Date: Fri 02-Feb-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

ambulance-Rambone-volunteer

Full Text:

Volunteer Ambulance Corps Is Challenged To Grow With The Town

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Since 1975, the number of emergency medical responses by the Newtown Volunteer

Ambulance Corps has more than doubled. Despite the increased calls for help,

its manpower has remained the same.

Nevertheless, the ambulance corps' dedicated 40-member crew continues to serve

Newtown's residents efficiently, though fully aware that membership must begin

to grow in the coming years if it is to maintain the same kind of service.

"The people we have right now are great, but we could use more help,"

explained Chief Steve Rambone. "We're one of the busiest towns in the region

and we're working with the same number of people we had 20 years ago. We're

looking to bring in more members."

In 1975, the corps' 40 members responded to 500 calls for service. Then, in

1985, the ambulance corps' crew of 40 responded to 900 calls. And last year,

still 40 members strong, the corps went out on a record 1,300 calls (3.5 per

day).

Though the shortage of corps members is not a major concern yet, the ambulance

crew is hoping for assistance to avoid a problem a few years down the road.

"There's such a greater number of calls than there used to be," explained

Emergency Medical technician (EMT) Carol Mayhew. "If we had a larger corps,

members wouldn't have to go out on as many calls.

Mrs Mayhew, also a town dispatcher, said she's noticed a huge increase in the

number of emergency calls in recent years.

The increased number of calls has everything to do with Newtown's growing

population (After Danbury, Newtown has the highest volume of emergency calls

in the region). Adding to the corps' difficulties, residential subdivisions

are being built farther and farther away from the town's center where the

ambulance garage is located.

Newtown's EMTs have a lot of road to cover. At 60 square miles, Newtown is the

second largest town in the state. It has 400 miles of incorporated roads and a

10-mile stretch of Interstate 84 within its borders.

Because Newtown is so big, the corps uses the first response system when an

emergency call comes in. This system cuts down on response time.

As a 911 call comes in, the dispatcher alerts the volunteer corps by

activating pagers which are carried by all licensed members.

Simultaneously, a computer at the dispatch center lists the three closest EMTs

to the scene who are accessible by an automated dialer. Those EMTs then

respond directly to the scene, while others go directly to the ambulance

garage on South Main Street to retrieve the ambulance.

Not only does Newtown ambulance offer the service to at no expense to the

taxpayer, but it also does not charge a service fee. Patients picked up by the

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps are never charged for being transported to

the hospital.

"A lot of people think if you pay for something you'll get better service.

That's not always true," Mr Rambone explained.

He noted that communities that provide a paid service usually pay their EMTs

low wages and those EMTs are usually from out of town with little or no

connection to the people they assist.

"None of our members can afford to work for money but they'll do it for free."

A shortage of volunteer emergency personnel is a nationwide problem, according

to Mr Rambone. People are working more and more hours and are using most of

their free time to spend with family.

What type of person would make the best EMT?

Mr Rambone said his crew is made up of people from all walks of life, but the

common bond lies in each member's compassion to help other people. The corps'

members do not get paid. Their only compensation, according to Mr Rambone,

comes from knowing they helped out another human being, maybe even saving his

or her life.

He said several members joined because they witnessed a friend or family

member receive assistance from an EMT and wanted to make their own

contribution to helping others.

Most of the corps are longtime Newtown residents. Some have lived in town all

their lives. Steve Rambone is hoping new residents will join in a perpetual

cause.

"We're volunteers 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he explained.

New EMTs must be 21 years old and either live or work in Newtown.

The EMT course, paid for by the association, usually takes six to nine months

to complete and can be taken at nearby Danbury or Waterbury hospitals.

After passing a state test and becoming certified, new EMTs go through a

six-month training period during which time they learn the ropes. Mr Rambone

said new members are never left alone at the scene of an emergency.

All EMTs are completely covered under the Newtown Ambulance Association's

insurance.

The association is in charge of organizing the annual fund drive for the

corps, its only source of income.

The corps meets on the second Wednesday of every month for training.

The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps also offers such services to the

community as CPR courses, blood pressure screenings, a yearly open house,

tours of the ambulance garage, presentations to town organizations and

schools, stand-by at town sporting events and educational newspaper articles.

For more information or to apply for membership, call 270-4380 or 270-4200.