History of EMS
From 1976 to 1983, the Sandusky County EMS provided Woodville and Woodville Township with their first emergency medical service. The squad was known as EM16. The truck and the paramedics were housed in the old garage behind town hall. In 1983, the county discontinued EMS service in Woodville based on a loss of federal funds, and the squad was pulled from the Township.
A group of Woodville Township citizens formed the “EMS Advisory Board” to find a solution. In response to this action, a levy was placed on the ballot to provide funds for our own EMS service. In 1984, residents of Woodville and Woodville Township generously passed a 1.5 mill levy by 91% to provide full-time emergency service to their residents. Woodville’s own advanced life support squad became known as Life Squad 91.
The village and township contracted with St. Vincent’s Medical Center for ambulance service. In 1989, St. Vincents decided to no longer operate an ambulance service, so Woodville contracted with St. Charles Hospital for the EMS service. St. Charles also eventually pulled out due to a loss of revenue.
In 1996, Woodville Township contracted with North Central EMS of Milan, Ohio, to employ six, permanent, rotating crew members who are licensed advanced life support (ALS) medical technicians. They staffed the squad 24-hours a day, 7 days a week from the Woodville Township Fire Station.
In 2006, Sandusky County voters passed a levy for an additional 1/4% sales tax to help fund the Sandusky County EMS service, but Woodville Township does not share in this revenue because the additional tax only supports county-owned EMS equipment, and Woodville Township funds their own squad.
Since 1996, the Township EMS fund has relied heavily on financial support from the Sandusky County Commissioners. That support, which at times was $65,000 a year, dwindled to a subsidy of $12,500 and was discontinued by the commissioners in 2014.
In 2018, North Central raised their contract price as they could not continue to operate in Woodville at such high losses. A new 5.7 mill levy was placed on the ballot and approved by voters. Just a few months later, North Central pulled their agreement in Woodville stating they chose to remain geographically closer to their core service area in Norwalk.
Over a six month period, the Woodville Township Trustees looked long and hard to find the best way to provide 24/7 life-saving service to our residents. After reviewing the options available to Woodville Township, the Trustees felt the Sandusky County EMS program was a highly qualified organization, and they excel at what they are doing.
The Sandusky County EMS is 1 of 6 ambulance companies in Ohio to be accredited through CAAS (The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services). SCEMS is also 1 of 7 pre-hospital agencies in Ohio to hold the American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline Award.
On June 30, 2019, the Trustees entered into a 3-year agreement with the Sandusky County EMS in the amount of $250,000 annually. The 5.7 mill levy in place was no longer needed to fund Woodville Township’s EMS program, so the Trustees rolled back collections to 3.9 mill.
Sandusky County EMS provides six, permanent, rotating crew members who are licensed advanced life support (ALS) medical technicians. They staff the squad 24-hours a day, 7 days a week from the Woodville Township Fire Station. Annually, they respond to over 400 calls including all 911 emergency calls and turnpike calls. The EMS is also on scene for every fire call the fire department receives.
The squad name was changed to LS 19. The Township continues to own the squad, but all ancillary equipment such as heart monitors, oxygen therapy, medications, stretchers, and other related emergency equipment are provided by the county. The county also maintains the squad (fuel & repairs), and pays for the living expenses for housing the EMS personnel.