The history and services of Meade County EMS By KAREN KENNEDY Meade County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) began in November 1976, when the county recognized the strong need for better medical services for people requiring emergency care and/or transportation to area hospitals. Initially, Meade County EMS employed six full-time and three part-time emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Making an average of four runs per day, EMS served a population of approximately 17,000. Until 1984, Meade County EMS shared a building with the Meade County Fire District Station #1 in Brandenburg. A separate EMS station was then erected next to the fire department, where it is still located today adjacent to the Meade County Courthouse. In its beginning years, Meade County EMS responded to calls only at a basic life support level. One medical emergency in particular may be credited as the motivating factor that fueled Meade County’s decision to increase its level of care to advanced life support protocols. In 1992, the mother of David Pace (Pace is Brandenburg’s new mayor) had gone into cardiopulmonary arrest. Her heart had stopped, and she was not breathing. Meade County EMS responded to the scene, quickly realized she was in a life-threatening condition, and called for the assistance of Larry Naser, an off-duty paramedic from Jefferson County EMS who was also fire chief for Meade County Fire District. Naser performed advanced life support, including the use of a defibrillator, shocking her heart. With his assistance, Meade County EMS saved this woman’s life, and she is still taking care of her family today. This led to Meade County Fiscal Court deciding to implement advanced life support services during that same year, with Larry Naser the first paramedic employed by Meade County EMS. Naser was on call 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, responding to life-threatening emergencies in a chase car donated by Tony Brown. Throughout the years, as Meade County has grown in population, so has its emergency run volume and the size of its EMS workforce. Meade County EMS currently employs nine full-time paramedics, nine full-time EMTs, six part-time paramedics and six part-time EMTs. Employees work 24-hour shifts – 24 hours on and 48 hours off – and rotate between the three stations on a monthly basis. In 2002, a second EMS station was located in Flaherty, and in 2004 a third station opened in Payneville. The three stations serve a population of over 28,000 and average six to 10 calls a day. Meade County EMS is funded by and accountable to Meade County Fiscal Court, which has been very supportive of EMS’s needs and ensures EMS receives all the new equipment it needs on an annual basis. Licensed by the commonwealth of Kentucky, Meade County EMS must adhere to all applicable rules and regulations. Inspectors from the state come to Meade County on a periodic basis, checking the trucks, equipment, records kept, etc. “We do well in inspections,” said EMS director Pam Weber. “Last year an inspector told us that out of 20 inspections done so far during the year, only three passed with zero deficiencies and we were one of them.” Weber credits much of Meade County EMS’s success to the longevity of its employees. “Some people have worked here 20 years. The longevity is amazing. We’re fortunate to have a very dedicated staff with so much experience,” said Weber. “With this being a small community, our paramedics and EMTs often know whose house they’re responding to when a call comes in. Sometimes they even know before they arrive at the scene what a particular person’s medical needs may be. It’s more than responding to an address; it’s responding to people.” For more information about Meade County EMS, visit www.meadecountyems.com. Click Here to Go Back
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