FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Captain Dave Wheaton, Lee County Public Safety/EMS
                (941) 335-1661

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 17, 2002) – Lee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) opened a new station this week as part of its ongoing plan to hire more than 50 new employees this year and improve service to residents.

The station is in leased space at 13141 McGregor Boulevard (Station #20) across from The Landings. In addition, another new ambulance was deployed this week and is temporarily stationed in the San Carlos Park Fire Station at Island Park (Station #21). Both stations will be manned 24 hours a day by a paramedic and emergency medical technician (EMT).

The San Carlos Park Fire District is graciously allowing EMS to use its station as a preliminary staging area for new ambulances being deployed in the southwest area of the county while new ambulance stations are being prepared to open. Station 21 eventually will move to the new Estero Fire District station on Three Oaks Parkway Extension after it opens and an agreement is completed with Estero Fire.

"We’re trying to put a new ambulance on the road every 45 to 60 days," said Chris Hansen, EMS Program Manager. The next ambulance likely will be deployed in Cape Coral. Lee County EMS now has 21, 24-hour ambulances and four, 12-hour ambulances on the road.

The increase in employees, ambulances and stations is the result of County Commission actions over the last two years to improve EMS response time reliability. In 2000, the Board of Lee County Commissioners authorized the purchase of four new ambulances and hiring of 34 new EMS employees to staff them. Last year, the Board authorized hiring an additional 43 EMS employees and the purchase of another five ambulances. In total, EMS will be opening seven new ambulance stations throughout the county.

Lee EMS has been conducting a nationwide recruitment of paramedics and EMTs to fill the open positions. In addition, the county is in the process of buying and outfitting new ambulances to put on the road as soon as employees are hired and trained.

Lee County EMS provides out-of-hospital advanced life support response and care to more than 50,000 citizens and visitors each year and also operates an air ambulance helicopter. Its annual budget is $21.4 million and it employs more than 200 people. In February, EMS will celebrate its 30th Anniversary serving the residents and visitors of Lee County. To learn more about Lee County EMS and employment opportunities, visit its web site at www.lee-county.com/ps/EMS/.

Note to Editors/Reporters: To get photos or footage of the new stations and EMS employees at work, please coordinate with Capt. Dave Wheaton at 335-1661. He will be available after noon today.