Caldwell County emergency management officials and first responders celebrated a milestone earlier this month as the county’s ambulance service turned 47 years old.
The first shift of the newly-created ambulance service was on July 1, 1976. Former Air-Evac flight paramedic and program director Clay Hughes said the previous ambulance service was provided by Morgan’s Funeral Home.
click to download audioCaldwell County Emergency Management Director Joey McCaslin said the county’s first ambulances came from a grant after federal law was passed mandating each county provide an ambulance service.
click to download audioMcCaslin said Caldwell County’s ambulance service came with humble beginnings.
click to download audioJim Dorroh and Gregory Watson were among the first drivers McCaslin served as the manager. The first run was to 404 North Stone Street. Former EMT Larry Joe Granstaff said ambulance calls back then were handled a little differently than they are today.
click to download audioOne of the biggest accomplishments of the ambulance service came in the 1990s when Hughes said they mapped every single address in the county for the new 9-1-1 map.
click to download audioMcCaslin said the number of people who have taken a turn behind the wheel of a Caldwell County ambulance is long and distinguished.
click to download audioThe Caldwell County EMS now provides advanced life support with paramedics and qualified emergency medical technicians. They also provide a taxi service and a convalescent wheelchair van service and non-emergency scheduled transportation of non-ambulatory individuals to outpatient clinics, nursing facilities, and hospitals.
The first shift of the newly-created ambulance service was on July 1, 1976. Former Air-Evac flight paramedic and program director Clay Hughes said the previous ambulance service was provided by Morgan’s Funeral Home.
click to download audioCaldwell County Emergency Management Director Joey McCaslin said the county’s first ambulances came from a grant after federal law was passed mandating each county provide an ambulance service.
click to download audioMcCaslin said Caldwell County’s ambulance service came with humble beginnings.
click to download audioJim Dorroh and Gregory Watson were among the first drivers McCaslin served as the manager. The first run was to 404 North Stone Street. Former EMT Larry Joe Granstaff said ambulance calls back then were handled a little differently than they are today.
click to download audioOne of the biggest accomplishments of the ambulance service came in the 1990s when Hughes said they mapped every single address in the county for the new 9-1-1 map.
click to download audioMcCaslin said the number of people who have taken a turn behind the wheel of a Caldwell County ambulance is long and distinguished.
click to download audioThe Caldwell County EMS now provides advanced life support with paramedics and qualified emergency medical technicians. They also provide a taxi service and a convalescent wheelchair van service and non-emergency scheduled transportation of non-ambulatory individuals to outpatient clinics, nursing facilities, and hospitals.
