Marion County Emergency Medical Services were called 109 times in May, an increase of 36 percent from the same period in 2010.

Medical emergenciesaccounted for 30 calls; no-transports, 21; transfers, 20; falls, 12; standbys, 10; canceled calls, 6; cardiac emergencies, 5; and motor-vehicle accidents, 5.

The Hillsboro ambulance crew responded to 38 calls; Marion, 35; Peabody, 13; Florence, 9; Tampa, 8; and the back-up unit, 6.

Goessel first-responders were called out seven times, and Lincolnville first-responders were called out once.

Ambulance calls through May totaled 473, up from 434 in 2010.

EMS Director Steve Smith told Marion County Commission on Monday that the department continues to suffer a shortage of volunteers to take on-call time.

“I’m running up against a brick wall looking for solutions,” Smith said.

Three volunteers passed their emergency medical technician basic practical skills test recently.