including his prized Rescue 11.
Over the past year, Page had toured the 100 “best small towns” in America with wife Jane in a custom RV, with the intent of profiling each town’s fire department and common success factors. He had already visited over 30 fire departments at the time of his passing, and was inspired and enthused by what he had seen in his visits and travels.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum, James O. Page Memorial fund, P.O. Box 3325, Alhambra, CA 91803.
The Memorial Service for James O. Page will be held on
September 16, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Carlsbad Community Church
3175 Harding Street
(Intersection of Harding Street & Pine Avenue)
Carlsbad, CA 92008
A large turnout is expected and attendees are encouraged to arrive early.
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