Charleston County EMS kudos

Employees of Charleston County EMS get a birds-eye view of devastating and gruesome scenes. They get the satisfaction of helping, when it is possible to help. Sometimes they get a thank you. And they get a modest salary.

So it was particularly welcome news that the deparment, which gives much, will receive a top national award for outstanding achievement.

EMS magazine's Paid EMS Service of the Year is awarded to a department that exceeds what is expected of them.

Fortunate people don't even know about some of those achievements. They haven't been heart attack patients who were transported to the hospital more quickly than ever before, or who had improved results because of special EMS training.

Marie Nordberg, associate editor of the magazine, described Charleston County EMS as "an up-and-coming, progressive service."

EMS director Don Lundy said his department's success comes from focusing on patient care.

That sounded like a winning philosophy to EMS magazine, and it sounds like a winner to us.