NEW CANAAN EMS Information

Operating from the basement of Town Hall, NCEMS was initially staffed by volunteers riding shifts from 6pm to midnight. NCEMS ambulance fleet consisted of a Cadillac station wagon for three years. In early 1978 a used Horton ambulance was acquired and added to the "fleet". In our first year of operation, shifts eventually expanded to 12 hours each weekday and 24 hours on weekends, and we responded to a total of 80 emergency calls. The Lions Club purchased radios and pagers for NCEMS members in early 1976. In May 1987, NCEMS became certified to use defibrillators and we experienced our first "save" later that year. In 1996, the Town contracted with Norwalk Hospital to provide 24 hour paramedic service. The paramedics work in conjunction with NCEMS volunteers and are trained to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) services. Later in 1996, the NCEMS fleet expanded with the addition of a Paramedic Response Vehicle (fly car) donated by the residents of New Canaan. NCEMS headquarters moved between Town Hall and the Red Cross in the early years.