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RBVC beefs up emergency medical services

April 5, 2013

Chief Harry Miller of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company has announced an increase in emergency medical services protection for this summer season.

Miller said, “Because of our desire to provide the best EMS service to the citizens and visitors of Rehoboth Beach, we will be adding a second staffed ambulance 24 hours a day from Memorial Day to Labor Day.”

In previous years, Rehoboth has their second ambulance only staffed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and during holidays or special events.

The fire company has allotted $50,000 in its budget to cover the staffing and associated cost in providing this extra coverage. The fire company actually has three ambulances; the third one is in reserve or manned by volunteers when the need arises. They do staff all three ambulances during special events such as the Fourth of July celebration or other large venues. The fire company has a new $185,000 ambulance on order to update their fleet.

According to Miller, “Putting the second ambulance in service was one part of our goal to better serve our community. The second part was to purchase an ATV type EMS vehicle we could use for special events or on the new pedestrian, biking, walking, and jogging trails in our area. Special events are ever increasing in Rehoboth and with those come concerns about not being able to get our ambulances through the traffic.

"The smaller ATV type vehicle could be used to get our EMS crews through the traffic, out on the trails or even on the boardwalk and the beach. The EMS crews on the ATV should be able to reach the patients quicker and transport them through the congestion to the ambulance. Unfortunately, we could not afford to do both, the extra staffing and the ATV. We are presently looking for other means, either community or business, to fund the ATV."

The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company provides fire, rescue and EMS services to the towns of Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Henlopen Acres, as well the surrounding areas, south on Route 1 to the Indian River Inlet, north on both sides of Route 1 to Route 24 and west to, and including, the Angola area.

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