Williamston Emergency Medical Service

06/22/2015

With sad hearts we announce that as of 8am this morning, Williamston EMS is no longer in existence. We are thankful for all of the support over the years and will miss serving our community under Williamston's name. For anyone that lives in our area, you will now see a Medshore ambulance responding to calls. There will be familiar faces on the ambulance, just under a different name. Again, thank you for all of your support through the years!

04/27/2015

We are currently taking applications for full time and part EMT's and Paramedics. If you would like to apply, please visit our website at www.williamstonems.com. You can find the application under the forms tab. You can fax or mail it into us at fax number : 864-847-4244 Address: 902 Anderson Dr. Williamston, SC 29697.

Williamston EMS is an ambulance service that covers the emergency medical needs of Williamston, SC. WEMS has a full-time emergency medical service staff, with paramedics on duty 247. WEMS also has a sub-station in Pelzer, SC, near Interstate 85.

02/24/2015

Long spine board immobilization training with Piercetown Fire Department last night.

01/05/2015

We said goodbye to one of our dialysis patients today. Mrs. Griffith, it was an honor to transport you all of those years. We will miss you, but we know you're in a much better place now.

09/11/2014

Thank you First Citizens Bank for the gift baskets. It means a lot to be thought of and appreciated on this day. Please keep everyone here as well as all the EMS, fire and police across this great country in your prayers.

06/02/2014

Did you know that the symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body? sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination. A sudden severe headache that is unexplained.
Did you know that there are two forms of strokes? Ischemic which is a blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and hemorrhagic which is bleeding into or around the brain. In the Ischemic stroke, a blood clot blocks or plugs a blood vessel or artery in the brain. About 80% of all strokes are ischemic. In a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel in the brain breaks and bleeds into the brain. About 20% of strokes are hemorrhagic.
Did you know that during a stroke, bystanders should know the signs and act in time? if you believe someone is having a stroke you should call 911 immediately.
Did you know that strokes are a medical emergency? Immediate stroke treatment may save someone's life and enhance his or her chances for successful rehabilitation and recovery. Ischemic strokes, the most common, can be treated with a drug called tPA, which dissolves artery obstructing clots.
Did you know that the window of opportunity to use tPA to treat a stroke is three hours? But to be evaluated and receive treatment, patients need to get to the hospital within 60 minutes of symptoms starting. Stoke patients who receive tPA within three hours of the onset of symptoms are at least 30% more likely to recover from their stroke with little or no disability after three months than the patients that are given a placebo.
Did you know that strokes are a leading cause of serious long term adult disability? Four million Americans are living witht he effects of stroke. The length if time to recover from a stroke depends on the severity. Fifty to seventy percent of stroke survivors regain functional independence, but 15 to 30% are permanently disables. To reduce your risk of stroke, monitor your blood pressure, track your cholesterol level, stop smoking, exercise regularly and find out if you should be taking any medication to reduce blood clotting.
Did you know that transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini stroke, is a stroke that last only a few minutes? It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted. TIA symptoms, which usually occur suddenly, are similar to those of a stroke, but do not last long. Most symptoms of a TIA disappear within an hour, although they may persist for up to 24 hours. TIA symptoms are often the same as stroke symptoms.
if you, a friend, or family member notice the signs or symptoms of a TIA or a stroke stop what you are doing and call 911 immediately! Time is tissue!!!!!

06/02/2014

Did you know that your heart muscle needs oxygen to survive? A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood flow can slowly become narrow from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that together are called plaque. This slow process is known as atherosclerosis. When a piece of a plaque in a heart artery breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque. This clot can block the blood flow through the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is starved of oxygen and nutrients, it is called ischemia. When damage or death of part of the heart muscle occurs as a result of ischemia it is called a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI). About every 34 seconds, someone the the United States has a myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Did you know that most people recover from a heart attack? The heart muscle begins to heal soon after a heart attack and usually take about 8 weeks. Scar tissue may form in the damaged area, and that scar tissue does not contract or pump as well as healthy heart muscle. That means that the extent of damage of the heart muscle can impact how well the heart pumps blood throughout the body. The degree of loss of function depends on the size and location of the scar tissue. Most heart attack survivors have some degree if coronary artery disease (CAD) and will have to make important lifestyle changes and possibly take medication to prevent a future heart attack and lead a full, productive life.
Did you know that a heart attack may not come with a warning? Atherosclerosis has no symptoms. One reason there may be no warning signs is that sometimes when a coronary artery becomes narrowed, other nearby vessels that also bring blood to the heart sometimes expand to help compensate. the network of expanded vessels is called collateral circulation and helps protect some people from heart attacks by getting the blood to the heart. Collateral circulation can also develop after a heart attack to help the heart muscle recover.
Did you know that all heart attacks cause some damage? When a heart attack occurs, the heart muscle that has lost blood supply begins to suffer injury. The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the size of the area supplied by the blocked artery and the time between injury and treatment. Damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack heals by forming scar tissue. It usually take several weeks for your heart muscle to heal. The length of time depends on the extent of your injury and your own rate of healing. The heart is a very tough organ. Even though a part of it may have been severely injured, the rest keeps working. But because your heart has been damages, it may be weaker and can't pump as much blood as usual. However, with proper treatment after a heart attack and lifestyle changes, further damage can be limited or prevented.
Did you know that some heart attacks are sudden and intense where no one doubts what's happening. However, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what wrong and wait too long before getting help.
Here are signs that can mean are heart attack is happening: Most heart attacks involves discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Symptoms can also include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, new, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or being lightheaded. As with men, women's most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. If you or someone you love experiences any of the above symptoms, please call 911 immediately. Remember- Time is Tissue!!!

05/28/2014

Paramedic Matt Carlisle doing the 2014 Cold Water Challenge

05/01/2014

Today is Justin's last day on B shift. He's leaving for a year to be a contract medic with the department of defense. You are in our prayers and thoughts Justin! We will miss you!

04/29/2014

Everyone stay safe out there with these storms coming through. Take cover in an interior room in your house if a tornado is coming. A good app to download is the American Red Cross tornado app. It sends alerts for your area and any area you have set in the app.

04/15/2014

Williamston EMS will be participating in the Belk Charity Event this year. Tickets can be purchased at the station located at 902 anderson drive. Monday through Friday from 830am to 5pm. The tickets are $5.00 and it comes with a coupon for$ 5.00 off your purchase. You will also receive 20% to 70% off of your purchases storewide. The sale is Saturday May 3rd from 6am to 10am.

04/09/2014

Praying for everyone involved with the Pennsylvania stabbing right now.