By Nathan Smith
The Daily News

Published December 28, 2003

Galveston Emergency Medical Services expect to have responded to 10,100 emergency calls in 2003 by New Year’s Eve, topping 2001’s record of 9,705 responses, according to a release by the Galveston Area Ambulance Authority last week. The new Galveston record will represent a 5 percent increase in emergency responses over last year.

Galveston EMS is a division of the Galveston County Health District and began EMS operations for the island in 1975. In the first year of operations in the city there were 5,903 calls for 911 ambulances, a little more than half of today’s calls. A budget of $2.8 million supports four ambulances around the clock with one additional daytime ambulance to service primarily non-emergency calls. Three primary ambulances serve the majority of the city and respond to over 3,000 calls per year per ambulance.

“Many changes in the world of medical care have created an increased demand on EMS services such as ours,” said Greg Kunkel, Galveston EMS’ Chief of Operations. “These paramedics will come on a shift at 7:30 in the morning, and leave for their first call, and I will not see them for the rest of the day due to the high number of calls we receive. EMS and Galveston County Health District Administrators are working constantly to meet the ever increasing needs of the community.”