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Triad EMS agencies partner to meet high call volumes

The Alamance County EMS director said sometimes the need is too great, so other agencies step in to help.

ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — EMS  agencies work round the clock to save lives. It's no different in Alamance County.

Those efforts now have some extra hands helping. EMS is taking some help from surrounding counties.

Alamance County's volunteer rescue unit handles 800 to 1,000 rescues a year. 

On top of that, they jump in and help with Alamance County's Emergency Service's when call volumes are high. 

Chris Mauney, the assistant chief for the rescue unit, said it can happen daily. 

 "It'll be a tone that says hey all of our trucks are out for service can you respond to your stand-by location?," Mauney said.  "If I can respond I'll come to this building and standby with a truck until the next call comes out."

Mauney said last year they assisted with 150 of the county's EMS calls. 

 "There's always a need Alamance is one of the fastest growing counties in the state so there's always a need," Mauney said. "But we make do with what we have." 

Ray Vipperman is the director of Alamance County EMS. 

"Occasionally the call volume will exceed the ability of the resources we have on the road," Vipperman said. 

Vipperman said they sometimes rely on boarding counties like Guilford and Caswell to assist when the need is too much for the 120 full and part-time staff to handle.

 "From medical to 40 and 85 that run through the center of the county so we have wrecks, gunshot victims and a huge variety of calls," Vipperman said. "We're fortunate to be surrounded by great counties willing to help us out and we reciprocate that when their resources can't keep up with their volume." 

Vipperman said they're working with Alamance County County Commissioners to get additional assistance to free up staff. 

 "We're looking to work with another service to take over some of those convalescent responsibilities so we can reallocate some of those resources to 911," Vipperman said. 

Both Vipperman and Mauney said whether they're on an individual call or helping another agency they're dedicated to showing up for people on their worst days. 

"It's rewarding to know you can do some good," Mauney said. 

Alamance County Commissioners will meet Monday and decide if EMS will enter a partnership with  Lifestar Emergency Services to take over some of their hospital calls. 

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