History | EMS Communications

1976

The dispatch center was located in the basement of the Greenville County court house, with two phone lines dedicated to EMS calls. The Sheriff's office was responsible for recording all phone and radio traffic, including EMS.

1981

There were three shifts. We dispatched six ambulances using a Motorola radio. It was tall and wide with a keypad used to enter two numbers to activate the tones on two primary channesls (9).

All EMS, City and County Law Enforcement calls were carried on seven phone lines. Punch cards and a time clock were used to record calls.

1984/85

The Communications Center was now part of The Police Service Bureau, having been consolidated with EMS.

There were five dispatchers and all radio traffic was recorded on a 24-hour Dictaphone reel.

1986

Dispatch was moved to the county square. The Punch Card System was replaced by Motorola Centra Comm radios. To use the radio, we entered a three digit number to activate the tones. There were only seven ambulances and a rescue truck for the entire county.

1987

In August of 1987 EMS was the last agency to transfer to E911. There were three consoles with telephones, two consoles with radios, and a supervisor's desk.

Today

Today our dispatchers are medically trained and nationally certified in EMD, EMT and CPR. Our computers, telephones and radios use the latest technology to ensure the closest and best-equipped personnel are dispatched to a call.

The Communication Specialist whom answers your emergency call will ask several important questions while a second Specialist dispatches an ambulance.