News/PR
Bay Medical Showcases Local EMS During National EMS Week
May 19, 2009
Contact:
Christa Dean Hild
850-747-6542
View coverage:
The News Herald
Panama City, Forida – As our nation takes time to recognize the vital service that EMS provides our communities, Bay Medical would like to share some facts about our local Emergency Medical Service.
- Bay Medical EMS responds to 25,000 calls per year on average.
- Bay Medical’s EMS Communications Center answers over 40,000 requests each year.
- For response times, the national urban area benchmark is 8 minutes 59 seconds. During this past April, our units averaged 8 minutes and 20 seconds to all areas of Bay County. For Bay County’s more urban areas, average response times are in the 5 minute range.
- We staff six ambulance stations through out Bay County, including central Panama City, Callaway, Lynn Haven, Youngstown, and two stations at the Beach (East & West).
- We have 7 crews on duty at all times, 9 during peak hours of the day and up to 12 crews during higher volume times like Spring Break.
- We employ a total of 85 Paramedics, EMTs, Dispatchers, Command Staff and administrative personnel.
- In addition to the standard required training, we have staff cross-trained in disaster and major incident response, quick response bicycle skills for assistance at special events and our Surf Rescue Team.
- Our EMS is on 24-hour call to be dispatched by the State of Florida Emergency Operations Center for the entire southeast U.S. for major incidents and disasters. For example, our EMS was deployed to Katrina’s aftermath in Mississippi.
- Bay Medical provides EMS services to Bay County at no cost to taxpayers. Many communities spend millions to subsidize their EMS service.
Bay Medical appreciates the hard and dangerous work these dedicated men and women do. We hope you’ll join us in taking time this week to extend your thanks to these medical professionals.
For more information please contact Christa Hild at 747-6542.