Karen Morris

July 2024 Issue
Photography by Cassidy Dunn Photography

 
Hometown: Beaufort
Career: Beaufort County
EMS Training Officer
Family: Husband: Kelly Stewart, Daughter: Shelby Morris

You have been with Beaufort County EMS for 35 Years, what is your current position?
I am the Training Officer and Education Coordinator. I design and implement Continuing Education Programs (CEP) which meet National Registry and South Carolina requirements. My role is to provide the education, which may either be a lecture or skill session which I present or is presented by a subject matter expert, such as a physician or nurse. We’ve had guest speakers from the Parkinson’s Support Group Aware in Care, AirMethods (helicopter EMS), SANE program (sexual assault) from the Officer of the Solicitor, and Crisis Intervention Training by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) just to mention a few. It is my responsibility to ensure the information meets the education requirements.

What are 5 things people MUST know regarding the 911/EMS System
in Beaufort County?
1. The emergency care provided by your EMS clinician facilitates the continuation of medical treatment provided once you arrive at the ER. If a Trauma, Stroke, STEMI or Sepsis Alert is called by EMS to the ER, a plan of treatment is started by the ER prior to your arrival. Much of your treatment, IVs, 12-lead EKGs, lab draws, blood glucose levels, airway management, etc. will be established during transport.

2. Trust your clinician in which hospital to transport to; not all hospitals provide the same level of care. A traumatic injury may require a Trauma Center, the closest being in Savannah. A cardiovascular emergency needs a hospital that provides specialized cardiovascular care such as a Cath lab (Hilton Head Hospital and Beaufort Memorial). EMS is a county agency not affiliated with any hospital, so if the clinician recommends a particular hospital, it is because it is best suited to provide the care you require.

3. Never hesitate to call 911! If you aren’t sure whether you need an ambulance, call anyway. EMS will be able to provide a physical assessment and perform medical testing, which will assist in identifying the critical nature of your complaint. We would rather respond and find we are not needed, than for someone not to call 911; the cost of that decision could be your life.

4. Not all EMS agencies are the same. Beaufort County is fortunate to have a fully staffed and operated Advanced Life Support System. Every ambulance is staffed by a Paramedic clinician and an EMT, which allows for an advanced level of care during transport. Many counties are not able to afford the staffing and equipment to provide this level of service on all their ambulances.

5. When calling 911, it is very important to provide as much information about the patient’s condition and location as possible. At times callers become frustrated with all the questions, possibly thinking EMS is not en route, but we are. As soon as 911 is activated and the dispatcher finds out which service you need—EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement or all—we are toned out. When the tones drop for a 911 response, we have 2 minutes to wheels rolling; rarely do we ever take those 2 minutes; it is usually less.

What is the protocol if you are sitting in traffic
and an ambulance is trying to get through?
If you look up to see an ambulance with red lights flashing in your rearview mirror, try to safely pull to the right. Try not to hit the brakes and stop in front of the ambulance, ease to the right. Our EMTs know how to maneuver around stopped or heavily clogged intersections. Be patient! We could be responding to someone you love.

You rode the ambulance for 28 years.
What was your favorite part of being a first responder?
I love the people in our community, the diversity of cultures, and the unknown aspects of each call. I have met some of the most amazing people. This career has given me gifts that many never experience, like holding the hand of someone passing from this life to the next, crying with someone who woke to find they lost their partner of 60 years during the night, or providing comfort to another human by just being there. Most think of 911 calls as the blaring lights and sirens, gun shots, or stabbings, but for me, it was always “what can I do” to not only to manage the emergency, but also show humanity and compassion for another. This is not a trait special to me; many EMS clinicians go above and beyond to care for our community.

If you could start your career over, would you choose to be a paramedic all over again?
Without a doubt! Before my father passed away, he told me I was one of few people he had known in his life who truly loved their job. Currently, we are experiencing a nationwide shortage of EMTs and Paramedic clinicians, especially Paramedics. We are an aging population, and the need for medical personnel will only increase over the next few years. There are many opportunities in the EMS field outside of riding the ambulance. There’s private and public critical transport, 911, hospital positions, government agencies, such as the Savannah River Plant, and private companies, too. Amazon employees EMTs/ Paramedics. Most of the education for EMS personnel is now fully funded, free! If you are willing to complete the educational requirements, are physically able to perform the job, and have a desire to improve the lives of others, EMS may be a good fit.

What has been one of the most rewarding moments you’ve experienced in your career?
In 2016, I was presented the Jack Niles Award, Educator of the Year for the state of South Carolina. There are many amazing educators within South Carolina EMS, and to stand in the shadow of those who received this award is humbling. To be considered for the award of educator of the year is an honor; I was lucky that year because there are many EMS educators who deserved it and still do.

You are the Lowcountry Representative and on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina EMS Association (SCEMSA). What does this group do and why are they important?
The SCEMSA is the supporting body for all things EMS, both for the clinicians and the system. The association has assisted and supported at the governmental level for Line of Duty Death benefits for EMTs, improved access to the retirement system, developed no-surprise billing for patients, support for improved mental health access for EMTs who struggle with post-traumatic stress due to horrific calls/scenes, and provided workforce study surveys which help identify the true shortage of EMS clinicians. If it relates to EMS, the SCEMSA is your voice.

You love to travel and go camping. Has your career made you more cautious, or do you prepare differently when you go on a trip?
Absolutely! As much as I love to travel, I am very aware of the dangers that can take away from the trip. When my husband, who is also a Paramedic and the Logistics Officer for BCEMS, and I travel, we pre-plan for what we may encounter—motor vehicle accidents or someone nearby who may suffer a medical emergency. We carry trauma bags and other potentially lifesaving equipment, when possible, and we have a heightened awareness of our surroundings, just in case.

What are your top two destinations for camping and why are they your favorite?
Brevard, North Carolina, which offers amazing scenery, lovely waterfalls and WHITE squirrels and there’s Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I love the mountains, and I love Dollywood, just drop me off! (Editor’s note: During our telephone interview, I told Karen she sounded just like Dolly Parton, only a tad less twangy. She was thrilled, and she had not even mentioned Dolly!)

Seeing all you’ve seen, what are the top 3 things people can do to reduce their chances of serious injury?
1. Always wear your seatbelt—even on a short trip! Patients wearing their seatbelt are much less likely to sustain severe injury.
2. Do not text and drive! Distracted driving kills thousands.
3. Drink alcohol responsibly! Most accidents, regardless of type (not only auto accidents), have alcohol as a factor.
4. Never drink and drive! The combination of alcohol and speed is deadly.

Knowing what you know, what would you never allow your children to do?
1. Operate an ATV or go-kart—children under 25 do not have good judgement to operate these machines.

2. Ride on a golf cart without a seatbelt. There are countless injuries due to falling off a golf cart. A child’s head tends to strike the pavement first, which can lead to death or severe lifelong disabilities. In the blink of an eye, his or her future is forever changed.

It’s July, do you have anything to say about fireworks?
Be careful! Every year numerous people suffer burns, eye injuries and worse from fireworks. Never allow children to use fireworks, not even Sparklers. Also, fireworks and alcohol are a dangerous combination.

What are you currently roaring about?
Life is short, and you only get one shot at it. Make it count—love harder, worry less, dream big, and follow your dream, not someone else’s.