Hayes to Retire as State Director of Emergency Medical Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 8, 2012

CONTACT: Terry Woster, Public Information Officer, 605.773.3178

 

       Hayes to Retire as State Director of Emergency Medical Services

 

PIERRE, S.D. – Danny Hayes, director of South Dakota’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, is retiring.

 

Hayes, 62, has been with Emergency Medical Services for 18 years and became director of the office in December of 2009. His retirement is official Friday, June 8, according to Public Safety Secretary Trevor Jones.

 

Jones said a search currently is underway to fill the position. Emergency Medical Services is an agency within the State Department of Public Safety.

 

“Danny has given his professional life to making South Dakota safer by focusing on the quality of the training and equipment of the men and women who provide emergency medical services in our state,’’ Jones said. “We’ll miss him, but we wish him a rewarding retirement.’’

 

Hayes, a Sturgis native, worked as a paramedic in the Aberdeen area before joining the state EMS program. He says he’ll return to the Black Hills area to spend more time with his children and grandchildren, and to camp and travel.

 

“I truly enjoyed my career in emergency medical services, and I was honored to have served as director of EMS,’’ Hayes said. “It’s time to settle back a little. I am looking forward to seeing what adventures lie ahead in this next step in my life.’’