N.C. County Hears Concerns Over Ambulance Response Times
Sept. 22--ELIZABETHTOWN -- The Bladen County Board of Commissioners heard from Bladen County EMS Director David Howell with an update on an EMS service plan during the Monday meeting.
Howell told the board that Bladen County EMS is tasked with providing paramedic-level care to the public and, in order to do so, the proper resources must be in place.
Howell told the board that currently, the response time for an ambulance to reach the East Arcadia area from where it is currently based is about 18 minutes. He reviewed for the board the various locations where the EMS units are stationed during the periods from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.
Howell proposed to the board adding an additional unit, which would be stationed at White Lake Water Rescue, to cover the northeastern section of the county from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. This, according to Howell, would reduce response times for that part of the county. Howell also proposed shifting one unit to Dublin.
He also reviewed the call volumes for various areas of the county.
"If a paramedic is needed (to respond) with Tar Heel, we have to provide that," said Howell.
Commissioner Chairman Charles Ray Peterson raised concerns about the total response times for the county.
"We are concerned about it, too," said Howell.
After further discussion, it was requested that Howell gather further data and bring it back to the board for further review.
--Erin Smith can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.
Copyright 2015 - Bladen Journal, Elizabethtown, N.C.
