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Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

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EMS switch going smoothly in Dade County

photo Puckett EMS, contracted by Dade County for ambulance services in October, rolls out on Wednesday to a call of a possible stroke. Paramedic Joe Storm and Mandy Allen take a county-owned ambulance on the call.

TRENTON, Ga. — Puckett EMS’ new ambulance service in Dade County has been “smooth as silk,” fielding as many as 60 calls over the first two weeks of its contract, officials said.

“Our average response time is well below our goal. Right now we’re averaging about 10 minutes till our personnel pull up on the scene,” said Andrew Condrey, Puckett operations manager for North Georgia and Tennessee.

Puckett was awarded the contract with Dade — about $123,000 annually — in October, replacing Lifeguard Medical Services, which had provided the service for the previous three years.

Puckett operates two ambulances, 24 hours a day, with a paramedic and emergency medical technician as crew, Condrey said. One ambulance belongs to the county, the other to Puckett.

The company’s backup plan for busy times already came in handy with the high number of calls this month, he said.