Dear Editor,

On Apr. 5, the Wake County Board of Commissioners will be presented a recommendation by the County Manager to take over EMS operations in Garner. This has absolutely nothing to do with missing money or questionable patient care. This is simply a matter of a well-known economic business plan by the county.

Wake County officials have always made it clear to the contracted EMS agencies that at such time they can provide EMS services cheaper than a contracted agency, they will recommend taking over that agencies service area. The County Manager made it clear that it’s his responsibility to be a good steward of public funds and to always be looking for ways to save taxpayers money. That is the case here.

Having said that, we have been meeting for the last two weeks with the County Manager and his staff looking at several options in an attempt to keep us in business. Unfortunately for us, after all the options had been thoroughly reviewed and after all the numbers had been run, the end result was the same.

Simply put, the County feels they can do it cheaper while providing the same level of patient care; so the recommendation is going forward on Apr. 5.

Now, you might say, “I don’t care what’s on the ambulance or what uniform they are wearing as long as they are there quick, they are competent and they provide superior patient care.” That is something you don’t have to worry about. Wake County EMS is a model agency that is envied by other EMS systems nationwide. It is nationally known for its cardiac arrest survival rates and its Advanced Practice Paramedics, so patient care is not a concern.

What is a concern is that a Garner business with 35 years of saving lives will soon be a thing of the past and yet another Garner institution will be gone forever. Gone will be the quick stops at the EMS building to run in and get your blood pressure checked. Gone will be the visits by our Paramedics to the your daycare, your school or your church. Gone will be the no charge standbys at Town sponsored events like the July 4 celebration and benefit runs. Gone will be the call to the EMS building to ask for help in getting a loved one back in the bed that has fallen. Gone will be the pride we have when we see on the national news of a massive plant explosion and we see four ambulances all with Garner EMS on the side. Gone will be the pride we feel when pass by the Garner EMS and Rescue building on Vandora Springs Road and think about the all the bake sales, car washes and yard sales it took to pay for that building. I could go on, but I think you get the message.

Garner has just lost a major employer, it is at risk of losing it’s regional library and now we are losing our home town EMS agency. What will be next?

Now you might ask, “how can we help?”. We need three things; we need financial assistance, some time to recover from this budget shortfall, and most of all, we need your voice.

Although the town is not statutorily required to provide EMS services, your elected Town officials could play a major role in keeping Garner EMS in business. Call them and ask them to get involved. Ask them to reach out to the County Commissioners and urge them to look for other options that will allow Garner EMS and Rescue to stay in business. As stated on the Town of Garner website, “But what really makes Garner great? It’s the people and the sense of community that joins us together.”

We ask you to join together and help us save Garner EMS. The time is short with Apr. 5 right around the corner. You can’t afford to wait. The website for your Town Board is www.ci.garner.nc.us/Government/TownCouncil.aspx. The website for the County Commissioners is www.wakegov.com/commissioners/default.htm.

Philip L. Penny

Chair Garner EMS and Rescue Squad