Bamberg County Earns EMS Grants to Purchase New CPR Equipment

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

To: News Media

From: Bamberg County Administration

Date: December 10, 2024

Re: Bamberg County Earns EMS Grants to Purchase New CPR Equipment

Bamberg, South Carolina (December 2024) –Bamberg County Council and administration unveiled two new automatic CPR compression devices during last night’s Council meeting. Bamberg County received the SC Department of Public Health EMS Grant in Aid awards for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

During the meeting, Bamberg County Fire and EMS Coordinator Paul Eubanks and Thorne Ambulance Service EMT Brittany Atkinson demonstrated how to use the equipment. Eubanks said, “Thorne Ambulance Service is eager to undergo training with this equipment and extend that training to Bamberg County Fire Department first responders.”

Additionally, Thorne Ambulance representative Chris Battlo described how the compression devices, which have “a 93.7% CPR success rate when administered properly,” work.

Bamberg County currently has two Thorne ambulances, but because of the rural nature of the county, EMS first responders often endure extended travel times to reach the nearest emergency room. “The devices will make it possible for our first responders to provide consistent, quality, uninterrupted compressions to patients during those extended travel times,” stated Eubanks.

County Councilman Phil Myers (District 1) said, “We worked hard to get these grants, and this state of the art CPR equipment will help first responders more efficiently save lives.”

“We are so appreciative of the SC Department of Public Health for the grant funding. This equipment will prove essential to assisting our first responders administer quality, efficient CPR to Bamberg County patients,” stated County Administrator Joey Preston.

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For more information on this press release, email info@bambergcounty.sc.gov.