The old saying is that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If that is the case, the Lawrence County Emergency Medical Service is actually looking at something more like a pound of prevention.

That is certainly a legitimate analogy for the ambulance service’s plans to potentially create a tactical unit that could be used in crisis situations or other specialized incidents to provide critical medical care.

This plan really does not require much but could provide a significant assset if something unspeakable like a hostage situation or school shooting ever occurred here in Lawrence County.

As proposed, it includes about 30 hours of training provided by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. This is a good start and, while it would certainly meet the minimum requirements, we would like to see the Lawrence County EMS go a step farther.

Requiring some additional training, as well having a basic continuing education requirement, would be a smart move.

Creating this unit should have little or no impact on taxpayers but, if a crisis occurred, then it could have a tremendous impact.

When it comes to Lawrence County’s emergency medical service and its law enforcement, it is good to hope for the best but be prepare for the worst. That way we will never be caught off guard.