CHAPIN, S.C. — A group in Chapin is speaking out for better access, specifically faster response times from paramedics, EMTs and ambulances during emergencies.
Locals like Mary Ann Suda have concerns about Lexington County's ambulance response times.
"My neighbor was gasping for breath and the EMT, we called 911 right away, and the first responders came within ten minutes, but they did not have the necessary equipment to help her. The ambulance came like 45-50 minutes later, meanwhile we're watching her gasp for breath all that time," Suda said.
Albert Bueno, who serves as the president of the board of directors at the Timerblake Country Club explains he's experienced similar situations.
"One gentleman had a stroke on 18 and we couldn't get ambulance service. We had somebody in the workout room go down and couldn't get ambulance service. We had somebody up here during a board meeting last month go down and it took a half hour for the ambulance to get here. And then we had a fatality crash on Amicks Ferry right by hole number 11 and it took 22 minutes before the fire truck got there and another eight minutes before the ambulance arrived," Bueno, said.
Heather Burkhart decided to bring the Chapin community together Monday evening for an open meeting to brainstorm solutions.
"Our primary focus right now is an ambulance and a paramedic at each fire station in Chapin," Burkhart said.
Burkhart says she extended the invite to county leaders, health and medical providers, the Chapin Police Department and SC statehouse representative Jay Kilmartin.
County leaders tell News 19 they weren't able to make it due to prior commitments, but hope folks will give them the opportunity to explain how the ambulance system works and options for more coverage.
"It rotates all the ambulances around the county based on historical call volume of where the incidents occur. In Chapin we have an ambulance that will stay at the Chapin proper, which is what we call the fire station in the middle of Chapin. It's across from the Generations Nursing Home and as long as there are four or more ambulances available county wide, that ambulance is in Chapin to serve the Chapin community," said Charli Wessinger, Lexington County council member of District Six. "We want to be able to be there to listen to them, but we also want to be able to explain and give them factual data to help them understand how the system works."
According to Lexington County council, they are working to set up another meeting date with these community members in mid or late May at the County Administration Building.
