By Leila Merrill
FireRescue1/EMS1 Staff
PENHOOK, Va. — Adding paid EMS providers to the volunteer staff has reduced local response times.
More than two years ago, a community member died after calling 911 and waiting more than 40 minutes for help to arrive. Volunteers with the Cool Branch Volunteer Rescue Department were busy, and nearby departments were out on other calls.
“The board and the volunteers all agreed we needed help,” said Tiffani Matherly, Cool Branch captain.
Cool Branch hired a full-time paramedic and two part-time, plus one full-time EMT and four on a part-time basis.
Prior to the career positions, a response took around 8 minutes, but with paid staffers, the average response time is down to under three minutes.