09/03/2026
789 Patient impressions. 144 Different documented conditions. One EMS system ready for all of them!
What does EMS actually respond to?
Most people probably think of heart attacks, car wrecks, difficulty breathing, or cardiac arrests. Those are certainly part of what we do--but the reality is that the scope of emergency medical services is much, much broader.
A recent review of 789 patient encounters handled by Georgetown-Scott County EMS demonstrates just how diverse the calls handled by today's EMS professionals can be!
Neurological Emergencies -- 108
Strokes, TIAs, seizures, altered mental status, unconsciousness, confusion, headaches, migraines, dizziness, brain injuries, and other neurological conditions.
Cardiac & Circulatory Emergencies -- 105
Chest pain, heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, cardiac arrest, high and lower blood pressure, shock, syncope, and other cardiovascular emergencies.
Trauma & Injuries -- 104
Head injuries, concussions, extremity injuries, falls, multiple-system trauma, traumatic cardiac arrest, and injuries involving nearly every area of the body.
Pain, Bleeding & Wound Care -- 91
Acute and chronic pain, back and extremity pain, lacerations, abrasions, wounds, bleeding, and other painful or soft-tissue conditions.
General Illness & Medical Conditions -- 88
Weakness, fatigue, anemia, allergic reactions, kidney and urinary conditions, mobility problems, rashes and many other illnesses and medical complaints.
Patient Assistance & Evaluation -- 82
Patient assists, medical evaluations, medical-device problems, patients with no complaint upon arrival, and situations requiring assessment or medical supervision.
Respiratory Emergencies -- 50
Shortness of breath, asthma, COPD, pneumonia, respiratory distress or failure, lower oxygen levels, airway complications, and respiratory arrest.
Abdominal & Gastrointestinal Emergencies -- 50
Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, GI bleeding, constipation, diarrhea, esophageal obstruction, and other acute gastrointestinal conditions.
Behavioral & Mental Health Emergencies -- 39
Anxiety and emotional crisis, behavioral or psychiatric emergencies, suicidal ideation, su***de attempts, and other mental health concerns.
Infection & Sepsis -- 20
Fever, infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, sepsis, and septic shock.
Diabetic & Metabolic Emergencies --19
High and low blood sugar, dehydration, and other metabolic conditions.
Overdoses, Poisonings & Substance-Related Emergencies -- 19
Opioid and medication overdoses, drug ingestion, poisoning, alcohol-related conditions, and other substance-related emergencies.
Other Specialized Emergencies -- 14
Heat-related illness, hypothermia, and other environmental conditions. Pregnancy-related complications, bleeding, or other uncategorized emergencies.
Behind every number is a patient who called for help-- and a crew that had to be prepared to determine what was wrong, recognize what could become life-threatening, provide the appropriate treatment, and determine the best next step for that patient.
An EMT, Advanced EMT, or Paramedic may begin a shift treating chest pain, the respond to a stroke, followed by a traumatic injury, a behavioral health crisis, a sick child, an overdose, a patient who simple needs help getting back into bed--and then a cardiac arrest.
That's the reality of EMS.
Our providers don't get to choose what type of emergency comes next. They have to be prepared for all of them.
That is why education doesn't end when someone earns their certification. Continuing education, hands-on training, simulation, protocol review, and learning from real patient encounters are all essential parts of providing high-quality emergency medical care.
At Georgetown-Scott County EMS, we're proud of the EMTs, Advanced EMTs and Paramedics who continue to learn, train and prepare so they're ready for whatever is waiting on the other side of the next 911 call.
Different patients. Different emergencies. One goal: providing the best care possible to our community.
Let us know in the comments if you want to continue seeing our month breakdown of calls!
