Ambulance calls pick up

Marion County Emergency Medical Service responded to 100 calls for ambulances in October. That is approximately a 37 percent increase from October 2009.

Through 10 months, ambulances have responded 879 times, compared with 942 at the same time in 2009.

“We’ll definitely meet 1,000 runs for the year,” EMS Director Steve Smith said.

Deer strikes account for a portion of the increase in October. More law enforcement officers are taking precaution to call for an ambulance when a driver hits a deer, he said.

“(Drivers) are hitting deer like you wouldn’t believe,” Smith said.

Of the 100 calls in October, 36 were for medical emergencies; non-transports, 20; motor vehicle accidents, 14; standbys, 11; transfers, 9; falls; 9; and cardiac, 1.

Hillsboro and Marion ambulances each responded to 33 calls in October; Peabody, 14; Tampa, 10; Florence, 7; and the back-up unit, 3. Goessel first responders were called upon twice, with Lincolnville and Hillsboro each taking one call.