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Preserving Life - Promoting Safety
Community Health Assessment
In 2008, the Gaston County Health Department conducted a Community Health Assessment with the Gaston Community Healthcare Commission, Gaston County 's Healthy Carolinians Taskforce. This assessment is part of the Healthy Carolinians recertification process and is conducted under the guidance of the Office of Healthy Carolinians/Health Education and the State Center for Health Statistics of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This document presents the assessment process, results, and Gaston County 's leading health priorities.
Hiking Safety
Hiking is a wonderful way to get exercise and see nature at its best but it can also be dangerous when the proper precautions are ignored or the hiker fails to plan adequately. Gaston County EMS SAR Teams routinely respond to incidents involving injured or lost hikers at the Crowder's Mountain State Park and some of the State's most popular and remote hiking locations. Many of the responses would have been unnecessary if some simple preparations had been followed. Follow this link for valuable information that will help keep you safe while out on the trails.
"Lost in the Woods" with WCNC
Gaston County EMS was asked to help WCNC film a story on what could happen if someone becomes lost in the woods and how to survive until help arrives. A WCNC reporter spent the day hiking on Crowder's Mountain and was subsequently led to a location after it became dark to simulate being lost. The reporter was tired and unaware of his location so walking out was not an option. Tired and now lost, he was forced to make a shelter and stay the night and utilize only what he had packed for the day.
Gaston County EMS personnel set up a command post for safety and support minutes away from the reporter's location and monitored his progress via a two-way radio throughout the night. Visit the WCNC website to watch the video of how a WCNC reporter spent a cold night on Crowder's Mountain to experience just how a one day hike can go wrong and what takes place behind the scenes of a Search and Rescue Operation.
Public Education and Community Involvement
Gaston County EMS is committed to public education and community involvement through a variety of courses, events, and activities. GEMS sponsors programs designed to provide public citizens of all ages with useful information designed to promote health and safety awareness in addition to an awareness of what the emergency medical services industry is all about. Follow a link to learn more about some of these innovative and informative programs.
GEMS encourages everyone to take a CPR/AED course, please contact us to enroll in a course today.
First Aid and CPR/AED Training Courses- Citizens Academy
- EMS Quest and Paramedic Challenge
- High School Health Occupations Courses
- Bicycle Rodeo and Safety Classes
- Other
Wouldn't You Like To Know About?
It's Good to Know
Gaston County EMS (GEMS) Paramedics and EMS personnel spend a great deal of time training to serve you. Follow the links below to learn about some of the special courses and training that is required in the Gaston County EMS System.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Courses
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Courses
- Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Course
- Gaston County Police Carry AEDs