Multiple medical emergencies on Monday night highlighted concerns of an EMS shortage in the county, but fortunately, dispatch was able to get a crew en route in just a few minutes.
At 7:30 pm, a call for a Rarden man having a medical emergency came into dispatch. A few minutes later, Rarden EMS told dispatch they didn’t have an ambulance crew available.
Dispatch paged for another crew, but didn’t get a response. They then attempted to contact Portsmouth Ambulance, but all lines were ringing busy.
Dispatch then contacted Adams County, and they were able to have a rescue squad from Peebles respond to the scene.
While the entire process took around 10 minutes, it does highlight the difficulties rural EMS providers are facing due to a shortage of volunteer fire and EMS.
Later that evening at 11 pm, a worried family member reported an out-of-control child had assaulted them and another child and was threatening to harm themselves. Deputies were blocked by a train but were able to get there within a few minutes.
Deputies requested a squad from Union and they requested an EMT from another fire department. Multiple attempts were made to contact Portsmouth Ambulance, but the phone rang busy.
Eventually, Rosemount was able to dispatch an EMT. An ambulance transported the troubled child to the hospital.