THE BRUNSWICK'feffiACON pB wm WHM m TUI IDCHaV a on ii 1 * THURSDAY. APRIL 16. 1992 D COUNTDOWN TO ENHANCED 91 1 CONT1NUFS r< J_r Doug Ledgett Patiently Turning Vision Into Reality HY TERRY POPE ? Responding to cmcrgcncics has been part of Doug Ledgett's job, or rather calling, for 20 years. He knows the importance of patience. The Southport attorney set aside a law career to be come Brunswick County's Emergency Medical Services supervisor in November 1990. Later. Brunswick County Commissioners gave him another title, assistant to the county manager. With the county's enhanced 91 1 program scheduled to go on-line later this month, many of its components and supporting features reflect Ledgett's vision for the future ? a county with paid emergency paramedics who work around the clock to help save lives. "He was obviously the right person for the position," said County Manager David Clcgg. "It's his first love. When he was hired, 1 just could not have been more pleased." Ledgctt had served on the Southport Volunteer Fire Department since 1971 and on the town's rescue squad since 1974. He was selected chairman of the Brunswick County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council and has served on the advisory council for emergency services for the Region O Cape Fear Council of Governments as a planning agent for medical Services. "One reason 1 took the position," said Ledgctt, "is it became evident that as long as we had an all-volunteer system we wouldn't improve on our response time or patient care. We needed to get higher than where we were. That's not to say that we weren't getting good care." His comer office in the county administration build ing at the Brunswick County Government Center has been a busy spot for more than a year. But Ledgctt isn't likely ic take sole crc^it for hringing 91 1 closer to reali ty. Instead, he says, it was a countywidc effort on the part of Emergency Management employees, volunteers in fire and rescue departments, county planners and oth ers. "He took programs that were in their infancy to where they are today," said Clcgg. "He's a very quiet worker. He's gone about his duties and not made a lot of waves, but you can certainly move swiftly without making a lot of waves." Part of those duties involves working 10 to 12 hours a day and taking Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training classes at night. Half of his time is spent prepar ing for 91 1, selecting equipment and coordinating agen cies involved in the detailed communications network. The other half is spent overseeing Emergency Medical Services. Keeping long hours, he says, isn't a problem. ]menhi^monthPMENT "" C?"nty '5 9" Ce"ter " A"antic Telephone employee Ixirry Mies. The program, not yet in operation, is "chilled iTbegin "I had been doing that as a volunteer, so it's nothing different," he said. Patience and dclibcratcncss under pressure have been his trademark. The 911 program has been hit with nu merous delays as a result of late approval for building designs and delayed factory delivery of radio equipment. It was originally scheduled to begin Jan. 1. The countdown to 911 continues. His enthusiasm for the program remains steady. "It's going to be something that people can appreci ate," said Lcdgett. "It's going to save some lives." Last month, Brunswick County's 12 paid EMT Intermediates moved from basic life support to ad vanced life support certification, which allows them to start intravenous fluids, to monitor and to defibrillatc pa tients in cardiac arrest to restore heart rhythm while en route to the hospital. EMTs provide backup scrvicc to rescue volunteers, especially during days when volun teers must hold regular jobs. Approximately 45 volunteers will finish EMT Intermcdiate training this year. The goal is for the paid EMTs to finish paramedic training within two years. Paramedics work by radio with doctors to dispense med icine to patients on the scene or enroute to the hospital. Lcdgett practices what he preaches. He, too, will train to become a paramedic through the program offered at Brunswick Community College, spending two or three nights per week for 18 months in a classroom alter working days. "By the time they're through, they will probably have about 1,400 hours of training," said Lcdgctt. So far, there have been approximately 12 calls where advanced life support training has come in to play to help save lives in Brunswick County, said Lcdgctt. Often, EMTs will meet with squads which are enroute to the hospital with a patient. It requires cooperation among the departments. "You don't sec the squabbling that we once had be tween rescue squad chiefs," said Lcdgctt. "They meet oncc a month now. There is really good communication there." It has been Lcdgctt's role as "grand facilitator" that ended the squabbling, said Clegg. Ledgett is a 20-year fire and rescue volunteer himself, and volunteers have grown to trust him across the county. "He's a wonderful communicator," said Clegg. "He can explain things in a way that people understand. A lot of issues could have been more volatile had he not had that talent for being able to communicate well. He's been a tremendous asset to Brunswick County." His goal is to push forward with emergency services. He will move his office this month into the Emergency Operations Center that houses 91 1 and run the program from there. He will operate the growing Emergency Medical Services program and oversee the Geographic Information System, a database of maps and information on every parcel of land in Brunswick County, accessible through 91 1. As the countdown moves closer to 91 1, it's been the smaller details of the program that have kept him busiest of late. But he's remained cool under pressure. Any system as detailed as 911 will involve minor set backs, he said. "That's to be expected in any system," said Lcdgett. "Everything's got to fit together and will continue to grow." When he accepted the job, Lcdgcu said he would view it as a challenge. A law practice served as a voca tion to support his avocation and first love, emergency services. Law experience comes in handy now when dealing with issues of liability or with contractual mat ters. "I'm rather ambitious in my plans," admits Ledgelt. It's an ambition that has been good for Brunswick County and its citizens, said Clcgg. "We would not be at EMT-1 (Intermediate) status without him," said Clcgg. "He's an authority figure to volunteers. They believe him. They trust him." \? m AFTER A LONG DAY at work, Doug Ledgett addresses Brunswick County Commissioners on details of the 911 program. Go rnincj JBoon to otds n Watch our site for construction of Archibald's ! I Delicatessen & Rotisserie I Located on I iwy. 130 - 4/ 10 mile from Holden Beach Causeway 8 Marcus Key Williams, M.D. is no longer associated with Brunswick Islands Medical Associates, P.A. and is pleased to announce the opening of his Internal Medicine practice in Wilmington. The Wilmington office will be located in the Spa Building, Suite 9A, 2250 Shipyard Blvd. Opening June 1, 1992 THfcPfHjNSW'CMJLACQH I g lit I N G 0 g Thursday Nights ? Doors Open 6:15 pm 3 Calabash VFW Post 7288 jS Carter Rd., Trader's Village, Calabash, 579-3577 M OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Games begin at 7:30 PM Minimum "Buy In" $5.00 Minimum Pay Out $600. OO Snacks Available ? No Children under 12 8 8 8 Delmar Waverly ? Levelor ?" c CO <0 CO I? o ro E 3 I if idqej0 ? Ad|qsv ejnei w William Temple Allen, CPA ? 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