Gaston County EMS

Shout out to our folks who went to help search for a missing man with medical issues based on a statewide call for Wilderness Search Teams. Capt. Lackey, LT Knight, EMT Hibberd, EMT Mitchell, and Mac. The missing individual was located, and beyond exposure, checked out OK.

GEMS. We Care. For Everyone.

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the men and women who gave everything in service to this country. Their sacrifice and dedication will never be forgotten.

Today, as part of EMS Week 2026, we recognize EMS Remembrance Day.

Today is a time to pause and honor the EMS professionals and support personnel who dedicated their lives to serving others. Through moments of crisis, tragedy, uncertainty, and hope, they answered the call to care for their communities with compassion, professionalism, and dedication. Their impact continues to live on through the patients they cared for, the coworkers they supported, and the organization they helped shape.

We remember and honor Lieutenant Melanie Massagee, Medical Director Andrew Matthews, Paramedic Mary Jolly, Paramedic Chuck McAlister, and Admin Support Specialists Kathy Wiggins and Dorothy “Candy” Robbins. Their service, commitment, and contributions to this organization and community will never be forgotten.

We also remember the many EMS professionals and support personnel who spent portions of their lives serving this community throughout the years. Their influence continues to be felt through the friendships, mentorship, and legacy they left behind.

Today, and every day, we honor the memory of those who have gone before us and recognize the families, friends, and coworkers who continue to carry their memory forward.

Today, as part of EMS Week 2026, we recognize EMS Recognition Day.

EMS is a profession built on dedication, sacrifice, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. Every day, EMS professionals walk into unpredictable situations and are expected to make critical decisions, provide compassionate care, and remain calm during moments that are often chaotic and emotionally difficult. It is a profession that demands skill, resilience, and heart.

Today, we proudly recognize and thank the members of Gaston County EMS. To our EMTs, paramedics, field training officers, supervisors, special operations personnel, logistics personnel, administrative professionals, community paramedics, peer support specialists, recovery transporters, administrative leadership, and every individual who helps keep this organization moving forward, thank you. Thank you for the long hours, the missed holidays, the continued training, the sacrifices made at home, and the compassion you continue to show our patients and one another each day.

The public often sees us during emergencies, but they do not always see the preparation, teamwork, emotional weight, and dedication that comes with this profession. They do not always see the difficult calls that stay with providers long after the shift ends, the time spent mentoring new employees, the extra effort given to comfort scared patients and families, or the countless hours spent training to ensure we are prepared for whatever comes next. Those things matter, and they do not go unnoticed.

We also want to recognize EMS professionals everywhere who continue to answer the call to serve their communities each day. We are proud to stand alongside so many dedicated providers who continue to make a difference in the lives of others through this profession.

Today, we are also proud to recognize several recent accomplishments achieved by members of the Gaston County EMS team.

Please join us in congratulating Captain Brent Hager, Captain Kelly Marlowe, and Lieutenant Melissa Levitsky for being named to Western Carolina University’s Chancellor’s List for the Spring 2026 semester.

We also congratulate Community Paramedic Jennifer Sutley on graduating from Atrium Health Cabarrus College of Health Sciences with her Bachelor of Science in Community Paramedicine. This accomplishment reflects her dedication to continued education and her commitment to serving the community through progressive and innovative patient care.

We also congratulate Captain Dawn Lackey on successfully completing the NC EMS Officer II series.

Congratulations to Paramedics Victoria Garner and Ed Carson for assisting with the delivery of a healthy baby boy this week. Moments like these serve as a reminder of the unique and rewarding experiences EMS professionals encounter while serving the community.

This week, GEMS Orientation Class 26-03 successfully completed orientation and proudly took the EMS Oath. We are excited to welcome this outstanding group of EMTs and Paramedics as they move into the next phase of their training. Each of these new providers has demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and a strong commitment to serving the residents of Gaston County. They are now ready to begin applying their skills in the field as they continue their development within our organization.

We are proud of each of you and look forward to watching your growth and success within Gaston County EMS.

Today, as part of EMS Week 2026, we recognize Save-A-Life Day.

In an emergency, the actions taken by bystanders before first responders arrive can make a tremendous difference. Whether someone experiences a cardiac arrest, choking emergency, severe bleeding, drowning incident, or overdose, early intervention from the public can help save a life.

One of the most important skills anyone can learn is hands-only CPR. If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 911 immediately and begin pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives. If an AED is available, apply it as soon as possible and follow the voice prompts. Early CPR, rapid AED use, and quick activation of 911 can significantly improve survival outcomes during a cardiac arrest.

The same principle applies to severe bleeding emergencies. Applying direct pressure, using a tourniquet when appropriate, and quickly activating 911 can help control life-threatening bleeding while EMS personnel are responding to the scene.

Naloxone administration is another important life-saving tool that members of the public can use during a suspected opioid overdose. If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly or not breathing, has pinpoint pupils, or you suspect an overdose may have occurred, administer naloxone if available, call 911 immediately, and continue to monitor the person until help arrives. Early recognition and intervention can save a life.

Through CPR instruction, Stop the Bleed education, naloxone education, first aid training, community outreach events, and other public safety programs, we provide our community with the knowledge and confidence to take action during an emergency.

You do not have to be a healthcare professional to make a difference. Sometimes the actions taken in the first few minutes of an emergency can save a life before EMS ever arrives.

Earlier today, Gaston County EMS personnel assisted multiple public safety agencies in the search for a missing subject in the Bessemer City area.

Resources responding included:
• GEMS K951 - Captain Lackey and K9 Mac
• GEMS SOU and UTV1 - Captain Hager, Captain Sigmon, and Lieutenant Knight
• GEMS 30L - Lieutenant Levitsky
• Dallas Rescue D186 - EMT Frye and EMT Gardner

Additional assisting agencies included Gaston County Emergency Management and Fire Services, Gaston County Police Department, Cherryville Police Department, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, who remained on standby during the operation.

The call was dispatched at approximately 10:25 AM, and the subject was safely located around 1:00 PM.

Today’s response is a great reminder that public safety is built on teamwork, communication, and strong partnerships. No single agency accomplishes these missions alone. By working together, sharing resources, and supporting one another, we are able to better serve and protect our communities.

As we continue recognizing EMS Week 2026 and this year’s theme, “Improving Outcomes, Together,” today’s successful outcome reflects exactly what that message represents.

Thank you to everyone involved for your teamwork, professionalism, and dedication throughout today’s response.

Today, as part of EMS Week 2026, we recognize Education Day.

Education is a critical part of emergency medical services and plays an important role in improving outcomes for the patients and communities we serve. EMS professionals must continuously train, learn, and adapt to stay prepared for the wide variety of emergencies they encounter every day. From advanced medical skills and life-saving procedures to communication, leadership, and teamwork, education never stops in EMS.

Beyond caring for patients during emergencies, EMS professionals also serve as educators within the community. Through public education programs, injury prevention initiatives, CPR training, Stop the Bleed classes, naloxone education, fall prevention, and many other outreach efforts, EMS providers work to help keep our community informed, prepared, and safe before an emergency ever occurs.

The commitment to education extends far beyond the classroom. It takes countless hours of continuing education, scenario-based training, certifications, skills reviews, and hands-on experience to maintain the knowledge and readiness needed to provide high-quality patient care.

Today, we recognize the EMS educators, field training officers, clinical coordinators, preceptors, and providers who are committed to lifelong learning and sharing their knowledge with others. Your dedication helps strengthen the profession and improves the care delivered to our community every single day.

Today marks the beginning of EMS Week 2026.

This year’s national EMS Week theme, “Improving Outcomes, Together,” recognizes the work EMS professionals do every day behind the scenes and on the front lines of patient care.

EMS is often associated with lights and sirens, but the job involves so much more than what people see during an emergency. EMS professionals make critical decisions in seconds, perform advanced medical interventions in uncontrolled environments, comfort patients and families during difficult moments, and adapt to situations that can change instantly. They care for people during medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, mental health crises, overdoses, and countless other situations that require both clinical skill and compassion.

The work also goes far beyond the call itself. EMS providers spend hours training, maintaining certifications, preparing equipment, reviewing protocols, and working to stay ready for whatever comes next. They are educators, advocates, problem solvers, and calm voices during chaotic situations. Many times, they meet people on some of the worst days of their lives and are expected to bring reassurance, professionalism, and empathy regardless of the circumstances.

The public may only see a small part of what EMS professionals do each day, but the impact they make within our community is felt far beyond an ambulance ride or emergency scene.

Throughout the week, we’ll be following the national EMS Week themed days and highlighting the many different aspects of EMS and the professionals who proudly serve our community each day.

Thank you to all EMS professionals for the skill, compassion, sacrifice, and dedication you bring to this profession every single day.

Happy EMS Week!

As we wrap up National Police Week, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank our law enforcement partners here in Gaston County and beyond.

Every day, we have the privilege of working alongside you, responding to calls, supporting one another, and serving our community together. The work you do requires constant awareness, quick decision making, and a willingness to step into situations that most would avoid. We see the long hours, the challenges, and the responsibility you carry, and we are grateful for the trust and teamwork that exists between our agencies. Your presence makes a difference in the lives of those you serve and in the safety of our communities. We are proud to stand beside you.

We pause to honor the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Their loss is felt not only within their agencies, but across the entire public safety community. These men and women answered the call to serve, putting others before themselves, and their legacy lives on through the work that continues each day. We carry their memory with us and remain committed to standing together in the mission they gave their lives for.

From all of us at Gaston County EMS, thank you for what you do today and every day. Stay safe.