Florence County Emergency Medical Services Patch, Certification Page and general facts

Visit our virtual patch page here to view patches from the area.

The new service patch of Florence County Emergency Medical Services. This patch is the replacement for the classic patch we have used since 1979. It has an updated look, and incorporates the Star of Life, which the patch below did not. This patch was introduced in October 2001. It shows when we were established, but drops the words "We Care" because we feel that the Star of Life is so recognized, that it implies all that the words meant.

Florence County EMS Special Operations Team (SpecOps) patch. This new patch was put in place starting in July 2002. Team members of the Special Operations Team wear it.

The original service patch of Florence County Emergency Medical Services. This is the patch that was initially designed and produced in 1979, a few years after Florence County took over as the provider of Emergency Medical Services. We are looking to change this to an anniversary patch in 2001 to celebrate our 25th year. All employees, no matter what level of certification, wear this on their right shoulder.

This patch is awarded at the completion of the South Carolina Emergency Medical Technician course, Basic level. This course consists of 120 hours of classroom time, 12 hours of hospital training, and a written and skills practical exam. This level of certification is required to be able to perform primary patient care onboard an ambulance in South Carolina. Our employees wear this on the left shoulder.

This patch is awarded at the completion of the South Carolina Emergency Medical Technician course, Intermediate level. This course follows success completion of the EMT Basic course, and adds an additional 48 hours of material. Additional skills that can be performed include Tracheal Intubation and administration of selected drugs. Our employees wear this patch on the left shoulder.

The Paramedic patch is awarded at the completion of the South Carolina Emergency Medical Technician course, Advanced level. This course requires an approximately 18 month long curriculum, and concurrent hospital training, along with ride-along time on an ALS ambulance. Additional skills that can be performed over the Intermediate level include administration of up to 40 drugs, Intra-osseous Infusions, Cardiac Monitoring, Pacing and Defibrillation, and Pleural Decompression of the chest. Our employees wear this on the left shoulder.

The symbol of the STAR OF LIFE, which is used in the United States to indicate a provider of emergency care. This symbol was designed by Leo R. Schwartz, Chief of the EMS Branch of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 1973. The symbol commonly used till that time was the Omaha cross, which is an orange cross similar to the Red Cross. The Red Cross objected to the similarity, and NHTSA investigated and determined that a symbol that could be more easily recognized was needed. In 1977, the Star of Life was registered as a trademark.
More history and meaning behind the Star of Life is available here.

All testing is done by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)
Basic EMT training programs are provided through the technical colleges, universities and vocational centers. Intermediate EMT and Paramedic training programs are conducted by the Regional EMS offices. In addition, specialized training courses such as Hazmat, pediatric, confined space rescue, burn injuries, Farmedic, trauma and ACLS courses are conducted through the Regional EMS offices and other sponsoring agencies.

Our local Regional EMS office is:

Pee Dee Regional EMS
1314 West Darlington Street
Florence, South Carolina 29501
(843) 662-5771
Executive Director Charles Stewart

Training is also available through:
Thomy Windham
Pee Dee Regional Community Training Center, Inc (site down)
478 West Evans Street
Florence, SC 29501
(843) 665-4671

Additional contacts for training are available at the SC EMS Educators Association

	The new service patch of Florence County Emergency Medical Services. This patch is the replacement for the classic patch we have used since 1979. It has an updated look, and incorporates the Star of Life, which the patch below did not. This patch was introduced in October 2001. It shows when we were established, but drops the words "We Care" because we feel that the Star of Life is so recognized, that it implies all that the words meant.
	Florence County EMS Special Operations Team (SpecOps) patch. This new patch was put in place starting in July 2002. Team members of the Special Operations Team wear it.
	The original service patch of Florence County Emergency Medical Services. This is the patch that was initially designed and produced in 1979, a few years after Florence County took over as the provider of Emergency Medical Services. We are looking to change this to an anniversary patch in 2001 to celebrate our 25th year. All employees, no matter what level of certification, wear this on their right shoulder.
	This patch is awarded at the completion of the South Carolina Emergency Medical Technician course, Basic level. This course consists of 120 hours of classroom time, 12 hours of hospital training, and a written and skills practical exam. This level of certification is required to be able to perform primary patient care onboard an ambulance in South Carolina. Our employees wear this on the left shoulder.
	This patch is awarded at the completion of the South Carolina Emergency Medical Technician course, Intermediate level. This course follows success completion of the EMT Basic course, and adds an additional 48 hours of material. Additional skills that can be performed include Tracheal Intubation and administration of selected drugs. Our employees wear this patch on the left shoulder.
	The Paramedic patch is awarded at the completion of the South Carolina Emergency Medical Technician course, Advanced level. This course requires an approximately 18 month long curriculum, and concurrent hospital training, along with ride-along time on an ALS ambulance. Additional skills that can be performed over the Intermediate level include administration of up to 40 drugs, Intra-osseous Infusions, Cardiac Monitoring, Pacing and Defibrillation, and Pleural Decompression of the chest. Our employees wear this on the left shoulder.
	The symbol of the STAR OF LIFE, which is used in the United States to indicate a provider of emergency care. This symbol was designed by Leo R. Schwartz, Chief of the EMS Branch of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 1973. The symbol commonly used till that time was the Omaha cross, which is an orange cross similar to the Red Cross. The Red Cross objected to the similarity, and NHTSA investigated and determined that a symbol that could be more easily recognized was needed. In 1977, the Star of Life was registered as a trademark. More history and meaning behind the Star of Life is available here.