James O. Page, widely considered the most influential leader of fire-based EMS in America, died suddenly Saturday, Sept. 4. He was 68.

According to a statement by JEMS Communications, Page was stricken as he was swimming in a pool near his home in Carlsbad, Calif. He had no known history of heart disease.

Page, founder and publisher emeritus of JEMS (The Journal of Emergency Medical Services), was named one of the most influential EMS leaders of the 20th century by Fire Chief magazine in 2000.

After working as a private ambulance attendant in Los Angeles County, Calif., in the mid 1950s, and later serving as a firefighter in Monterey Park, Calif., in 1959, Page joined the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

During 14 years at LAFD, he rose to become a battalion chief, commanding a 60-square-mile battalion in south Los Angeles -- and also coordinating and implementing a countywide paramedic service. During this period, he completed his undergraduate education and law school and served as a technical consultant and writer for the TV series "Emergency." Page has been a licensed California attorney since 1971.

In 1973, Page accepted the new position of chief of EMS for North Carolina, where he implemented a statewide program of emergency medical care and rescue services. He then moved north to become the executive director of a federally funded project to improve EMS in upstate New York.

From 1976 to 1983, Page served as executive director of the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation and developed programs to upgrade emergency medical services throughout the United States. In 1979, he founded The Journal of Emergency Medical Services, one of the world's most respected sources of EMS information.

Page was also the technical support services program manager for the USFA, where he managed a national program of consulting and technical assistance for fire and EMS agencies.

He then returned to the fire service in 1984 as a battalion chief in Carlsbad, Calif. Two years later, he was appointed fire chief of Monterey Park, Calif. He retired from Monterey Park in 1989, and returned to the full-time position of publisher at JEMS.

Page has written five books and more than 400 magazine articles and editorials, presented over 750 speeches, and provided consulting for more than 100 cities, counties and fire districts throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait and Japan. In 1996 he was a participant in the Wingspread IV conference.

Perhaps the most prominent among his many honors came in 1995, when he received the first annual James O. Page EMS Achievement Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a fitting recognition of his life's work.

Page retired from JEMS Communications in December 2001 and was given the title publisher emeritus. A partner in the law firm of Page, Wolfberg and Wirth, a national law firm specializing in emergency services law with offices in California and Pennsylvania, Page continued to be a prolific writer and speaker on fire and EMS issues.

He is survived by his mother, Marion, his wife, Jane, four children and six grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum, James O. Page Memorial fund, P.O. Box 3325, Alhambra, CA 91803.

Plans for Page's memorial service are pending. For more information, see www.pwwemslaw.com/JimPageMemorial.htm.