Chris Anderson

Chris began his EMS career at the age of 16 as an Explorer for Hall Ambulance in Bakersfield, CA. On his first call, he watched from the back as the crew skillfully weaved an ambulance through heavy traffic and onto the opposite side of the road while blasting “Lovefool” by The Cardigans at max volume. Unbeknownst to him, his career path was set.

He grew up in a family-owned construction business and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he studied Construction Management and Music. There he learned all about the ‘exciting’ logistics of the Construction Industry. Realizing he didn’t want his life to be filled with blood, danger, and drama, (and a likely move back to Bakersfield), he instead followed his passion and pursued the path of life-long learning in pre-hospital medicine.

Chris has spent his career involved in all aspects of the EMS field in San Luis Obispo County. He currently works as a Paramedic Supervisor where he coordinates the daily operations of the county’s ambulance deployment and 911 response. He oversees the company’s ALS Bike Team and Explorer Program, he helped establish Tactical Medic and Mental Health Resilience Programs, and safely lead his agency through the Covid pandemic as the Designated Infection Control Officer.  His favorite collateral assignment has been with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office where he has more than a decade of experience as a Tactical Medic on the Special Enforcement Detail.

His passion for EMS spills over into his love for watching others learn. Chris has been teaching EMS and related subjects for over 20 years. As a paramedic Field Training Officer, he shared his energy with his interns and became known for his high expectations and attention to detail. Other than EMS, his favorite subjects to teach are activity-based ones such as Tactical Medicine, HazMat, and EVOC. He believes scenario integration is more enjoyable to teach which translates to more enjoyment and overall better retention for the students.