Charleston EMS receives PPE, twice as effective VIDEO: Charleston EMS receives PPE, twice as effective By Danielle Seat and Riley Bean | February 8, 2021 at 6:44 AM EST - Updated February 8 at 7:40 AM CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County Emergency Medical Services will now be wearing new and improved Personal Protective Equipment on calls. Charleston County EMS Director David Abrams says they have been working since last year to get this equipment. The devices are Powered Air Purifying Air Respirators, and Abrams says they provide two and half times more protection than the N95 masks they are currently using. Charleston County EMS Division Chief Carl Fehr says the added protection is not the only good thing about the new devices.