Bradley County EMS Earns State Recognition

OUR COUNTY
D. GARY DAVIS
COUNTY MAYOR

Bradley County EMS Earns State Recognition

The home page of the Bradley County web site contains the county government’s mission statement which says in part; "Bradley County is committed to providing a safe, clean and progressive community for its citizens through the development and implementation of effective programs which are managed with the highest degree of efficiency.” As Mayor I feel this statement is a good description of the service provided by the County’s Emergency Medical Service.

On Monday February 8th I was notified by Bradley County EMS Director Danny Lawson that the Emergency Medical Service had been nominated for the Advanced Life Support Service Award. The prestigious award is presented each year by the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association which is made up of 156 ambulance service agencies across the state. The nomination was a great honor and shows that our EMS Department has achieved a certain benchmark of professional service. It also recognized the effectiveness, efficiency and high degree of professional life saving skills provided by the Bradley County EMS.

Following the nomination the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association held its annual conference and awards ceremony on Thursday, February 18th in Gatlinburg. The Bradley County EMS Department was presented with the "first Runner Up” award, with the top honor going to the Wayne County EMS in Southwest Tennessee. This recognition is something we should all be very proud of.

For many years I have said that Bradley County has one of the finest, if not the best EMS Department in Tennessee. As County Mayor it is gratifying when others recognize this, especially a state-wide organization of professional emergency medical service personnel who understand what’s involved in saving lives.

Our EMS Department has been proudly serving Bradley County residents since September 1, 1972. The Paramedics and medical technicians who staff the department Live by the words of former Bradley County Judge Nelom Jackson who said; "one life saved, with proper care, is worth every dollar invested, for once lost, a life cannot be replaced at any cost.”

The County EMS Department employs 89 emergency medical technicians and paramedics. It’s also interesting to note that there are just 89 "critical care” paramedics in the entire state. Eight of those are employed by Bradley County EMS. These dedicated men and women answered 19,040 calls in 2009. At least half of those were considered medical emergencies.

To be nominated for the TASA award is an honor. To be recognized as first runner up in the entire state is high praise. As Mayor I congratulate Bradley County EMS Director Danny Lawson and his dedicated team. I commended him for his leadership in making the County’s Emergency Medical Service among the finest in Tennessee.