Though there have been efforts throughout the years to improve emergency services on Dauphin Island, overcoming the distance from facilities on the mainland is still an issue for first responders.
The island recorded a population of roughly 1,200 in the 2010 census, but those numbers can quadruple during peak vacation times or large events. Yet, like most of the smaller cities and towns in the area, Dauphin Island is reliant on Mobile County EMS for its ambulance services.
Mayor Jeff Collier told Lagniappe during those big events,such as the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, the town works with Mobile County EMS to station ambulances on the island, but on most days the closest ambulance is 23 miles away in Bayou La Batre.