The shortage of available ambulance crews continues in Scioto County, with Union EMS unavailable for three overnight calls.
Among the calls that kept first responders busy was a woman with chest pains in Lucasville just after 12:30 am. When Valley didn’t answer after two calls, dispatch called for Portsmouth Ambulance, which sent a crew. Valley EMS called in a few minutes later, but since Portsmouth Ambulance had a crew on the day, they disregarded it.
Around 1 am, an elderly West Side cardiac patient passed out and cut his face, but 911 got no answer from Union Township EMS after two calls and had another squad cover.
At 3:50 am another alert went out for a 84-year-old with stomach pains. Union Twp. was not available after two alerts, so dispatch had another squad cover.
At 5 am, dispatch called for an ambulance for a resident with low blood pressure. Union Twp. didn’t respond, so they contacted Portsmouth Ambulance. That agency did not have a crew available, so dispatch sent for EMT Ohio, which sent an ambulance to the scene.