Bulloch County EMS recently unveiled a significant expansion to its station on West Grady Street, adding 2,100 square feet to better accommodate its growing team and enhance emergency response capabilities. The expansion, which was celebrated with an open house on Friday from 4-6 p.m., addresses long-standing space constraints and provides new resources that will improve both staff operations and patient care.
Captain Mike Lindamood, Shift Supervisor for Bulloch County EMS, led a tour of the new facility, highlighting the much-needed improvements and how they will impact emergency response efforts.
Meeting the Needs of a Growing EMS Team
Over the years, the demand for emergency medical services in Bulloch County has surged, with both call volumes and staffing levels increasing significantly. In the past, the station operated with as few as four personnel per shift. Today, that number has more than tripled, with approximately 15 staff members on duty at a time.
With this growth, space became an urgent issue. Previously, EMS personnel had to sleep in recliners or makeshift quarters, and the front office even functioned as a sleeping area with just a cloth partition for privacy.
The expansion has changed that by adding six individual bedrooms, giving each on-shift staff member their own space to rest during long shifts.
“When we first started, we had beds on top of beds, on top of people,” Lindamood said. “We were in recliners, and even our front foyer office had to be used as a bedroom. Now, every shift member has their own room, and our training officer finally has an actual office instead of working from a corner with just a cloth partition.”
A Dedicated Space for Training and Team Development
One of the most notable additions to the station is a new conference and training room, a much-needed improvement for EMS staff development.
Previously, training sessions were conducted in various locations, including the Emergency Operations Center, or any available space that could accommodate a group. Now, the station has a designated area for ongoing education, skill-building, and team exercises.
“This is our training room that we desperately needed, and we’ve already outgrown it,” Lindamood explained. “Before, we had to train wherever we could find a spot, but now we have a space designed for it. We’ve got monitors for PowerPoints, plenty of room to move chairs and tables around, and we can even do hands-on team-building exercises.”
One of the most advanced additions to the training space is the $30,000 SimMan mannequin, a high-tech simulation tool that mimics real-life medical emergencies. The mannequin breathes, has a pulse, and can even be used to practice procedures like IV insertion, intubation, and needle decompressions.
“This is an incredible life-saving training tool,” Lindamood said. “We can replicate almost any medical emergency with it, from head injuries to cardiac events. It gives our team hands-on experience in a controlled environment.”
The expanded training area is already being put to good use. Recently, the team conducted a leadership class that involved hands-on problem-solving exercises, reinforcing the importance of teamwork in high-pressure situations.
Enhanced Resources for Emergency Response
The expansion not only benefits the EMS team but also improves the level of care they can provide to the community. With the station now housing four ambulances instead of two, response times can be more efficient.
Additionally, the station has acquired a new ventilator, which allows EMS teams to transport critical care patients more effectively to major hospitals like Memorial Health in Savannah and Augusta University Medical Center.
“Before, we didn’t have the equipment to manage ventilated patients during transfers,” Lindamood explained. “Now, we have the capability to ensure better patient outcomes by stabilizing them before and during transport.”
Another major advantage of the expansion is the increased capacity for call management. Bulloch County EMS now runs an average of 40-45 emergency calls per shift, with each call typically lasting 45 minutes to an hour. With more space, more ambulances, and more staff, the workload can be better distributed.
“The added staff and resources make a huge difference,” Lindamood said. “Instead of one crew running 15 calls in a shift, they might only have to run 10. That reduces fatigue and ensures our responders are at their best when emergencies happen.”
The EMS station on West Grady Street has come a long way since it was first built in 1995. What was once a small, overcrowded space has now become a modern facility designed to support the community’s growing emergency needs. In addition to the new bedrooms and training areas, the expansion also included updated bathrooms with full showers, doubling the number of facilities available for staff.
“This expansion has completely changed the way we operate,” Lindamood said. “It makes everything easier, from training to daily shifts to patient care. We can breathe again.”
With the growth of Bulloch County, EMS leaders anticipate continued demand for services, and the West Grady Street expansion is just one step in ensuring the county remains well-equipped to handle emergencies efficiently.
As the community toured the new facility during the open house, it was clear that this expansion is not just about space, it’s about providing better emergency care for Bulloch County residents. The added room, upgraded technology, and improved working conditions all contribute to making sure EMS personnel are well-prepared to respond when needed most.
We at Grice Connect are thrilled to see that our local heroes now have a space to work out of that matches their incredible commitment to our community.
