About HCESD-1
Harris County Emergency Services District 1 is a "Not for Profit" Emergency Medical Service that serves the citizens of North Harris County in its service area (see "Our District").
In 1991 Harris County Emergency Services was formed through a majority vote
of the property owners within its district. This was done to ensure that adequate
funding was available for EMS within the proposed service area. Taxpayers voluntarily
approved a 10 cents per one hundred dollar tax on their property to properly
fund the service.
After utilizing contract services for the first seven years, HCESD-1 moved in August of 1998 to assume control of the operations which would allow the ESD to more closely monitor standards and provide a higher level of accountability for the tax monies that are spent.
Harris County ESD 1 provides both “911” ambulances to its citizens as well as providing ‘Critical Care Transports’ from the neighboring hospitals we transport to. With the additional revenue generated, this will allow Harris County ESD 1 to provide more “911” ambulances to the district which will ensure that when a citizens needs an ambulance one will be available.
Today Harris County Emergency Services District 1 staffs full service Mobile Intensive Care Units that are dispatched by Harris County Emergency District 1 Communications. These ambulances are fully equipped with all the necessary life saving equipment and the best medical teams needed in almost any situation.
Ultimately, a Board of Commissioners that run for office during election year monitors the organization today. Harris County ESD 1 has a Director of EMS, Jody Meads that oversees the daily operations of the service and reports directly to the Board of Commissioners.
Harris County Emergency Services District 1 responds to approximately 18,000 "9-1-1" calls
each year with 8 ambulances. These ambulances are in service 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. HCESD has strategically placed the ambulances within the district
to help reduce the response time when a citizen calls for an ambulance. The
seventh and eighth ambulances were placed in service on May 2007 and February 2008, respectively, which was made possible
with the additional subsidies from the Critical Care Transports from our local
hospitals. The additional subsidies have allowed Harris County ESD1 to provide
an additional twenty two hours of “911” coverage to our district per unit.