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rantnc.com of four ambulances and Advanced Life Support crews to decrease response times. Two crews were to be located at FirstHealth’s base on Central Drive in Sanford, with one other each sited at Northview Fire Station and Carolina Trace. In their review with the commissioners in January, FirstHealth reported having only three trucks available and staffed 24 hours a day. As of Feb. 1, that number has now increased to four trucks available staffed by crews around the clock. Earlier this year, Democratic County Commissioner Cameron Sharpe asked whether the four trucks in the contract were enough to meet the county's needs. Simmons believed a fifth truck will be necessary in the downtown area when the Northview fire station opens “because most of our calls are coming from downtown.”
Having vehicles available when emergencies arise is critical in a county with 63,000 residents, and Sharpe asked Simmons about a situation last winter when all available trucks were in use and an emergency arose that resulted in a wait of 42 minutes before help arrived. Simmons said a confluence of circumstances had occurred with some trucks out on other calls and maintenance issues on another that made it inoperable. That incident resulted in a good outcome, but it serves as an illustration of the importance of having every vehicle operational and manned. Who's to blame? The argument goes on in an April 26 letter sent to Santiago Giraldo, development services director for the county, by G. Barry Britt, chief and administrative director of the FirstHealth Regional EMS System.
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