Steve Melde Never Tired of a Career Where Change Was a Constant

 

Steve Melde always knew he wanted to work in the medical field. Early on, he was a Certified Nursing Assistant. While in the National Guard, he pursued EMT-Basic and Paramedic certifications through Madison College.

 

So maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise that he went on to serve 25 of his 26 years with the Madison Fire Department on the ambulance— no small feat in a job as stressful and demanding as advanced-life-support EMS.

 

"I found that out of all the jobs that I’ve been able to do here, EMS has been the most fulfilling to me," he said. "It’s a great job."

 

Melde was hired to MFD in October 1999 and was a member of the Hazardous Incident Team for his first ten years on the department. He was activated as a paramedic in July 2000 and never looked back. Nine years later, he was reclassified to Firefighter/Paramedic 2, allowing him to mentor new paramedics and help with the continuing education of his fellow EMS providers.

 

"EMS is always progressing and changing, so each year we get upgrades in equipment, new skills, and there's the science that leads us into better care," he said. "There's always something new to learn in EMS."

 

With a love of learning, he decided to take up the bagpipes in 2010, meticulously studying the intricacies of the instrument over the course of a couple years. Upon honing his skills as a piper, he became a member of the Local 311 Pipes & Drums and Madison Pipes & Drums. The groups perform at fire department-related ceremonies, festivities, funerals, and other events in the community.

 

"It's a really interesting instrument for only nine notes," he said, noting the challenge of maintaining proper pressure in the bag while staying dialed in to the melody that must be played.

 

Looking back at his career, Melde remembers the most rewarding events, like the first time he helped deliver a baby.

 

"What an experience. Where else would you get to suddenly be brought into somebody's life for such a life-changing event like that— in a positive way? That's a feeling I'll always remember."

 

Several years ago, Melde and his crew were dispatched to a local business for a woman in cardiac arrest. She survived the experience thanks to the expert care she received from MFD and the local hospital system. Every year afterward, she reached out to the crew to say "thank you" while sharing with them all that she got to experience in the past year because of their work.

 

"You made a difference," said Melde. "I think that’s something that you get to take with you when you walk away from a job like this."

 

A lot has changed in the world of EMS since Melde first became a paramedic, but one thing remained steadfast: his passion for the job and the satisfaction of being able to help people. 

 

He credits the support of his wife for his longevity in the role.

 

"If you're going to have a job like this and try to have and raise a family, you have to have a partner that's there for you and really supports you through it," Melde said. "I can't say enough about how she's been there throughout all this."

 

After 26 years of sleepless nights, Melde is looking forward to getting some sleep in retirement. He also plans to experience more of the world through travel and share those experiences with his wife and kids. But he'll still be doing his part to inspire the next generation of EMTs and paramedics through his work as a part-time instructor.

 

"Being more in control of your own time and how you want to spend it, versus trying to work around a work schedule, that’ll be a good feeling."