Wilson County Emergency Services District No. 3

Wilson County Emergency Services District No. 3 (ESD #3) is an Emergency Services District (ESD) that is a political subdivision of the State of Texas ESDs are created under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 775 or Chapter 776 as a means to better provide public funding for urban, suburban and rural emergency services organizations.  ESDs are the only practical way to adequately support emergency services in many Texas municipalities as well as suburban and rural areas of the state.  When an ESD is created, County Commissioners appoint 5 individuals that are property owners within the District to be ESD Commissioners.  The terms of the ESD Commissioners are for 2 years and run staggered.   

Wilson County ESD #3 was created in November 2012 by the voters of the community to provide Emergency Medical Services. Initially when the ESD was created it contracted with a local volunteer provider, until January 2015 at which time the ESD became its own service provider. Wilson County ESD #3 when it took over operations started with one full time ambulance licensed with MICU capabilities with 6 full time employees out of one (1) station with an annual call volume of 450 calls. Over the years, with an ever-growing population and an increase in traffic, the call volume for our District has increased significantly. We now operate out of three (3) stations positioned in Stockdale, La Vernia, and the Kicaster area (FM 775 & FM 3432), six (6) ambulances, and have thirty-three (33) full-time employees providing services 24/7.

Wilson County ESD #3 serves the eastern half of Wilson County, Texas. The District provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to approximately 450 square miles of eastern Wilson county and includes the City of La Vernia, City of Stockdale and all rural unincorporated areas in between to the County lines of Gonzales, Karnes, Bexar and Guadalupe.  The estimated population for the District is around 30,000.   

Since becoming our own provider in 2015, Wilson County ESD #3 has made drastic changes to the level of pre-hospital care that is provided to the citizens of Eastern Wilson County. Wilson County ESD #3 strives to be the best advocates for our patients and provide the best care possible. We deploy a rigorous training program for our employees and encourage employees to further their education and increase their certification levels. Our Medics train daily to stay up with the most modern medical procedures and advancements with evidence-based medicine.   We utilize modern equipment to include Life Pak 15s, Lucas Devices, Elegard, Video Laryngeal scopes, Stryker Power Load stretchers, Frazer Ambulances, and deploy some of the most advanced treatments/interventions such as administration of Whole Blood, Pain Management, Advanced Airway procedures, DSI/RSI, Surgical Cricothyroidotomy, Needle Decompression and Finger Thoracostomy just to name a few. Our medical protocols are very aggressive and allow our providers to treat their patients thus giving them the best chance of survival prior to arriving at a hospital. 

In 2020 we started an EMS Academy, and it has since grown and we now offer EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT and Paramedic classes year around.  We also offer all of the AHA Carded classes, as well as NAEMT classes.  CPR classes are offered every 3rd Saturday of the Month.  For more info on the classes we offer or to sign up, please visit the academy website at www.wcesd3academy.org or you may contact our offices.