Halifax Emergency Medical Services Corps started offering services on June 1st, 2008 following a discussion at the 2008 town meeting and several organization meetings. In June, we responded to our first emergency and started a training course for medical first responders.

Halifax EMS is licensed by the State of Vermont to provide prehospital emergency medical care – essentially as a non-transporting ambulance service. Our Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) carry medical kits and oxygen. We have the same medical equipment and capabilities as an ambulance. Our goal is to augment the services of ambulances that respond into Halifax. We can provide life-saving skills and medications at the moment our first member arrives. Our goal is provide this service within 5-15 minutes of someone calling 911. We are the first link in a chain of care.

As of the end of the 2008 fiscal year, we had approximately 15 members, certified at various levels: medical first responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate. Our goal is to be licensed to the Advanced Life Support (ALS) level in 2009. With ALS, we can provide additional life-saving drugs in cases of severe allergic reactions and heart problems.

The members Halifax EMS in fiscal year 2008 are: Andy Rice, Christina Moore, Chuck Putnam, David Wright, Dora Green, Emily Hale, Kathleen Sullivan, Kathy McLean, Kim Sumner, Lynn Oleski, Melissa Green, Patty Gilbert, Paul Blais, Paula Hendler, Rick Mirucki, Spenser Sahim, Tim Putnam, and Tina Blais.

If you or anyone you know is interested in medical training and would like to assist your neighbors by joining Halifax EMS, please talk to any member listed above.

If you need our services, just call 911.