- When do Paramedics utilize lights and siren?
- What should I do when approached by an emergency vehicle?
- Someone I know had a heart attack, and the family had to do CPR. The ambulance stayed at the house a long time. Shouldn't the paramedics have transported him right away to
the hospital? - I was in an accident, but I wasn't hurt. I was asked to sign a form because I didn't want to go to the hospital with the paramedics. What was the form for?
- How many ambulances do you have?
- Where are the ambulances located?
- What's the difference between an EM, Intermediate , and Paramedic?
- How busy are you guys? Looks to me like you sit at the station all day.
- I would like to work for Beaufort County EMS. How do I go about getting hired?
- Can I ride with the paramedics on the ambulance?
- How can I schedule a demonstration at my school or organization?
- My child is fascinated by ambulances. Can I take him to the station to
look at an ambulance? - I called one of the stations and didn't get an answer. Looks to me you guys could miss an emergency call. What's the deal?
- I have a question that's not covered here. Where can I find the answer?
Q: When do Paramedics utilize lights and siren?
A: A: The time saved navigating traffic using lights and sirens
can be essential, but, due to the high risk involved with emergency
responses (using lights and siren), only life-threatening conditions
are dispatched or transported in this manner. Vehicle accidents
with injuries, chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness,
and drownings are all examples of emergencies that would warrant
the use of lights and sirens. Less emergent services, such as routine
doctor's appointments and uncomplicated chronic ailments, will not
require lights and siren use. The type of response is initially
determined by medical dispatchers (EMD's) at the Beaufort County
E-911 Center. EMD's use a set criteria to determine the appropriate
responses for each call.
A: South Carolina law requires motorists to yield the right of
way to emergency vehicles who are traveling with lights and siren
activated. The correct procedure is to pull to the right side of
the road and come to a complete stop until the emergency vehicle
has passed. Motorists heading toward the ambulance should also pull
to the right side of the road and come to a stop. Both lanes of
travel are required to stop for the ambulance so long as a divided
median is not present. If you are stopped at an intersection with
a traffic light, you should remain in your lane of travel so long
as the ambulance has an open lane to go around. Remember pull to
the RIGHT.
Q: Someone I know had a heart attack, and the family had to do CPR. The ambulance stayed at the house a long
time. Shouldn't the paramedics have transported him right away to
the hospital?
A: Certain emergencies require advanced treatment on-scene before
transport can be initiated. For example, during cardiac arrests
(where a person's heart stops), the paramedics must establish a
secure airway and attempt to convert the patient's heart back to
normal before beginning to transport the patient to the hospital.
IV's usually are started on-scene of cardiac arrests because it
is more efficant than in a moving ambulance while still performing
CPR. The IV is one of the most effective routes for drug therapy.
Paramedics are capable of providing the same inital treatment for
cardiac arrest patients in the ambulance as you might see done first
thing in the emergency department. The time delay of providing treatment
on-scene is warranted by the benefits gained.
Q: I was in an accident, but I wasn't hurt. I was asked to sign a form because I didn't want to go to the hospital with the paramedics. What was the form for?
A: You were asked to sign a release of liability section of a standard
patient care report. This releases Beaufort County EMS and its affiliated
agencies and employees from liability for your refusal of treatment
and transport. This does not affect your future rights if you later
decide to seek treatment from the hospital, ambulance service, or
any other entity.
A: Beaufort County EMS owns 15 ambulances and 2 quick response
units , all of which are capable of being staffed on a moment's
notice. We staff 8 advanced life support ambulances and 2 quick
response units 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
A: Our headquarters station is at 2727 Depot Road, Beaufort. Headquarters
houses an advanced ambulance, and backup or reserve ambulances.
Beaufort County EMS also maintains satellite stations in Bluffton,
Daufuskie and Sun City houses an advanced ambulance, and backup
or reserve ambulances. Satellite stations in Burton, Lady's Island,
Lobeco, and St. Helena each houses an advanced ambulance, the stations
at Fripp Island and Callawassie station an advanced Quick response
unit.
A: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's) are trained in patient
assessment and teatment at a basic level. An EMT may administer
Oxygen, use an Automatic External Defrillator (AED), stablize a
potental spinal injury patient on a backboard, splint fractures
and bandage wounds, do definitive airway interventions, Intubation,
Monitor vital signs, and perform on-going assassment of patients
condition
An EMT-Intermediate attends more training, and can do all the skills of an EMT, but can also initiate Intra-venous (IV) lines for fluid resuscitation. Intermediates can also perform a even more advanced airway methods than a EMT
Paramedics attend approximately two more years of training, and are capable of many additional skills. A Paramedic may also analyze, interpret, and treat various heart rhythms, give appropriate medications with pre-arranged "standing orders," treat critical trauma patients with advanced maneuvers such as chest decompression for a collapsed lung, establish advanced IV lines, as well as Intra-osseous line, which are specfic to pediatrics and go into the bone marrow, and provide a invaluable liaison to the hospital emergency room. Paramedics are now trained in skills that were formerly reserved exclusively for the Emergency Room staff, such as 12 lead EKGs, cardioversion, and new methods of securing an airway, such as Rapid Sequence Intubation and using a new adjunct, the LMA and CPAP
An EMT-Intermediate attends more training, and can do all the skills of an EMT, but can also initiate Intra-venous (IV) lines for fluid resuscitation. Intermediates can also perform a even more advanced airway methods than a EMT
Paramedics attend approximately two more years of training, and are capable of many additional skills. A Paramedic may also analyze, interpret, and treat various heart rhythms, give appropriate medications with pre-arranged "standing orders," treat critical trauma patients with advanced maneuvers such as chest decompression for a collapsed lung, establish advanced IV lines, as well as Intra-osseous line, which are specfic to pediatrics and go into the bone marrow, and provide a invaluable liaison to the hospital emergency room. Paramedics are now trained in skills that were formerly reserved exclusively for the Emergency Room staff, such as 12 lead EKGs, cardioversion, and new methods of securing an airway, such as Rapid Sequence Intubation and using a new adjunct, the LMA and CPAP
A: Calls can vary from day to day. One day a crew may just a few
calls. On another day, the crew may not stop running calls. Beaufort
County EMS responds to approximately 12,000 calls annually. In addition,
we are responsible for maintaining, cleaning, and restocking the
ambulances. We also have programs involving public relations and
special events
A: Beaufort County
EMS only hires currently certified EMT's, Intermediates, and Paramedics who have previous work experience. Various technical schools and
colleges in South Carolina can provide the necessary training to
obtain certification . EMT's currently must attend 139 hour of classroom
training that is interspersed with required clinical time in an
emergency department. Paramedics must be certified EMT's before
they can begin training in paramedicine. Paramedics receive an additional
training in the classroom, ambulance, and various departments of
hospital. Check the Beaufort County Human Resources Department.
A:Currently we only allow personnel with affiliated agencies to
observe.
A: Demonstrations for children are available nearly anytime. Yes,
they include coloring books (we wouldn't want to disappoint the
kids!). Teachers and organization leaders can schedule a demonstration
by contacting our Public Information Officer at (843)-525-4040.
We ask that you please give us a few weeks notice!
A: Yes, phone the shift supervisor or senior crew chief at (843)-525-4008.
Please note that due to the unpredictable nature of emergencies,
the crew may not be present when you arrive at the station.
Q: I called one of the stations and didn't
get an answer. Looks to me you guys could miss an emergency call.
What's the deal?
A: The station numbers are the living quarters of the crews. They
are NOT for requesting ambulance transportation! If you need an
ambulance, you should contact Beaufort County E-911 by dialing
9-1-1 in an emergency. When the crew leaves to respond to a call, there is no one around to answer the phone in the living quarters. This is why it's important to call Beaufort County E-911 for all ambulance requests. We are dispatched via radio.
9-1-1 in an emergency. When the crew leaves to respond to a call, there is no one around to answer the phone in the living quarters. This is why it's important to call Beaufort County E-911 for all ambulance requests. We are dispatched via radio.
A: Email us, give us a call at the headquarters station, or just
come by and visit us. Email questions to dtinnel@bcgov.net
Administration E-Mail Addresses
