Central EMS invites public to open house
Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/65526/
Central Emergency Medical Service hosted an open house and luncheon Friday afternoon.
“ We want the public to see what we do and get to know us, ” said Central EMS Assistant Chief Steve Harrison. “ We want them to see our faces and recognize what the [emergency medical technicians ] do for the public. ”
Central EMS is a nonprofit organization that has provided emergency and nonemergency ambulance service to Fayetteville and Washington County since 1980.
Friday’s open house culminated a weeklong series of events hosted in honor of National EMS week. In addition to a home-cooked breakfast prepared by EMS captains and chiefs each day during the past week, Central EMS staff participated in a blood drive and ice cream social on Thursday. Activities recognized all facets of the emergency medical system in Washington County, including Fayetteville, Elkins, Farmington, Goshen, Greenland Johnson, Lincoln, Prairie Grove, West Fork and Winslow.
According to Harrison, Central EMS employs nearly 100 people.
“ Every year our call volume increases, ” he said. “ We average about 38 calls a day. ”
In 2006, Central EMS answered almost 21, 000 calls to 911, responded to more than 11, 000 calls and transported more than 8, 000 patients.
In addition to dispatching its own ambulances, Central EMS dispatches 17 rural fire departments on fire and first responder calls, the Washington County Department of Emergency Management, Coroner’s Office, Fire Marshall and Search and Rescue and Tactical Response Team. All Central EMS communicators are certified both as emergency medical and emergency Fire dispatchers.
Fr iday’s cookout was hosted in recognition of the role played by dispatchers, firefighters, first responders, EMTs, paramedics and emergency department personnel.
Harrison said the luncheon also gave employees a chance to interact with the public in a positive environment.
“ Normally, we deal with people who are in a crisis situation, ” he said. “ We understand that. We’re people, too — we sometimes have crisis situations of our own to deal with. It’s nice when people call and tell us how they’re doing and how our response was. Normally, family members who are sick don’t think about thanking you. We don’t expect them to. ”