EMERGENCY MGMT. Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps Recognized for Dedication to Pediatric Care Every year, over 75,000 children are transported by ambulances in Pennsylvania. This means that almost every seven minutes a child is being taken to the hospital with a potentially life threatening medical condition. In order to ensure that EMS agencies within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are prepared for pediatrics, the Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services for Children program, in partnership with the Department of Health, Bureau of EMS and the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, has created the Pediatric Voluntary Recognition Program to recognize EMS agencies that are willing to go above and beyond current requirements to deliver excellence in emergency medical care to children within the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Pediatric Voluntary Recognition Program has recognized over 150 EMS agencies across the state, including Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps, located in Dingmans Ferry, PA. The program consists of five levels that include
LIVING DELAWARE | SUMMER 2017
pediatric equipment standards, ChildLine background checks, pediatric-related continuing education courses, community outreach programs, and car seat check programs. Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps is recognized at the Master Level, which means that the EMS agency has additional pediatric-specific medical equipment on their ambulances, requires EMS providers to complete ChildLine child abuse background clearances, required EMS providers complete four hours of pediatric-specific continuing education per, and is actively involved in multiple community outreach programs. Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps became accredited under the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program in May, but it took over eighteen months of preparation for to qualify for Master-level accreditation. Delaware Valley Emergency Services, Inc. assisted with training and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background checks for EMS providers. By participating in this program, Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps
is demonstrating that they are truly prepared for pediatric patients and are ready to respond to any and all emergency situations involving Pennsylvania’s youngest citizens. Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps is the only ambulance service in Pike County, and only one of ten in the EMS of Northeastern Pennsylvania EMS Region, to be recognized under this program. The EMS of Northeastern Pennsylvania EMS Region is the designated regional EMS council that serves Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps is the primary ambulance provider for Delaware Township. Additionally, the ambulance service provides mutual aid coverage to municipalities surrounding Delaware Township. They provide both basic and advanced life support ambulance services. For more information or for volunteer opportunities with Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corp contact (570) 828-2345 or email info@dtvac.org.
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