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Emergency Medical Services

The Charleston County Emergency Medical Service Department (CCEMS) provides medical care and transportation to hospital emergency departments for citizens and visitors to Charleston County. CCEMS also provides field emergency medical support services which require specialized training and equipment; support to hazardous materials response teams and hazardous materials clean-up operations throughout the county and assistance to area law enforcement agencies through the nationally recognized Special Weapons and Tactics Medic program.

Responsibilities

Provide emergency lifesaving care to people who are seriously ill or injured
Transport patients to local hospital emergency departments
Operate ambulances and Quick Response Vehicles to support these services
Provide a variety of educational programs to the public on many safety issues

History

In 1973, a group of concerned citizens, local physicians and members of Charleston County Government, created EMS. Prior to this time, emergency medical care was provided by two private ambulance services and some police "crash wagons." One of the first countywide emergency medical service systems in the state, Charleston County EMS provides access to advanced levels of emergency medical care regardless of the emergency's location or the patient's ability to pay.

Contact

For all emergencies dial 911

We do not provide routine convalescent transportation, such as taking people home from the hospital or to clinics or private doctor's offices.

Emergency Medical Services Administrative Offices

Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Service Building
4045 Bridge View Drive Suite B309
North Charleston, SC 29405

Phone: (843)202-6700
Fax: (843)202-6712

For billing inquires please contact:
EMS Management and Consultants
Phone: (800)814-5339

Office Hours:
Administrative Offices
Mon. - Fri. 8:30am - 5pm

All Departments

Awards

CCEMS has received numerous awards since our inception, some of them are:

National EMS System of the Year for 2010
2002 Large System of the Year award from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Division of EMS
American Heart Association Mission Lifeline Silver Award 2014
Charleston County EMS has also received various other awards, including:
- National Association of Counties Achievement Award for instituting the Quick Response Vehicle
- U.S. Coast Guard Citation of Merit for assistance with a significant hazardous materials incident on board a ship. This incident involved highly toxic and explosive materials and required technical assistance from around the country.
- Pubic Information, Education, and Relations (PIER) Award

Interesting Facts

Charleston County EMS responds to over 50,000 calls for service in a year.
Charleston County EMS employs more than 167 people and staffs 14 Advanced Life Support ambulances and 3 on-duty supervisors.
Additional coverage is provided by the Power Squad, which consists of four Advanced Life Support ambulances and an additional supervisor that operates during peak periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why would I receive a bill from EMS when I am a County taxpayer?

A: Taxes pay for the staffing, vehicles and stations required to provide Emergency Medical Services. User fees help offset the costs of specific equipment and supplies associated with each ambulance call. If you fail to pay your user fee, EMS may collect the fee from your state tax refund using a debt set off program.

Q. What is a Paramedic?

A. There are several different certification levels of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). The initial training is that of an EMT Basic which requires around 200 hours of training before testing for national certification. An EMT Advanced performs more technical functions than an EMT Basic, but not as many as a Paramedic performs. EMT Paramedics are the highest level of training and are able to perform more technical functions; they have more than 1,100 hours of training.

A paramedic is a person who usually works outside the hospital to provide initial medical treatment in the event of illness or injury. Paramedics work with many other professionals, such as firefighters, rescue, police, nurses, doctors and others, in order to provide treatment and stabilization to those in crisis. The paramedic is usually an extension of the doctor's knowledge and skill. This means that the paramedic carries out examinations and treatments when a doctor is not available. There must be a high level of trust between the paramedic and the doctor.

Q: Why do I sometimes see ambulances parked at street corners?

A: In order to provide optimal response times, ambulances in Charleston County are strategically positioned to various locations.

Q: Does the County have a helicopter for emergency transport?

A: No. However, County emergency agencies have access to and use of various private helicopter services. Through a cooperative effort, the emergency service agencies in the County have designated scores of suitable helicopter landing sites ranging from large intersections to baseball fields.