About WVEMS

Volunteer emergency medical services are common place across the country, particularly in smaller communities. Over the years, large urban areas have started using solely paid services.
Often, these services are run by hospitals, cities or local governments. EMS is sometimes part of a Fire Department. One of the biggest volunteer EMS is located in Virginia Beach. Grand Central Station has its own EMS—volunteer. Volunteer EMS services are particularly common in Connecticut and the Northeast. Our neighbors in Wilton, Weston, New Canaan and Easton also have volunteers working on their ambulances. Other nearby communities with population somewhat closer in size to Westport with EMS volunteers are Scarsdale and Greenwich.

Westport EMS was started by police officers which explains why the service is part of the Police Department.

Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, Inc. WVEMS is a non-profit corporation, recognized as public charity under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code and licensed as such by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

Emergency Medical Service. This is a general term, often referring to a local 911 ambulance service, as opposed to a service specializing in non-urgent patient transfers between facilities. WEMS refers to Westport Emergency Medical Service.

Yes, but in fact, the ambulance service in Westport is better described as a joint venture. Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service’s (WVEMS) mission is to provide volunteers, equipment, vehicles and supplies to Westport Emergency Medical Service. Westport Emergency Medical Service is a division of the Westport Police Department and operates the service. WVEMS volunteers work for Westport EMS when they volunteer on the ambulance.

No. Even our bookkeeping and fundraising are done by volunteers.

The Town of Westport pays 7 employees who work on the ambulance alongside the 100-120 volunteers who put in over 18,000 volunteer hours each year.

No. Our volunteers are responsible for their own meals while on duty. Volunteers receive a uniform allowance from WVEMS to cover the cost of uniform items.

Pizza or sandwiches dinners are provided to volunteers when attending the monthly “in service training.”

No two services or towns or regions are the same. WVEMS is probably the busiest volunteer service in the region. We handle 2,500 calls each year. While on shift duty, volunteers must be present at Headquarters. Some volunteers carry pager radios while in Town to answer third calls.

We have a few volunteers who have retired from serving on the ambulance and are now serving in an administrative capacity. There are some periodic additional needs for that type of service and to assist in fundraising. Please let us know and we can put your name on a list for these special projects.

You may become a CPR instructor. Please inquire about our CPR instructor training sessions. Providing public education in handling medical emergencies is part of our mission.

You can also help us by spreading our message with your friends and acquaintances. We need new volunteers and need financial support. Few understand what is involved in rendering a top -notch ambulance service in Westport, from volunteers to donations.

No. Many of our volunteers are from out of town. Some have a history of living in town previously, other simply like the idea of serving here because of our large call volume which provides them with an opportunity to maintain their skills.

Yes. An annual audit is conducted by the professional accounting firm of Capossela & Cohen.

The Town of Westport has expenses to run the ambulance service in addition to what Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service provides. The Town of Westport sends invoices for ambulance services which are routinely covered by insurance. Examples of what the Town pays for are the salaries and benefits for the seven employees who work with the volunteers and the insurance on the vehicles.

Donations from residents and local businesses.

Vehicles (3 ambulances and 3 fly cars). New equipment costs are getting close in range (each of our 4 heart monitors costs $30,000, each of our three stretchers: $13,000, each of our power loaders: $20,000). Also, the total sum spent on equipment and vehicle maintenance and basic EMS supplies reaches $55,000.00 annually.

Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one – Abraham Lincoln

And here is an excerpt from Ambulances by poet Philip Larkin:

Closed like confessionals, they thread
Loud loons of cities, giving back
None of the glances they absorb.
Light glossy grey, arms on a plaque,
They come to rest at any kerb:
All streets in time visited