Aiken County to hire new EMS workers

BEECH ISLAND, S.C. - People calling 911 in Aiken County will hopefully see shorter response times now.

Because of a shortage of EMS workers, many areas in the county were struggling to get quick responses, like Beech Island whose fire department has been facing some tough times when responding to calls.

“It's a little bit discouraging when we're on a scene with a patient who's becoming more critical, knowing EMS would increase life capabilities,” Beech Island Fire Department’s Assistant Fire Chief, Keith Clary, said. “Some of the ambulances are 20 to 25 minutes because they are coming from such great distances.”

"When you're short an ambulance you don't have spares. Once you pull from one station you have to pull another from other area to cover as much as we can," LaWana McKenzie of Aiken’s County Council said.

To solve the shortage problem, the Aiken County Council decided to include 11 extra emergency care workers to their budget.

"This will make sure all ambulances are manned and are at our stations," McKenzie said.

Veteran paramedic Harvey Tollison says the additional staff is a start but more is needed.

“It's a step in the right direction to hire people to put the slots there but if you don't put enough money there for them we won't get the people you need,” Tollison said.

He says Aiken County will have a hard time competing with the money private companies offer.

“You are going to have to pay in the height of $17 to $18 an hour to get them,” Tollison said.

He also says, right now, Aiken County pays substantially less.

But for now, The Beech Island Fire Department is looking forward to the new faces and hopefully quicker response times.

“We're excited about it. Fire, EMS we're here to respond to the people that call when they need it,” Clary said.

It will cost a little more than $500,000 to fill the 11 new EMS positions. Right now the Aiken County Council is advertising for the jobs but will not be able to hire anyone until the funding is approved.