Volunteer EMS Coverage In Houston County Continues To Be A Issue

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Sep 28 2014 4:47 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:   Recently members of the Houston County Volunteer Fire Association met with members of the Houston County Commission to discuss funding woes. The fire departments operate $ 150,000.00 plus fire engines and equipment from about $ 45,000.00 a year in revenue.

About two years ago I informed the Houston County Commission there was an issue. When there was discussion over the employment of the Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management Director, I informed the Commission the greatest challenge for next EMA Director over the next 5 years was Fire and EMS coverage in the county.

Moments ago there was an assault call on St. Mary Church Road in Cottonwood. The assault occurred last night but was uncontrollable bleeding and vomiting now from being struck in the head by a beer bottle last date. Cottonwood EMS had no unit available and back up EMS was dispatched. The back up is Pilcher's Ambulance to respond from South Foster Street to Saint Mary Church Road in Cottonwood.

Not picking on Cottonwood EMS, but this is the second EMS call today Cottonwood failed to respond to. Other EMS units across the county have been unable to respond to medical emergencies. This IS NOT a slam on them. It is a growing trend with volunteers today. 

AGAIN, to the Houston County Commission, the greatest challenge for the leadership of Houston County...how to resolve emergency response with fire and EMS across the county.

Personally, I have notified the Houston County Commission of the problem. In an open County Commission Meeting, in the privileges of floor portion of the meeting, I told the commission of recent incidents.

In Columbia, during the business day, a call CPR in progress call in Columbia. There was no members of Columbia Rescue being available for response. Houston COunty 911 dispatched Pilcher's Ambulance from South Foster to Columbia. The issue is not Columbia Rescue. The volunteers do the best they can and have to make a living. They can not volunteer all of the time.

The issue revolves back to the leadership of Houston County. The greatest challenge over the next three years, how to economically resolve emergency response for fire and EMS. There is nothing in this article meant to be critical of the volunteer Fire and EMS members. They are GREAT PEOPLE and do the best they can do with the resources they have available.

Other rescue and fire units have issues at times in response. It is not their dedication and desire, but the requirements of life they have to make a living.

Also the leadership always wants to shoot the messenger and never listen to the message. The message is...someone has to get out of the box and THINK on how to resolve the issues.

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