Rockbridge Area Community Health Needs Assessment 2012

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EMERGENCY SERVICES Emergency Medical Services There are thirteen Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agencies located in Rockbridge County. One of those agencies is Carilion Patient Transport, operated by Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia. Along with the EMS agencies, there are five rescue squads in the County credentialed through the Acute Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) level. Six more fire departments have service available and licensed as non-transport Basic Life Support agencies.104 Barriers to Rockbridge area EMS Services105   

Local staffing is predominantly volunteer Volunteers are often unable to answer daytime calls due to work and family responsibilities Increasing burden on Lexington Fire Department, the area’s only paid department

Community-wide Emergency Planning The Rockbridge, Lexington, and Buena Vista Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is a community organization that develops, trains, and exercises a comprehensive emergency response plan for emergencies that may occur within the area. Membership includes:106           

Elected officials Emergency management Fire Safety EMS Law Enforcement Public Health Hospital Owners and operators of facilities subject to the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) Local Environmentalist Transportation Community Action

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Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services Personal Communication, EMS Volunteer, March 2012 106 LEPC Bylaws revised 6-27-12 105

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