First responders
T
FIRST ON THE SCENE, FIRST TO HELP
here are several rescue services in the Rutland Region,
who fill a variety of roles in the community, but
primarily as first responders and transporters. They
respond to emergency calls and attend to the immediate
medical needs of accident or fire victims; they also transport
victims to the hospital for care and treatment.
These local services are always looking for volunteers
and part-time help; there is also annual Emergency Medical
Technician training starting Nov. 1. Contact Bill Mapes at
[email protected] or at 802-247-3231 about the next
training session.
REGIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE
802-773-1746 – 275 Stratton Road, Rutland
Licensed at the Paramedic Level, The Regional Ambulance
Service is a nonprofit corporation serving the towns of
Castleton, Chittenden, Clarendon, Ira, Killington, Mendon,
Pittsford, Proctor, Rutland City, Rutland Town, Shrewsbury
and West Rutland.
The Regional Ambulance Service began operation in
August of 1983, with two borrowed ambulances parked
at the then-Rutland Hospital, and newly hired employees
hammering and sawing at the service’s new building. The
service’s new home was built with mostly donated materials,
and built using donated labor and the labor of the first group
of employees.
The nonprofit was formed in response to the news in April
1982 that the local ambulance service – Aldous Ambulance
Service — would soon stop emergency transport. After initial
meetings between then-Rutland mayor John Daley and the
hospital CEO, a group of dedicated, serious-minded people
organized a steering committee to develop a plan to form
what became the Regional Ambulance Service.
Voters approved the formation of the service in November
1982 by an overwhelming majority — 93 percent. They then
voted in funding at the following town meeting, and the
steering group hustled to raise other funds for ambulances,
12 • RUTLAND HERALD HOMETOWN HEROES OCTOBER 2018
WALLINGFORD RESCUE
communications gear, and other necessities, in order to start
up as the outgoing service shut down.
Since that time, Regional Ambulance has grown. Regional
Ambulance Service, Inc. is now the largest ambulance service
in Vermont. The service has been licensed as a Paramedic
service since 1990 and provides Advanced Life Support to
citizens in 12 communities. The service has seven ambulances
and a qualified staff of over 50 state-certified emergency
medical technicians and paramedics. Regional Ambulance
responded to 9,155 calls last year.
The rescue service says: “Our motto “Serving People
First with Pride, Proficiency and Professionalism” is
demonstrated by our employees’ commitment to continuing
EMS training. Each year we have special training in Critical
Care Paramedicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic
Life Support, Prehospital Advanced Trauma Life Support,
Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Emergency Vehicle Operator,
Bloodborne Pathogens and a variety of continuing-education
programs. Our professional staff is extremely capable and
dedicated. R.A.S. draws its strength from the skill and
dedication of its staff. We believe that in the future this source