Ryon A. Watkins wins Director of EMS services of the year prize in South Carolina during the annual symposium of the Emergency Medical Services held in Myrtle Beach. The network, which includes representatives of all EMS services of South Carolina, annually appoints the director of the various structures in the area who has distinguished himself in his work and has made a substantial contribution to the improvement of living conditions and security of local communities.

Watkins, who heads the EMS service in Florence County since 2007, has received this prize for having increased the number of ambulances in service, improving response times and efficiency; for having created a strong and motivated team; to be implemented all these innovations in times of general economic crisis. Last year, in 2013, EMS of Florence County responded to 19,200 calls.