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Several years ago, my wife fell against the bed and appeared to stop breathing.  I pulled her away from the bed and she was breathing but was incoherent.  I called 911; Washington Fire and Rescue sent out an advanced life support vehicle and took her directly to the hospital.

Luckly, it was just a super high fever and she recovered quickly.  Tylenol was all that she needed.  It was the flu but could have been much worse.
The emergency medical services crew were professional and got her to the hospital quickly.  I was impressed to know that such service was available and how well it functioned.  I didn’t know the service was going to be upgraded.

In recent years, paramedics have been added to the fire and rescues.  This is a higher level of service and capability which improved emergency service in the municipalities and the county.  It is well worth the extra cost in taxes.  Pay rates must be competitive to keep them in Beaufort County.

Recently, I read through the history of the Washington Fire Department.  The capability of the department has increased dramatically over the years and the personnel are trained to a much higher level.  Much of this training occurred at Beaufort County Community College.

Several students have received training in the Paramedic Program offered at Beaufort County Community College.  BCCC offers several levels of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and paramedic training in their continuing education program.  Paramedic is an excellent career opportunity for young people.

EMTs generally provide life-saving care to patients at the scene of an emergency and during transportation to the hospital.  Paramedics are higher trained EMTs capable of more advanced medical procedures including providing oral and intravenous medication, monitoring electrocardiograms and performing tracheotomies.  Paramedics provide continuous care to patients as they enter hospitals and emergency rooms from the emergency medical response vehicle.

The county’s 23-24 budget includes 34 full-time positions in Emergency Medical Services.  A good portion of those positions are filled by paramedics.  Washington also lists a number of paramedics in their ranks.

The paramedics are important to all who live in Beaufort County.  The elderly particularly appreciate this level of service in what is mostly a rural county.  Not all counties have what we have.

It’s been a while since the decision was made to add the paramedics to Beaufort County and Washington Emergency Medical Services.  I congratulate the politicians who made it.  It cost a lot of money but was the right decision.

Often times, cutting taxes can become a political and citizen priority.  But sometimes, what you get for your money is of far greater importance.

Al Klemm is a Washington resident and former Beaufort County Commissioner.