Spring Break: EMS on call
Paramedics catch 'em, patch 'em up when they fall
BY PHIL REYNOLDS SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER Spring breakin' College students try their hands at a little volleyball on the beach in Port Aransas on Saturday, March 8, as the first Spring Breakers of the year began filtering onto Mustang Island.

Law enforcement officers aren't the only ones gearing up for Spring Break. Port Aransas' Emergency Medical Service (EMS) figures to be just about as busy as the police during this year's break - a situation that happens nearly every year.

Although the "big" Spring Break week is estimated at March 17-21 this year, police, fire and EMS are treating this week almost as though it's the big week. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University College Station are both on break this week, and that's expected to bring several hundred students to area beaches.

However, police say next week - when most area high schools as well as schools in San Antonio will be on Spring Break - will be their most active time.

Starting Friday, March 7, EMS has kept two ambulances and their crews on duty. That means double shifts for some workers. Interlocal agreements provide for backup by ambulance crews from Aransas Pass if they're needed.

Emergency Medical Technician Lyn Gillespie said there's no such thing as a "typical" call during Spring Break. Most of the medical calls are the result of falls, she said.

"They fall out of the backs of trucks, they trip and fall, they fall down stairs," Gillespie said. "Falls are the worst thing we have to deal with during Spring Break."

The other common medical call is the result of an assault, she said.

"Two guys get into fisticuffs, and we get called," Gillespie said.

What's Gillespie looking for this Spring Break?

"Lack of sleep," she laughed. Police are also on double shifts and have been augmented by officers from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), with 12 agents; the Department of Public Safety (DPS), with 10 troopers; and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), with 10 game wardens. Game wardens are classed as state police officers and have jurisdiction throughout the state for all kinds of crimes, not just game violations.

This year, DPS troopers won't be riding Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) ferries during Spring Break. Ferry operations director Howard Gillespie said the troopers were thought unnecessary since Tx- DOT now has contract security people aboard each ferry.

"Besides," Gillespie said, "DPS said they needed those troopers in other places."

One of those places will be State Hwy. 361 between Port Aransas and Corpus Christi. Port Aransas Police Chief Sam Russell said DPS will be operating a speeding and DWI task force along the "Island Road" during Spring Break.

Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce Tourist Bureau Executive Director Ann Bracher Vaughn pointed to forecasts for a good weekend.

"I'm anticipating the weather will bring us a good Spring Break this year," she said.

Forecasters are predicting a chance of thundershowers for today, Thursday, March 13, but they say the weekend should be much warmer and partly cloudy to sunny. No forecast was available for the following week at press time.