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County to Add Six EMS Workers
This issue really came to light two weeks ago, when it took 40 minutes for a crew to reach a sick woman, who died later that day. Now officials hope more paid and volunteer workers will strengthen their service.
Within six minutes of a 911 call Tuesday, the Rustburg Volunteer Rescue Squad is on the scene of a motor vehicle accident. But in recent months, Campbell County EMS says volunteers haven't always been available when needed.
Volunteer Vickie Ennis says they can't always be there. "Most of them have jobs or other obligations, so you're not always here. So that's one of the reasons they're bringing in more paid," Ennis said.
Rustburg supervisor, Hugh Pendleton, said, "We're just trying to give them the assistance they need where they're not stressed out."
The county's only ambulance staffed 24-7 by paid workers is on Rainbow Forest Drive in the northern part of the county. The new proposal will bring the same service to Brookneal, as well as a 24-7 advanced life support vehicle county-wide.
"This is no reflection on the crews, they do a tremendous job. But they need help," Pendleton said.
Campbell County EMS has a goal of arriving on the scene at least 15 minutes after the 911 call comes in 90% of the time. Lately, they're only reaching that half the time.
"If all squads had enough volunteers in each area, everyone else could cover their own better," Ennis said.
Ennis says the county also needs more volunteers, not just paid staff. Because as this accident shows, paid workers can't do it all.
"They can't respond, somebody else has got to go. It's got to be the volunteers that really does it.," Ennis said.
The county's EMS Advisory Committee will meet later this month to finalize the new workers. And these new positions have to be self-funded, meaning they can't be paid for by county tax money. The new workers will be paid by user-fees, meaning the county will charge people for using their service.
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