Bamberg, South Carolina (August 2017) –In June 2017, Bamberg County’s Department of Emergency Services installed a new Emergency Medical Dispatching System (EMDS). This system was paid for by 911 Funds, a national program that collects one dollar per month from each landline in Bamberg County.

This EMDS provides the dispatcher with specific instructions before Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrives on the scene. The system assists dispatchers in a wide variety of medical situations until EMS is able to reach the patient. In a rural area like Bamberg County, this system is a tremendous asset and can be a life saver in emergency medical situations or when EMS is unable to arrive immediately.

Additionally, the EMDS minimizes potential mistakes through user-friendly graphics, prompts to help assess symptoms to allow the dispatcher to prioritize response, and alerts the dispatcher, patient(s), and any bystanders to any potential safety concerns at the site, which is an often overlooked issue in emergency response.

Every 911 dispatcher in the Bamberg County Communications-911 Center is trained and certified to use the EMDS. “This system has the potential to save lives. There was no direct cost to the County to install this system and all residents benefit from this updated technology,” said Brittany M. Barnwell, Bamberg County Director of Emergency Services. “In an area like Bamberg County, providing all 911 dispatchers with step-by-step instructions to assist in medical emergencies is crucial to saving lives.”

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