03/22/2017
Bedford Life Saving & First Aid Crew Q & A
Is the Bedford Life Saving Crew going out of business or folding?
No. The Bedford Life Saving Crew (BLSC) will exist to support the mission of the volunteer EMS providers who will be managed by the Bedford County Fire & Rescue Department (BCoFR) operating out of the Bedford Crewhall on Bedford Avenue.
What is this transition going to include?
The management of the volunteer EMS members who are currently members of the Bedford Life Saving Crew will be handled professionally, by BCoFR. In addition, vehicle ownership will be transferred to BCoFR for EMS licensing purposes. Maintenance of the vehicles will be at the expense of BCoFR. The Bedford Crewhall will be staffed 24 hours a day/7 days a week by BCoFR staff (career and volunteer).
Is the Bedford Life Saving Crew giving any money to BCoFR?
No. All funds currently held by the BLSC and in trust for the BLSC will be used for training and educational purposes for volunteer EMS members serving our community. More funds will be able to be used for this purpose than is being used currently.
What will happen when you dial 911 for a medical emergency after April 1, 2017 in the Town of Bedford?
Your call will still be responded to by trained EMTs and/or Paramedics under the auspices of the Bedford County Fire & Rescue Department.
I am interested in becoming an EMT. Is there still a reason for me to volunteer in order to provide EMS in the Town of Bedford?
Yes! In fact, there are now more reasons to do so! For one, as a volunteer EMS provider under the auspices of BCoFR, your EMT training will be FREE. If you choose to serve out of the Bedford Crewhall on Bedford Avenue, you will be dispatched to more calls and obtain more valuable clinical time than anywhere else in the county. The majority of EMS calls in Bedford County are dispatched out of this station. If you are already an EMT or Paramedic and wish to continue your training (for volunteer or career purposes) your training and education costs can be covered in full (for a minimum commitment of service to our community).
Can I still make my yearly financial contribution to the Bedford Life Saving Crew?
Yes. We will continue to be a 501(c)3 agency as authorized by the IRS. Your donation will go toward volunteer EMS provider training and education, serving you and other community members directly.
Why is this transition happening?
The Board of Directors and Members of the BLSC understand and have decided to take a proactive approach to answer the current trends of 1.) the decrease in the number of volunteer EMS providers, and 2.) the increase in the number of EMS calls in our first due area. Quite simply, the number of calls has increased as the number of folks who are able to obtain training and serve as volunteer EMS providers continues to decrease. Those who do become trained and are able to serve the community need to be managed professionally in order to keep their certifications, take continuing education classes and complete all post-call paperwork that is required at the conclusion of each medical run. Volunteer EMS is a business and we desire to keep a high-quality, well-run business in our community which provides this much-needed service. Looking at all options, this solution was the best to accomplish our objectives. The fact is that all volunteer service is under pressure to either evolve or dissolve; volunteer EMS has been affected especially hard. There is no volunteer EMS agency that is exempt from these continuing pressures.
