Emergency Medical Services
The Westerly Ambulance Corps provides Emergency Medical Services by utilizing a combination of volunteers and paid employees. We provide EMS at two levels in both Westerly, RI and Pawcatuck, CT: Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS). All of our ambulances are inspected and certified in both Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Basic Life Support
BLS care can be provided by any Emergency Medical Technician, starting with the EMT-Basic. The EMT-B level provides basic emergency care such as bandaging, splinting, and CPR. EMT-B's also allowed to use Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), Military Anti-Shock Trousers (MAST), and Esophageal Obturator Airways (EOA), as well as administer basic medications such as Oxygen, Aspirin, Epinephrine, and Albuterol under state protocols. Most of the Corps' EMT-B's have "extended role skill" certification in endotracheal intubation.
Advanced Life Support
ALS care is divided into two levels of certification in Rhode Island: EMT-Cardiac and EMT-Paramedic.
The EMT-C level provides all basic care an EMT-B provides, and is also able to perform cardiac monitoring, administer manual defibrillation, place intravenous lines, perform endotracheal intubation, and administer many emergency medications.
Paramedics are the highest level of EMT and can perform skills beyond an EMT-C such as transcutaneous cardiac pacing, needle thoracostomy, cricothyrotomy, and administer additional medications that EMT-C's cannot. All RI Paramedics are Nationally Registered.
Routine Transports
The Corps also provides routine medical transportation. This may occur between two hospitals, to rehabilitation or nursing homes, or back to private residences. All transports must be medically necessary and ordered by a doctor with proper paperwork completed. Routine transports are offered at both BLS and ALS levels of care. Most of our ALS providers have IV pump, IV Nitro, and anti-coagulant certification.
Event Standbys
Upon request from an event coordinator, the Corps will provide a crew, usually BLS, to standby at the event in case an emergency situation arises. To request an ambulance standby, please contact the EMS Captain with the details. We prefer if your request is made at least 4 weeks prior to the event. Donations are gratefully accepted for this service.
