Edgar County Emergency Medical Services reported a series of operational and training accomplishments for 2024, including a national recognition for stroke care, federal training grant awards and workforce development programs.

Samantha, representing county EMS, said the service achieved Mission: Lifeline Silver Stroke status for quality stroke care and was the only EMS service south of Chicago with that designation in 2024. EMS also secured a SAMHSA training grant and will reapply for EMS Week funding in 2025. The department said it completed more than 3,000 transports in 2024 "accident free" and maintained shift coverage despite staff turnover.

Samantha described new initiatives including a mental-health resiliency officer, expanded continuing education with Paris Fire and area agencies, an "earn-while-you-learn" program for paramedic training (four enrolled with two near completion), dual-credit EMT courses with the high school, and a BLS course offered in Spanish. She said EMS updated documentation to improve payment collection and negotiated a 4.5-year county EMS contract.

Board members asked for copies of the annual report; Samantha said she would provide one.