County’s EMS personnel know any call could involve a loved one
The interruption of the tone at the Oglethorpe County EMS station signals a sudden stillness. When the familiar address of an EMT’s family comes across the radio paging system, the mood shifts from routine to heart-pounding.
Oglethorpe County EMS Director Jason Lewis and paramedic Dylan Smith swiftly gather their gear, their movements a mix of urgency and resolve.
“Who you’re going out to is either gonna be someone you know, or family of somebody you know,” advanced EMT Taylor Eidson said.
As they race toward the scene, conversations are sparse, replaced by the steady hum of the ambulance's engine. In a closely connected county, familiarity is common.
This time, one of Eidson’s family members is struggling with “really low” blood pressure.
Despite the initial scare, the relative’s condition stabilized, and he returned home after a few hours of observation at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital.
"Luckily, when Jason and Dylan got there, it wasn’t as low as it was when they called, so they just transported him just as a precaution to make sure his blood pressure didn’t drop again," Eidson said.
For Eidson and the team, the experience served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of their work. In spite of the emotional rollercoaster, the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their family, friends and folks throughout the county remains a driving force.
“I always really enjoy coming to work here because, there's a chance I can take care of somebody I know and that just, that means more than a complete stranger,” Smith said.
A reporter with The Oglethorpe Echo recently spent a day with Lewis and the B-shift crew. This is an account of that day.
8 a.m.
The morning kicks off for Lewis by dropping off his daughter at Oglethorpe County High School and heading down the hall to teach his own EMT pathway course.
The course offers healthcare education for juniors and seniors by enabling students to choose from programs like EMT training, medical assisting or certified nursing assistant certification.
The students rotate through stations, each focusing on different aspects of EMS, including CPR simulations, bleeding control techniques, spinal immobilizations, airway management and patient assessment.
For Lewis, these morning sessions will accomplish one of two goals.
“It’s either going to show a kid that they really enjoy the idea of this kind of work, and they're going to want to maybe go into the technical college system to pursue it,” he said, “or it’s going to show them that they don't like it, and both of those lessons are equally valuable.”
11 a.m.
After wrapping up his morning teaching session, Lewis heads to nearby Skrip Shoppe Pharmacy, a familiar hub for medical supplies.
He ensures the ambulance is well-equipped with the necessary medical equipment, emphasizing the bond between the pharmacy and the ambulance service.
“The Skrip Shoppe Pharmacy has been the pharmacy of Oglethorpe probably since there’s been an ambulance service,” Lewis said.
11:20 a.m.
Lewis and his team are in the kitchen, engaged in lighthearted banter to pass the time when they are dispatched to the home of Eidson's family, responding to a medical emergency.
12:20 p.m
The team gathers around the kitchen table, the beating heart of their family-like environment.
“You know, we spend most of our time at that kitchen table, and if the kitchen table could write a book, it'd be a dang good one,” Eidson said. “It’s heard a lot of stories and we’re thankful for the time we have at the table because sometimes, some days, we don’t get that.”
While preparing their meal, the EMS team was surprised when Patsy Cruce and Joy Stovall from WoodmenLife, and Carlton Sanders from Sanders Down Home Barbecue and Soul Food arrived with boxes of food.
“It really shows you that you're doing your job well when people bring you things like that and enjoy treating you because you have hopefully done such a good job.” Eidson said.
3:15 p.m.
About 3 p.m., the calm of the afternoon was interrupted by another call.
A van traveling on Melton Road ran a stop sign and hit the passenger side of a vehicle traveling on Smithonia Road.
The woman on the passenger side of the vehicle that was hit was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital with minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
End of shift
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, there is a sense of purpose that binds the EMTs together and drives them to serve the community.
“We’re not strangers to the people that depend on us and call us,” Smith said. “When we show up, we know these people, or we know their family.”