Pike County proclaims EMS Week; director credits staffing model and training fund for improved response

Pike County commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 25-19, proclaiming May 18–24, 2025, as Emergency Medical Services Week and heard a detailed update on county EMS operations from Tim Timmer, the county’s director of public safety.

Tim Timmer told commissioners the county has answered 4,990 EMS calls so far this year and credited recent changes to the system — including increasing paid staffing, expanded training and a local training fund — with cutting the delay between dispatch and ambulance departure. “We’ve already answered 4,990 EMS calls in Pike County this year. Almost 5,000. Not 1 failure,” Timmer said, adding that the county’s CAD and dispatch protocols now send an on-duty ambulance within minutes rather than relying on volunteers to respond from home.

Timmer described system improvements that include adding advanced emergency medical technicians (AMTs), raising training standards, and strengthening ties with local hospitals for clinical rotations. He said many respondent agencies now operate staffed units rather than relying solely on volunteers, which reduces the time between a 911 call and an ambulance leaving a station. Timmer said a recently expanded EMT/AMT pipeline and training program is producing higher pass rates and more career pathways for residents.

Commissioners and local volunteers also discussed a community-funded training account that supports recruits’ education and provider continuing-education needs. A county fundraiser — the annual charity golf tournament — previously raised a net of about $15,000 and organizers said this year’s event should produce a comparable donation once final expenses are tallied. Organizers and county officials said the training fund currently helps pay for EMT schooling, CPR and first-aid certification, and ride-along agreements with regional hospitals for clinical practice.

Officials asked for continued consideration of how to extend similar support to volunteer fire departments. Commissioners and speakers praised recent intergovernmental and business partnerships that have supported EMS training and operations.

Ending: The county emphasized ongoing investment in training and staffing; commissioners adopted the EMS Week proclamation and asked staff to return with continuing updates on response-time metrics and training outcomes.