A quick response from emergency personnel is critical to avert needless tragedies.

    Florence County EMS recently opened new headquarters with easy access to two important city streets, giving them and advantage against the clock. The facility accesses Church and Barringer streets, which connect to main routes across much of the east part of the city. The majority of calls come from areas supplied by these connected routes. The $750,000 building includes a classroom, a medical storage area, garage bay, men's and women's dormitories, a conference room and a dayroom. The land was donated by Carolinas Hospital System.

    EMS director Gary Horn has helped direct big changes in the organization in his two years on he job. Before the new facility came snazzier uniforms, military rank structure, new vehicles and new personnel. But the new home is the biggest step yet to providing Florence's growing population with a top-notch EMS operation.

Florence County EMS Director Gary Horn

    In the old Dargan Street building every phone in the building would ring if someone called. A minor annoyance, but still an annoyance. That's fixed, and beyond that EMS is now networked to the county's e-mail system. That's a far cry from two years ago when EMS lacked a fax machine and a copier. Improved communications means more efficiency, Horn said.

   EMS also enjoys new custom-fitted ambulances, more storage space (including larger bays in which to park ambulances), more office space, much more parking and a training room.

    Horn, who often logs a 72-hour work week, will continue to push the organization forward with the help of its dedicated employees. "We've come a long way in the last two years, but there are still some things to do," he said. This year, training will become the central focus. EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, fire department personnel and civilians will participate.

    Florence Fire Chief Joe Robertson said training sessions will strengthen his department's relationship with EMS. the bottom line for him? The new facility means many patients will arrive at local hospitals sooner.

    Lea Dean, trauma coordinator at Carolinas Hospital System, said there is a "golden hour" in which to treat victims of sever injury or illness. After an hour, the chance of surviving drops considerably.

    Dean regularly lectures EMS personnel to supplement training and knowledge gleamed from the streets. A training room will allow for more people to learn about safety issues, she said.

    The new facility is another indication that Florence's medical community and connected organizations are preparing for the new millennium's many challenges. "This is just the tip of the iceberg with respect to the big changes to come," said Dean.