County Welcomes New Quick Response Vehicle

On Thursday Anderson County EMS will christen the County’s new Quick Response Vehicle (QRV). The ceremony will take place at the Ebenezer Fire Department, station 23, at the intersection of 185 and 413.  

The vehicle was purchased as part of a joint program for performance improvement to monitor and assure high quality emergency medical service within Anderson County.  

“I would like to express thanks to Rusty Burns, Eddie Moore, Chief Billy Gibson and the County Fire & EMS Chiefs for their hard work and support,” said Ebenezer Fire Chief Jamie Hanks. “This is a welcomed addition to our responder community.” 

“It is fitting that this vehicle is being placed at Ebenezer Fire Department,” said Anderson County EMS Director Scott Stoller. “Ebenezer was Anderson County’s first fire department to implement the Medical First Responder Program in 1998. Implementation of this service and the addition of the quick response vehicle strengthens the EMS care provided by our four professional EMS agencies, whose areas converge at this location. By relocating the EMS performance improvement personnel to this area, we have been able to enhance quality assurance and decrease response times at no additional cost to the taxpayer.”  

“I am very impressed that County EMS Chief Scott Stoller and the other officials in the County have found a way to provide this service to our communities,” said Rock Springs Fire Chief Daren Vaughn. “What is most impressive is that these paramedics and the vehicle are paid from existing budgeted funds. As a responder, it is reassuring to be on a first-name basis with and know the skills and quality of the EMS personnel who will assist our friends and neighbors in a medical crisis.”   

“Good things happen when we come together with common goals,” said Anderson County Council Vice Chairman Eddie Moore. “This was truly a collaborative effort. Ebenezer Community is a rural community that has struggled with service because it is on the outer edges of 4 EMS service areas. This is a definite step toward providing faster, quality service to our residents.”

“This will be such an asset to district 7,” said Anderson County Council woman M. Cindy Wilson. “In a medical emergency, minutes save lives. Having this service in place with the addition of the QRV will cut EMS response times to this area almost in half. I’m proud that Anderson County can offer the emergency medical protection that our residents deserve.”

“The Quick Response program has been an asset,” Dr. Jimmy Smith, Chief of Honea Path Fire and EMS.  “This corner of the county is not close to local response units, therefore response times have been higher than average. Time is of the essence in medical emergencies. It has worked out well by providing a paramedic on scene in minutes to stabilize patients prior to an ambulances arrival. Anderson County EMS personnel are a welcome addition to our EMS team.”