EMS

The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department provides two ambulances for the citizens and visitors of Bethel proper. Our PSA (Primary Service Area) consists of the entire town of Bethel, excluding the Stony Hill District. We have been providing EMS service since August of 1940, when our first ambulance was purchased from The New York World’s Fair. The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department is 100% volunteer, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our emergency service is provided free of charge and we are committed to keeping with this tradition until such time when the implementation of a billing system will wholly and directly benefit the citizens of Bethel in their times of need. Funding for the EMS service is provided for by donations to The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

In EMS, there are four levels of certifications:

Medical Response Technician (MRT)
An MRT provides basic emergency care. Their training includes CPR, first aid skills and scene safety. An MRT completes approximately 80 hours of training, a written and a practical exam.

Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B)
The EMT-B completes a course that's approximately 150 hours long. Upon completing his or her training, a written and practical exam, the EMT is able to address life-threatening conditions. These might include airway problems, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding and shock. The EMT-B can stabilize non-life-threatening situations. Some of these situations are likely to be use of AEDs, wounds, fractures, childbirth, or emotional crisis.

Emergency Medical Technician – Intermediate (EMT-I)
This program is designed to enhance the knowledge the basic EMT course, and provide additional training in specialized techniques. Most intermediate courses include training in intravenous therapy, medication administration and advanced airway care. EMT-I’s must be granted medical control through Danbury Hospital. This program consists of approximately 150 hours of training in addition to the EMT-B class.

Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic (EMT-P)
The advanced care skills utilized by a paramedic include intubations, administration of medication such as D-50 and Albuterol, cardiac monitoring, as well as others.

The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department’s ambulances are certified at the ILS level. This means that each ambulance has a minimum of 1 EMT-B and 1 EMT-I for emergency calls. The town of Bethel provides a Paramedic Intercept Program. When needed, EMS crews can call for a Paramedic who will either meet them on scene of an emergency, or intercept with the ambulance while en route to Danbury Hospital. The town of Bethel currently has a contract for this service with Danbury Ambulance Service. The contract, which also includes Redding, West Redding, Georgetown and all of Newtown (collectively known as “The Region”) allows for the price to be shared through the 3 towns, but also indicates that the same paramedics be shared through the 3 towns.

Members of Bethel EMS are fully and continuously trained throughout the year at the MRT, EMT-B and EMT-I. The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department provides several monthly drills for EMS members, as does Danbury Hospital. Members may also travel to conferences throughout the state for further education.

For anyone wishing to join, we provide free training, equipment and uniforms. Stop in any drill night for a tour and/or application. Drills are held on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Mondays of each month. Or you can email Bethel EMS for more information.

If you have any questions regarding EMS in the town of Bethel or if you have used Bethel EMS in the past and wish to make a comment, please email us. We welcome all comments and/or suggestions.