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.