Calhoun County EMS is a MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) provider located on the South Texas Gulf Coast in Port Lavaca Texas. Established as a hospital based EMS provider November 1, 1980, the service has grown from (1) ambulance and (4) paramedics to its present size of (4) ambulances and (17) licensed and certified paramedics. EMS also staffs an SRU (Special Response Unit) that provides a communication & command center and treatment capabilities for over 30 patients. The SRU is used in MCI and special-event situations. We provide service to a resident population of over 20,000 and cover an area of 520 square miles.

History

Prior to 1980, the residents of Calhoun County's 520 square miles on the scattered volunteer fire departments and the local funeral home in Port Lavaca for their ambulance transportation. While some personnel had completed ECA training, most were trained with no more than the Red Cross first aid then required for a Taxas ambulance permit. There was no organized network of emergency response and few permitted ambulances. In November of 1979 county judge Willis Jetton and Commissioner Stanley Mikula initiated a year long project to contract with the local hospital and the City of Port Lavaca to form a 24 hour Emergency Medical Service, operated by the hospital and funded by the city and the county. By July 1980, Henry Barber had been employed by the hospital as the director of the newly established EMS department.