EMS Week recognizes amazing work done around the clock

We care. For everyone.
That’s the theme of this year’s EMS Week, a national recognition of emergency medical professionals and all they do in communities across the country. I am so proud of Lawrence County EMS (LCEMS) and couldn’t let the week pass by without praising them.
Prior to 1972, Lawrence County’s emergency medical transport was provided by local funeral homes, family members and neighbors. The best they could do was drive to the hospital as fast as they possibly could.
We’ve come a long way. Today’s LCEMS is staffed by 23 Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians; 15 Paramedics; and 7 Critical Care Paramedics. Our ambulances are like rolling emergency rooms, equipped with advanced life support systems to provide the best pre-hospital care.
This fiscal year Commissioners agreed to raises that provide a living wage for these professionals, which reduced a challenging turnover rate. The Commission also approved the addition of a fifth ambulance manned by a 24-hour crew to produce faster response times across our 617 square miles.
Assistant Director Kane Watkins distributes a monthly report about LCEMS that’s pretty eye-opening. Last month, the agency transported a total of 384 patients, but answered another 116 calls where care was refused or not needed. Another 46 calls were canceled, or there was no patient when help arrived. Standby calls for local fire departments and law enforcement and mutual aid calls from nearby counties totaled 16.
Also in April, LCEMS staff took courses on trauma during pregnancy, report writing, and Advanced Medical Life Support. Two completed Critical Incident Stress Debriefing training, enabling them to serve as peer counselors for co-workers involved in traumatic calls.
Community outreach events in April included career presentations at local schools, and a program at the Loretto Senior Center about the Yellow DOT program, sponsored by the TN Dept. of Transportation. It provides yellow stickers for cars and yellow folders for medical information that participants keep in their glove compartments. LCEMS also participated in a mock crash scene at Loretto High School that stressed safe driving and good choices.
LCEMS transported an average of 390 patients a month in the year ending in April 2025. They provided standby for fire departments and law enforcement and mutual aid an average of 8 times a month, including 26 times in December. An average of 109 patients refused or didn’t need care. An average of 64 times a month, calls were canceled or there was no patient when LCEMS arrived. In March, they delivered a baby on the way to the hospital!
Education about specific situations were offered each month. I will mention just a few: response to domestic violence calls, pediatric advanced life support, advanced cardiac support, cold weather emergencies, active shooter events, trauma assessments, stroke care, and many more.
Along the way, they conducted public CPR and AED trainings, participated in career events and job fairs, hosted a regional Neonatal Resuscitation Program, provided medical support at the Middle Tennessee District Fair, and were on standby at local football games. This is a tiny sampling of all they do.
I want to thank all LCEMS employees, Director Michelle Ayers, and Assistant Director Kane Watkins for the great care they provide our citizens. I am amazed and humbled by their skills and ability to calmly face situations that most of us cannot imagine. These men and women are so essential to our community. I pray for their health, happiness, and safety, and hope you will, too.