Facing long ambulance wait times, Hardin County residents say delays put lives at risk

HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) -- In parts of Hardin County, calling 911 can mean waiting 45 minutes—or longer—for an ambulance to arrive.

The county currently operates eight full-time ambulances, but moving one to a new location or purchasing another requires significant funding.

Wendell Brown knows the stakes firsthand. Eight years ago, he suffered a heart attack and credits his son for saving his life.

“My son drove me to the hospital,” Brown told the crowd during a town hall Monday evening. “The doctors said if I had to wait for an ambulance, I would not be here.”

For many residents, ambulance coverage in Hardin County is a matter of “haves and have-nots.” Melissa Skees, who lives in the western portion of the county, said inadequate service could have cost her son his life after a serious accident.

Her son collided with his cousin—who was on an ATV—while riding a motorcycle in a field. An ambulance happened to be two minutes away at a nearby festival in White Mills, Skees said.

“I can’t tell you time frames because when you’re standing in a field begging God not to take your child, two seconds seems like an eternity,” Skees said. “If we had waited for the ambulance to get there, I don’t know that my baby would be here right now.”

County officials acknowledge the problem. Data shows that in the West Hardin Fire District, the average time from a 911 call to an ambulance arriving on scene is nearly 45 minutes.

To address the issue, Hardin County is expected to sign a lease with the West Hardin Fire Department this week. The department has built a space to house an ambulance and crew.

County leaders now face a decision: move an existing ambulance there—potentially reducing service elsewhere—or purchase a new ambulance and fund a full crew, estimated at $425,000 annually.

County officials said it may be possible to cover the additional wages within the current budget. Hardin County also has about $7 million in reserves from the sale of the hospital, though the funds were intended for investments rather than operating costs.

Judge-Executive Harry L. Berry said he will make a decision Wednesday morning.

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