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 Emergency Medical Services web posted January 27, 2012 EDGEFIELD – EMS Director Jewel Plaxco addressed the committee about the needs relating to EMS services stating that there is a definite need for a third ambulance crew and station for the county. If one ambulance is transporting a patient to an Augusta hospital that leaves the county with only one ambulance to cover the entire county. In spite of that problem, EMS has an average response time of 17 minutes, though some are much longer. The national average is 9 minutes, Dir. Plaxco said, adding that the time an ambulance takes to handle a call in Edgefield County averages 51 minutes. Plaxco said adding a third ambulance crew and station somewhere near the top of the four lane section of Highway 25 would be ideal. She stated that the county is currently running about 7 to 10 years behind in keeping up with the population growth. "But I do want to commend you (county council members present). I have seen more positive changes in the past year than we have seen on the last ten years." Cpounty Administrator Roger LeDuc asked if it would be feasible for the EMS to take two of the ambulances that are being replaced to be staffed for non-emergency transports within the county, generating more revenue for the county. Dir. Plaxco said it is possible. LeDuc stated that with private companies currently taking on those services, "they must be making money," and if the county were to assume a partial role it could generate revenues or at worst "break even" while keeping the services within the scope of county government. Dir. Plaxco also stated that EMS is currently offering CPR classes as well as First Responder classes and encouraged not only fire departments and law enforcement to get involved, but also regular citizens. There is a plan to offer EMT-Basic certifications to graduating seniors of the high schools to take a class and become certified as EMT-B's to help introduce them into the field of emergency medical services. Under the plan PLaxco described, a class that would normally cost $1,000 to complete, would be lowered to $275 for high school seniors in an effort to "grow our own" EMT's, as Administrator LeDuc stated, and keep local students working within the county, rather than seeking employment outside of the county. There was also a suggestion made to offer the classes in the high schools to seniors that would allow them to complete the training during school hours while earning credit for the class and give them a skill to enter the job market while advancing their careers if that is their chosen field. © Copyright 2012 All material is property of
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