Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

BIXBY – If you have a heart attack in LA, your chances of survival just got better.

Davie Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dedicated its newest station here last week, meaning a quicker response to medical emergencies in lower Advance and surrounding communities.

“You know that first responders are my people, and I’m excited our EMS crews have a great building, a great strategic location to respond to our citizens professionally and quickly,” Benita Finney, county commissioner, said at a ribbon cutting ceremony last week for the new station on Cornatzer Road at Howardtown Road.

“Davie County should be proud. We’re blessed to have our law enforcement, EMS, rescue squad and first responders to save lives under any condition,” she said.

An EMS crew will be stationed there around the clock. It is the county’s fourth EMS station, with a land purchase scheduled this year for a fifth station in western Davie.

EMS Director Joseph Ashburn said the new station was constructed with the employees in mind. Those employees work 24-hour shifts, and live at the station when not on a call.

“I can’t say enough about our staff,” he said. “They serve you with all of their heart and soul. This station, when we went through the design, we listend to our staff.”

Ashburn thanked many of the key players in getting the new station built.

County Manager Brian Barnett said the project was not only under budget, but was finished early. He credited Brad Blackwelder, the county’s director of general services.

Richard Poindexter, county commissioner, said EMS has become more important over the years as people are living longer, and the county’s population is growing.

“We’re here to serve the citizens of Davie County, and help them live longer and healthier lives,” Poindexter said.