Wilson County Emergency Services District No. 3

Since 1974, EMS services in this area were provided by dedicated volunteers. The Stockdale Volunteer Ambulance Service, doing business as Stockdale EMS, was a 501(c)(3) organization composed of volunteers committed to serving their community. Over the years, these volunteers performed their duties tirelessly, often without complaint and without pay, providing vital emergency medical services to residents and visitors alike.

When Wilson County ESD #3 was established in November 2012 by the voters of the community, it marked a significant step toward formalizing and professionalizing emergency services in the area. Prior to the district's formation, the volunteer EMS providers continued to serve the community, but as the area grew and the population increased, so did the call volume. The volunteer system, while invaluable, faced increasing challenges: it became harder to find volunteers who were certified to provide EMS, and many volunteers had life changes—families, jobs, moves—that made consistent volunteering difficult. Over time, the number of active volunteers dwindled.

In 2012, recognizing the need for a sustainable solution, the remaining volunteers took the initiative to circulate a petition for the creation of an Emergency Services District (ESD). They held town hall meetings and worked tirelessly to educate the community on the importance of formalized EMS services. This effort culminated in the district being placed on the ballot, where it was approved by the voters, leading to the establishment of what is now known as Wilson County ESD #3.

Initially, the ESD contracted with the Stockdale Volunteer Ambulance Association to provide EMS services, a partnership that lasted until January 1, 2015. On that date, Wilson County ESD #3 transitioned to become its own service provider, taking over management and operations of emergency medical services in the district.

In 2017, after the tragic mass shooting at the Sutherland Spring Baptist Church, the volunteer ambulance service that provided services to the La Vernia and Kicaster areas encountered the same challenges Stockdale EMS experienced before ESD #3’s creation: a lack of volunteers, diminishing financial support, and a growing number of calls. Recognizing the critical need for sustainable emergency services in these communities, Wilson County ESD #3 stepped up and supplied EMS coverage to the La Vernia and Kicaster areas while county officials worked on a long-term plan.

Eventually, community members circulated a petition for the annexation of the La Vernia and Kicaster areas into Wilson County ESD #3. The petition was successful, and it was placed on the ballot where voters approved the annexation. Since then, Wilson County ESD #3 has continued providing EMS services to these areas, including the communities of La Vernia and Kicaster.

Since becoming its own provider, Wilson County ESD #3 has grown significantly—from the initial 450 annual calls and one full-time ambulance with six employees to now operating out of three stations (Stockdale, La Vernia, and Kicaster), with seven ambulances and 34 full-time personnel providing around-the-clock EMS coverage. The district's annual call volume has increased over the years to approximately 4,700.

In 2019, the District entered into a contract with Schertz EMS to provide EMS services to approximately 65 square miles of southern Guadalupe County, including areas from New Berlin, Sandhills, and regions near the Gonzales, Wilson, and Guadalupe county lines.

Today, Wilson County ESD #3 serves approximately 30,000 residents across 401 square miles in eastern Wilson County and 65 square miles in Guadalupe County, including the cities of La Vernia, Stockdale and New Berlin, along with rural unincorporated areas extending to the county lines of Gonzales, Karnes, Bexar, and Guadalupe. Our ongoing mission is to provide timely, high-quality emergency medical services to all who live, work, and travel through our community.

The district is a active member of the South Texas Regional Advisory Council and actively participates with EMTF 8, Emergency Medical Task Force Region 8. We have recently added a Mobile Integrated Health Services (MIHS) unit that provides community-focused services utilizing trained community paramedics. 

 Since becoming its own provider in 2015, Wilson County ESD #3 has made drastic improvements in the level of pre-hospital care offered to the citizens of eastern Wilson County. The district has significantly advanced its training programs, encouraging employees to further their education and improve their certification levels. Our medics train daily to stay current with the latest evidence-based medical procedures and medical advancements. We utilize modern equipment including LifePak 15 monitors, Lucas Devices, Elegard, Video Laryngeal scopes, Ultrasounds, Sapphire IV Pumps, Zoll Vents, Hamilton T1 Vents, Stryker Power-Load stretchers, and Frazer Ambulances. Our providers have the capacity to perform some of the most advanced treatments/interventions available, such as the administration of Whole Blood, Pain Management, Advanced Airway Procedures, DSI/RSI (Rapid Sequence Intubation), Surgical Cricothyroidotomy, Needle Decompression, and Finger Thoracostomy, among others. Our protocols are designed to be very aggressive, enabling our providers to treat patients proactively and give them the best possible chance of survival before reaching a hospital.

The impact of these advancements is reflected in the significant increase in call volume, which now averages around 4,700 calls annually. Today, the district operates out of three stations—Stockdale, La Vernia, and Kicaster—with seven ambulances and 34 full-time personnel providing continuous, high-quality EMS coverage.