Amherst EMS Responds To 625 Calls, Receives Important Grant

Submitted by EMS Director Brian Gleason

The Amherst Department of Emergency Medical Services mission is to provide the highest quality, cost effective Basic and Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Services, for the communities of Amherst and Mont Vernon.  In addition to emergency medical transportation, the department has created the Amherst Academy of EMS. The Amherst Academy of EMS provides a variety of in-house Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support EMS Education. During this past year the Academy held several formal EMT-refresher training programs and credentialed 6 Paramedics, 5 new EMT-Intermediates, and 4 EMT’s.

Director Brian Gleason manages Amherst EMS, the Amherst Academy of EMS and is additionally a member of the Amherst Fire Department. Additionally, as a member of the Amherst Fire Department, Director Gleason helps facilitate “cross-training” opportunities for AFD members to become certified EMT’s. Amherst EMS is currently made up of 15 EMT’s, 10 EMT-Intermediates , 2 Advanced EMT’s and 9 Paramedics.  All of our paramedics are certified in (ACLS/PALS) Advanced Cardiac Life Support & Pediatric Advanced Life Support, (CPAP) Continuous Positive Airway Pressure administration and the placement of (IO) Intraossious Needle Insertion.

Our station is located on the lower level of Police Headquarters and is comprised of a complete living quarters, academic training center and vehicle storage facility.

Our Paramedic Fleet includes; a 2011 Ford F-450 4X4 and a 2001 Ford F-350 4X4 Emergency Ambulance, a 2005 Ford Explorer 4X4 Paramedic Response Vehicle donated by the former Amherst Rescue Squad Association and a 2005 Ford Explorer 4X4 Incident Command Vehicle which is equipped with Mass Causality Advanced Life Support EMS equipment & Fire Suppression protective gear, a 2010 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Trailer w/ roadway closure and traffic control supplies, and our 28 foot “Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle” command center which  includes a conference room, communications center, computer/fax capabilities, complete bath and full kitchenette for on-scene rehab support.

During 2011 - 2012, Amherst EMS responded to 625 calls for service. Amherst Police respond to all EMS calls as our 1st Responders and have equipped five police units with Automatic External Defibrillators and Oxygen supplies. Amherst Fire responds with Amherst EMS to all motor vehicle accidents, industrial accidents and responds on other medical calls as available to assist Amherst EMS.

Amherst EMS cares for our community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each Amherst EMS member makes a major commitment to our community, spending on average, approximately 48-72 hours a month on our call department, ready to respond to any emergency. Amherst EMS crew members undergo regular training in all aspects of emergency medical treatment and are required to complete continuing education courses in order to meet state and national EMT licensing requirements.

Listed below are the members of Amherst EMS who cared for the people of our communities 24/7 during the 2012 year;

Earlene Calabro, Walter Colby, Daniel Barton, Matthew Conley, Mark Hume,  John Leonard, Tim Riddell, Chenais McConnell, John Hurd, Lyn Hurd, Dan Bonefant, Devin Farmer, Sandra Powers, Mark Boynton, Rick Gagne, Richard Todd Karen Lindquest, Mike Joli, Brian Disco, Brian Gleason, Jeff Milos, Dennis Sheppard, John Hazen, Katherine Lockwood, Shaun Morrissey, Kirk Garland, Allen Peck, James Lockwood, Kyle Snowdon, Greg Tufts, Linda Wilking, Mike Steckevicz, Gary Zirpolo, Darlene Davison, M.E. Indelecato and Aaron Roudabush.

Amherst EMS was successfully awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $85,000 for the installation of a diesel exhaust extraction system for all three public safety facilities.

Installation of the system for the EMS/Police Complex, Central Fire Station and South Fire Station is finished and is currently providing a cleaner breathing environment for our emergency public safety providers.

Additionally, an emergency back-up power generator was acquired to power the entire south station during emergency conditions.

In light of continual economic difficulties, now more than ever the Amherst EMS membership would like to thank the citizens of Amherst, Mont Vernon and the Amherst Lions Club for their continued support. Your generous contributions to Amherst EMS and letters of encouragement contribute greatly to the success of our mission.

More important than the donations, however, is the appreciation for and faith in our abilities that it represents. In today’s world, our call-to-duty is challenged in so many ways that it is especially meaningful when our efforts are so generously recognized and rewarded by our community.

On behalf of all of us at Amherst EMS, thank you for this opportunity to serve you.