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The Charlotte County Rescue Squad now has three units staffed around the clock as of July 1, representing an increase in service from previous years.

One ambulance is located at the headquarters on Church Street in Keysville, with an additional ambulance there in reserve. One is located at the Phenix Volunteer Fire Department building, also with an ambulance in reserve. And one is located at the substation in Wylliesburg.

The ambulance in Wylliesburg was not staffed 24/7 previously, but now it will be.

A number of situations led to the change, including a lack of funds and volunteers.

“Volunteers nationwide are drying up,” said Walt Bailey. “Virginia has seen almost an 80% decline in volunteers in the last 12 years. That’s definitely negatively impacting us.”

Bailey has multiple perspectives on matters of public safety in Charlotte County: he’s the chief of the Phenix Volunteer Fire Department, member of the Board of Supervisors of Charlotte County and president of the Old Dominion EMS Alliance.

The crews in the Charlotte County Rescue Squad answer about 2,500 calls per year, Bailey said. Those calls are spread out over a wide area.

“While Charlotte County is a very beautiful rural area, if you need medical attention, you’re looking at an average of 40 miles getting to the hospital. We’re putting a lot of miles per month on the units.”

‘AN UNTENABLE SITUATION’

County Administrator Dan Witt said the lack of full-time coverage in Wylliesburg was an untenable situation.

“There were times there were calls that weren’t being answered in that area because there either wasn’t a crew down there or they were somewhere else,” Witt said. “It seems like the calls come in a perfect storm, where you haven’t had anything and all of a sudden there’s five calls.”

Witt said the county’s contribution to the rescue squad budget increased from $550,000 last fiscal year to $1.31 million this fiscal year. Not too long ago, the county was funding only $100,000 of the squad’s budget.

The rescue squad’s overall budget went from $1.47 million to $2 million this year. Additional support from the county will be forthcoming in future capital improvements plans through purchases like ambulances.

Witt attributed the success of the movement for constant coverage in Wylliesburg to Board of Supervisors member Hazel Bowman Smith, who represents the Wylliesburg/Red Oak District.

“She wanted equal representation,” Witt said. “The citizens down there pay taxes the same as everybody else.”

Bowman Smith said she is excited to see the plan coming to fruition.

“I am thrilled this is finally under way,” she said. “This is something I’ve been working on through the Board of Supervisors and the rescue squad for well over two years. I was thrilled to see that all three stations are fully staffed every day.”

The Wylliesburg area is at the southern tip of the county, and Bowman Smith said she had heard of some people waiting upwards of 45 minutes for the rescue squad.

“That’s just a horrible experience,” she said, shifting gears to contrast it with the new coverage: “You cannot imagine how happy I am. It’s wonderful to keep pushing for something and see it come to pass.”

PROCESS STARTED IN SPRING

Bailey said the hiring process started this spring to ensure emergency providers were on hand starting July 1. Despite competing with areas like Richmond and Lynchburg where emergency providers are municipal employees and receive better pay and benefits, the rescue squad has been successful in hiring, Bailey said.

“We’ve got outstanding members providing excellent care for the citizens of Charlotte County,” he said.

A board made up of county administration, officers from the rescue squad and citizens will oversee the rescue squad.

Overall, the transition has gone well, Bailey said.

“It’s a monumental task taking on what we are doing,” he said. “Things don’t happen overnight, but I think things are going well, and we are on track to have an outstanding EMS organization to provide for the citizens of the county.”