About EMS
Emergency Medical Services is the division of Jackson County Emergency Services responsible for the delivery of pre-hospital care to the citizens and visitors of Jackson County. Each ambulance is staffed by two individuals, most often two Paramedics (but sometimes a Paramedic and EMT). This two person team is the more commonly termed "ambulance drivers" to the general public, however, their responsibilities and the role they serve is far greater than that of any driver.
Ambulances
Emergency Medical Services staffs seven advanced life support ambulances that are stationed throughout the county. Responding to more than 7,500 emergency calls in 2016, full-time employees work a rotating shift schedule where they work 24 hours and they are off for 48 hours. This schedule staffs all 6 county ambulances 24 hours a day, and a seventh ambulance that operates 12 hours a day.
Ambulances respond to all emergency medical incidents such as strokes, chest pains, sick calls or automobile accidents where EMTs and Paramedics provide care to the sick and injured before and during transport to the hospital.
Back in the early days of EMS, ambulances were operated by the funeral homes in the county. There was no formal training back then for those who rode these ambulances. The main goal of this type of service was to get the sick and injured to the hospital as quickly as possible. Today, the back of the ambulance is often referred to as a "mobile emergency room." EMTs and Paramedics receive over one thousand hours of classroom and hands-on training to prepare them for the emergencies they face when responding to calls for help.
Back in the early days of EMS, ambulances were operated by the funeral homes in the county. There was no formal training back then for those who rode these ambulances. The main goal of this type of service was to get the sick and injured to the hospital as quickly as possible. Today, the back of the ambulance is often referred to as a "mobile emergency room." EMTs and Paramedics receive over one thousand hours of classroom and hands-on training to prepare them for the emergencies they face when responding to calls for help.