Wimberley EMS cuts the ribbon on new era

Ken Strange is no stranger to the Wimberley Valley. He began his career in Wimberley more than 20 years ago as a small-town volunteer firefighter. He loves the work and the calling to serve people. All who live in Wimberley know his commitment to serving this community.

Strange began his EMT career in Wimberley while still working for a government contractor in Austin. While volunteering as a firefighter he was offered the opportunity to take a medical class and fell in love with the work. He soon received his Emergency Care Attendant certificate then earned his Emergency Medical Technician certificate, ultimately becoming a paramedic. Ken was hired by Wimberley EMS in 1996 as a full-time paramedic. Ten years later he was promoted to EMS Director, where he serves today.

While it may not have been his first wish, a new EMS building has been one of Strange’s dreams for almost a decade. With the assistance of the Board of Directors, Strange and his team hosted fundraisers and solicited donations to earned enough money to move forward with the new building.

The project began on December 20 of 2019 and move-in was December 23rd of 2020. Ken and the Board of Directors’ goal for the new building was for it to be fully funded, on time, under budget and debt free.

Wimberley EMS is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization serving over 25,000 residents within a 146-mile radius whose boundaries include parts of San Marcos like Hugo Road, Summer Mountain Ranch, and Falconwood. There are 16 full-time staff, with four full-time paramedics on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week working 48 hours per shift. The EMS offices are open Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Wimberley EMS currently has two ambulances in service and an older ambulance in reserve. A new ambulance was recently purchased and is being prepared for service with the intention of replacing one of the older ambulances in the fleet. This third ambulance is used as a backup when one of the other ambulances is out of service for maintenance or repairs. As call volume is increasing, they are preparing to purchase another ambulance at an initial cost of $220,000. Once stretchers, cardiac monitors and technology have been installed, the final cost will be approximately $330,000.

Hays County ESD #7 is the taxing authority that contracts with Wimberley EMS to provide EMS service in this district.

When a 9-1-1 call is made it is received at a dispatch center in San Marcos, which is a division of the Hays County Sheriff’s Department. Highly trained dispatchers determine which service the calls will be assigned whether Police, Fire or EMS. In the beginning, Wimberley EMS received approximately 500 calls per year. Currently they receive nearly 2,000 calls per year.

COVID-19 has not significantly increased the call volume but when responding to a possible COVID call medics wear masks, gloves and suit up with personal safety gear.

“The calls used to be mostly from the elderly. With the population changing in Wimberley, now younger residents in our district are utilizing our services,” Strange said.

The new facilities at the Wimberley EMS will help them continue their valuable service for many years to come.

With the all the funds associated with a new facility and new equipment, Wimberley EMS will certainly be on the fundraising circuit again. The most notable fundraiser is the Duck Race. While the Duck Race is typically held during National EMS Week, which is the third week in May, it appears COVID-19 will be impacting those plans as well. The fundraiser was cancelled last year and is temporarily postponed for this year.