THOMASVILLE- Retirement is a natural progression when one ages out of a job, but for EMS Director Tim Coram, the decision to retire was a tough one. After serving the citizens of Thomasville and Thomas County for 34 years, Coram has finally retired to spend more time with his grandchildren. However, the memories he has made with his co-workers will not soon be forgotten.

Coram began his career on a construction site before returning to school to become a certified paramedic. He said the day he received his certificate of completion, he drove to the construction site, showed his boss, and threw his hammer out the window on the way back home. He recalled being ready for a change, specifically in a position where he could help people.

“It’s all I can remember ever wanting to do,” Coram said. “When I got the job, I never wanted to change.”

But, this past September and October, Coram saw that it was time to step aside and let someone else take over the reigns.

Coram lauded his co-workers, saying he has worked with some great people and expects Thomas County to continue to be at the forefront of emergency services.

During his time as EMS Director, Coram advocated at the state level for CPAP (Continuous Airway Positive Pressure) machines to be put in all trucks.

“It’s made a remarkable difference in the treatment of our patients,” Coram said.

But, it wasn’t an easy journey to have the machines approved.

“We went and fought the state and now it’s recognized throughout the state as a regular scope of practice,” he said. “We’ve always tried to stay on top end of everything.”

Coram also made sure every truck had LUCAS CPR devices.

“That was unheard of,” he explained. “I’m pretty sure we were the first one in the state of Georgia to have LUCAS devices on all our trucks.”

Through all of the changes, Coram said most recently paramedics have been encouraged to revert to medicines that Coram used when he first got his license.

“Medicine takes turns, but sometimes it goes back to its old ways,” he said.

Coram recalled those “old days” when he first began, especially the accident that made him lean into becoming a paramedic.

He reflected on a woman being involved in an accident on her horse.

“It was way back when the funeral homes still called the ambulances, so at the time there was nothing I could do,” Coram said. “I didn’t realize it then, but that sparked me to get into EMS. Most kids ran away when they heard sirens coming, but I always ran to it and wanted to see what they were doing.”

After years of watching those sirens go by, Coram was finally the driver upon receiving his paramedic’s license, saying it was his greatest honor to serve the people of his community for the last three decades.

“When you have 30-plus years in EMS, it’s kind of unheard of, but it’s been a great honor,” he said. “It’s amazing I could do this one job and never wanted to quit.”

It’s safe to say the medics didn’t ever want to see Coram quit either.

When asked about some of his most memorable moments on the job, Coram recalled an emergency involving a child.

One of his medics was frantic, requesting his help, but all it took was some calming words from Coram and all was well.

“They were doing their job and I stepped in the back of the truck and they looked at me and said ‘What do I do now?’ I told them to do what they’re taught and revert to their training,” Coram said. “Later at the hospital, the medic said that when I stepped in the back of the truck they felt at ease.”

Coram said it was a rewarding feeling to have a medic say that about his presence.

Of course, Coram still has difficult memories as well, including the first child fatality he ever worked.

“That’s been a long time ago, but you don’t get over them,” he said. “When you’re working on a child, you’re working so hard that you don’t have time to sit there and be scared. It takes a special person to do this job.”

Coram said it’s natural to see him cry, especially in cases involving children, as he now has grandchildren of his own.

“I’m more emotional with children now than I’ve ever been,” he said. “I look at my grandkids and watch them closely.”

Still, he said the good outweighs the bad in his time on the job.

“Public service has been wonderful and I don’t know anything else I would’ve rather done,” he concluded.

When looking at the future, Coram has serious concerns for the youth. For the past three-four years, he has seen Fentanyl take off at a rapid rate.

“We’ve probably worked more overdoses this past year than we ever did,” he lamented. “The bad part about it is that you know the kids who did it and they’ve been friends of the family forever.”

Coram said when he began this job, he never thought he would see the day when he carried NARCAN in his truck or teachers carried it at school.

“We had always heard it was only in big cities, but it’s not it’s in little cities too,” he said. “It’s not uncommon to see it in 24-40 year-olds.”

While Coram said he doesn’t have an answer, he hopes the next EMS Director can find a way to help break the cycle through prevention and education.

Although Coram doesn’t know who the next Director will be, he said he does not doubt that EMS will be in good hands, as the crew has always been top notch and he looks forward to seeing the way they continue to help serve the community of Thomasville and Thomas County.