Polk County declares third week of May as ‘EMS Week’

Published 12:07 pm Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Board of Commissioners also names two new roads

 

COLUMBUS—The Polk County Board of Commissioners held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, May 20, after its budget workshop at 1 p.m.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

During the meeting, the commissioners canceled their May 21 budget work session. They also unanimously approved the naming of two new roads: Anderson Drive off of Howard Gap Rd. in Saluda Township and Fireside Trail off of the private road Misery Ridge Trail in White Oak Township.

Polk County Emergency Medical Services Director Michael Crater then addressed the board, asking them to declare May 19 through May 25 as ‘EMS Week.’ 

“Members of emergency medical service teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Crater said. “And access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.”

Polk County is home to the first paramedic program in the state of North Carolina, established in the early 1990s.

“There’s a lot of remembrance and a lot of history in Polk County,” said Crater. “We’re very proud of it.”

Paramedic is the highest level of training/title an EMS worker can achieve outside of working in a hospital. 

“We love our EMS, and all you do for the safety of the citizens of Polk County,” Chairman Myron Yoder told Crater. “Thank you very much.”

The motion to declare the third week of May EMS Week was passed unanimously.