CHARLESTON EMS – PROTECTING & SAVING LIVES
August 16, 2011: Rotarian Rob Dewey introduced today’s speaker, Charleston County’s EMS Director, Don Lundy. Rob highlighted Mr. Lundy’s impressive resume including his past service on the former NAEMT Board of Governors as the representative for South Carolina and current service as Chair of the NAEMT Safety and Wellness Committee, member of the Finance Committee and NAEMT representative on the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology workgroup. Regionally, Don is Chair of the Lowcountry Regional EMS Council, former Chair of the South Carolina EMS Advisory Committee, serves on the State EMS Training Committee and is Past President of the South Carolina EMS Association, still serving on the executive board. Although his professional resume is impressive, the audience was awestricken as Rob detailed his extraordinary personal accomplishments, which includes fostering 31 children with his wife, Barbara Lundy.
Mr. Lundy began his presentation by showing a photo of a Station 51 ambulance and asking the audience if they remembered its significance. As many recalled, the ambulance was from the iconic 1970’s show, Emergency!, the first show to feature paramedics who help rescue victimized or hurt patients. Almost 40 years later and the world of EMS has drastically changed, thanks to advancements in technology and the support of tax payer’s dollars, which Mr. Lundy was quick to thank everyone for paying!
As the self described “penny-pinching-cheapskate,” Mr. Lundy ensured the audience that he takes meticulous measures to ensure tax funds are appropriately and effectively allocated in the EMS budget. Overseeing a department of 144, covering 1,100 square miles in a coastal community with a daytime population of 600,000, is no small task, nor is establishing and monitoring its budget. Mr. Lundy outlined this year’s $15M+ budget, which consists of $13M in Personnel (Walterboro has the highest paid EMS personnel in the state), $1M+ in Operation (includes 24/7 services) and $1M+ in Capital (covers 5 replacement ambulances). Utilizing an outside, private billing service, Mr. Lundy reported revenue collected in 2010 totaled $6M.
Transitioning from finances to technology, Mr. Lundy described the latest GPS systems, pod style work stations with 6 computer screens per employee, the newest EKG program and special operations ambulances. While the technology itself is impressive, the talented and heroic EMS teams, including rope, high angle, squat, bike and motorcycle, are unquestionably more remarkable.
With the help of his many employees and team members, Mr. Lundy has played in integral role in the education of both young and old students in Charleston County. With programs such as the Fourth Grade Poster Contest, EMS Education Team, High School Injury Project and Beta Babies, the department’s influence will ensure a lasting effective as these students become young adults in our communities.
The department’s strong community presence and nationally recognized EMS team provide a local service in which all Charleston County residents can take great pride. As Mr. Lundy says, “there’s no such thing as a convenient emergency,” so it is to the men and women of the EMS department, protecting and saving lives, we owe immense gratitude and thanks.
Submitted by Teal Van Saun, Keyway Committee