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Faculty

Chris Kading

EMT
Detective Sergeant, EMT
Skagit County Sheriff's Office / Skagit County Fire District #2

Sgt. Chris Kading is an experienced Firefighter/EMT with Skagit County Fire District #2 as well as a Detective Sergeant with the Skagit County Sheriff's Office where he serves on the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (SCIDEU). Sgt. Kading brings a unique perspective to the discussion around EMS response to the opioid crisis as his experience includes overdose response as a firefighter/EMT as well as preventing overdoses by conducting complex criminal investigations and covert operations to get illicit drugs off the streets. Sgt. Kading serves as a critical information-sharing link between Skagit County law enforcement and EMS agencies - providing regular communication on trending regional drug trafficking issues and scene safety considerations to help keep first responders safe.

2026 Sessions

EMS Response to the Opioid Epidemic Through Collaborative Partnerships

Yes, I understand

The opioid epidemic continues to challenge communities across the nation, demanding innovative and coordinated response strategies from EMS. This presentation highlights how EMS agencies can leverage collaborative partnerships to coordinate and enhance their response to opioid-related emergencies. By implementing streamlined overdose data collection, conducting real-time overdose monitoring, and introducing targeted communication, harm reduction, and post-overdose outreach programs, these partnerships can help to transform EMS from a reactive service into a proactive force multiplier for public health intervention.

Attendees will gain insight into successful county-level collaboration between EMS, public health, law enforcement, and the coroner’s office, and the positive impact these partnerships can have on overdose response and community engagement. The session will highlight various collaboration strategies, discuss barriers to implementation, and offer strategies for building sustainable cross-sector alliances that empower EMS providers to play a pivotal role in combating the opioid crisis.

Co-Presenter (2 Presenters)

Friday, October 02 1:00–2:00 PM
Room W230 A
Faculty

Chris Kading

EMT
Detective Sergeant, EMT
Skagit County Sheriff's Office / Skagit County Fire District #2

Sgt. Chris Kading is an experienced Firefighter/EMT with Skagit County Fire District #2 as well as a Detective Sergeant with the Skagit County Sheriff's Office where he serves on the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (SCIDEU). Sgt. Kading brings a unique perspective to the discussion around EMS response to the opioid crisis as his experience includes overdose response as a firefighter/EMT as well as preventing overdoses by conducting complex criminal investigations and covert operations to get illicit drugs off the streets. Sgt. Kading serves as a critical information-sharing link between Skagit County law enforcement and EMS agencies - providing regular communication on trending regional drug trafficking issues and scene safety considerations to help keep first responders safe.

Faculty

Josh Pelonio

BS, MPO, NREMT
Director
Skagit County EMS

Josh Pelonio, BS, NREMT, MPO is the Director for Skagit County EMS in Mount Vernon, Washington where he oversees a primarily fire-based county-wide coordinated EMS system that encompasses 1,920 square miles and a population of 132,000. His career spans just over 20 years in EMS as a clinician, educator, and administrator. In his current role, Mr. Pelonio served as the First Responder Branch Director within the Skagit County Unified Command in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, working closely in collaboration with other EMS system stakeholders. Mr. Pelonio completed the American Ambulance Association Ambulance Service Manager program in 2014, obtained the Managing Paramedic Officer credential through the American College of Paramedic Executives in 2018, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in EMS Administration through Columbia Southern University in 2020.
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