ABOUT US

      Operations

   Warren County EMS-Rescue is the only 911 emergency medical service in Warren County, Tennessee. We are government agency responsible for all 911 medical response in Warren County, as well as vehicle extrication and other specialized rescue needs. In addition to standard emergency medical response, Warren County EMS also provides support for all Warren County fire departments during structure fires, emergency hospital-to-hospital patient transfers, special event medical coverage and support, as well as extensive community interaction programs such as CPR training and the newly-formed EMS Explorers Post. Warren County EMS operates under the direction of Director Brian Jennings, and employees a staff of 24 full-time EMT-IVs and Paramedics, as well as a staff of part-time EMT-IVs and Paramedics.

Warren County EMS staffs four ambulances 24 hours per day, holds an A rating from the State of Tennessee Department of Health. To obtain this rating, a service must provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) capabilities, requiring the staffing of at least one Paramedic and EMT-IV on 90% of calls.

      History

   Established in 1972, Warren County EMS-Rescue is a government service tasked with responding to all medical emergencies in Warren County, and transporting patients to the hospital. The service has grown considerably throughout its history, being under the control of the government of Warren County throughout most of its existence, with the exception of a short period in the 1980s when the service was a private, hospital-based ambulance service. Government control was restored in 1988.

Throughout much of its existence, Warren County EMS operated from one station at 103 Magness Drive, which continues to serve as EMS Station 1 and service headquarters today. Following the awarding of a Federal grant in 2001, Warren County EMS received two custom-manufactured Excellance© ambulances (Medics 5 and 7), and entered into agreements with the McMinnville and Morrison Fire Departments. These agreements allowed Warren County EMS to base ambulances in these agencies' fire stations, shortening response times throughout the county. This left two ambulances and Warren County's specialized rescue vehicle, Rescue 202, at Station 1. Per terms of the grant, one ambulance was moved to a Morrison Fire Department building in Smartt Station, and one to the City of McMinnville's Fire Station 2. These became EMS Stations 2 and 3. In 2006, EMS Station 2 was moved from Smartt Station to a new building located on Manchester Highway within the city limits of Morrison.

      First Responder Program

   Warren County EMS promotes an active Emergency Medical First Responder program within the boundaries of Warren County. First Responders attend a 60-hour course that provides training in basic skills such as CPR, Automated External Defibrillation (AED), bandaging, splinting, and other forms of basic emergency medical care. First Responders are volunteers that carry pagers and are simultaneously dispatched to calls along with EMS. First Responders provide basic and life-sustaining care until EMS can arrive, and provide assistance following EMS arrival. First Response services are provided by six of Warren County's eight fire departments, including the Campaign-Rock Island Fire Department, Centertown Fire Department, Collins River Fire Department, Harrison Ferry Fire Department, Morrison Fire/Rescue, and North Warren Fire Department. Medical first response within the city limits of McMinnville is tasked to the Warren County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Warren County EMS is proud to feature a large number of staff members that are also active in volunteer firefighting and medical first response in addition to their professional duties with the service.

      EMS Explorers Program

   The Explorers Post is a worksite-based program operated by the Boy Scouts of America that offers young people, boys and girls alike, the opportunity to observe careers in action and prepares them to become caring and responsible adults. Under the guidance of Warren County EMS-Rescue EMTs and Paramedics, young adults between the ages of 14 and 20 are allowed to learn more about emergency medicine through hands-on activities and class room education. Explorers learn valuable real-world skills such as first aid and CPR, and are also challenged with hands-on activities such as an introduction to vehicle extrication. Explorers learn teamwork and community service, and also get a fun and rewarding introduction into the field of emergency services. The WCEMS Explorer post is open to all boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 20. Contact us for more information.

© 2006 Warren County EMS