By Jonathan L'Ecuyer
Staff writer
May 16, 2008 05:17 am ROCKPORT — Anchoring Rockport's festive Motif No. 1 Days this weekend is Sunday's 13th annual Emergency Service Day. The event, which has grown in substance and popularity each year, is planned as a family activity with draws children and adults. Between 1 and 4 p.m., the town's emergency service departments will exhibit equipment and promote some of the services they provide to residents. In recent years, the event — sponsored by the Rockport Ambulance Department and held at the Rockport police station, 168 Main St. — has attracted state and even federal emergency service groups. "I got the idea for the day a long time ago. It seemed like a nice thing and it's been growing every year since then," said Ambulance Department Director Rosemary Lesch yesterday. "It introduces the community to its local services and every year, new groups ask to be part of (the event)." The Rockport Ambulance Department is an on-call, all-volunteer service that finances itself through user fees and an annual fundraiser. None of the equipment the department uses — including ambulances — is paid for with tax dollars, which allows the department to offer a level of service the town could not pay for, said Lesch. Rockport emergency medical technicians often work in town at their jobs, which means they get to the scene, pick up the patient and are headed to the hospital before the Gloucester ambulance service could even get to Rockport. And because many of the department's 25 EMTs work for the love of the job, more of them often respond to the scene. Lesch said there are usually three EMTs or a pair of EMTs and a first responder working on a patient on the way to the hospital rather than the two required by law. This is the third year a Boston Medflight will appear and Lesch said yesterday she expects the state police to bring a helicopter as well. The Police Department will host a bike auction and the American Red Cross will work to sign people up for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid classes, scheduled to begin the week of May 19. The event has attracted as many as 700 to 800 people in the past and will be held Sunday, rain or shine. Sunday also marks the first day of Massachusetts EMS Week. The Fire Department, including its Forest Fire Division, harbormasters, MBTA Transit Police, and Middlesex County Sheriff's Department will also run programs and events for EMS Day. "It's just a fun day," Lesch said.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
If you go r What: 13th annual Emergency Service Day r When: Sunday, May 18; 1 to 4 p.m. r Where: 168 Main St. (Rockport police station/Public Works yard) r Cost: Free r Contact: Rosemary Lesch, 978-546-9589
Emergency Service Day 2008 attractions r All Rockport emergency vehicles: ambulances, harbor patrol boat, firetrucks and forest fire equipment. r Rockport Police Department: Used bike auction, free bike safety helmets, and sale of miscellaneous lost and found items. r Rockport Fire Department: "Jaws of Life" demonstrations and all equipment on display r Rockport Forest Fire: Headquarters open and Smokey the Bear on site r Rockport Ambulance Department: Vehicles on display with EMTs to give tours r Beauport and Lyons ambulances will be on display r Rockport Harbor Department: 24-foot Boston Whaler available with the harbormasters r Middlesex Sheriff's Department: New 25-foot Safe Boat on display. r Boston MedFlight: Landing around 1:30 p.m. (weather permitting) to give tours and information about the helicopter r MBTA Transit Police: incident command trailer and tactical unit on display r Massachusetts State Police: Communications tactical unit (possible helicopter appearance, weather permitting) r 100-year-old pumper: Ray Smith will have his pumper on display and ready to pump. Smith has also donated pies to sell, with proceeds benefitting the Ambulance Department. r American Red Cross: Disaster truck on display r MCI — Mass casualty truck, from state Office of Emergency Medical Services r Red Cross cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid classes: Sign up for classes starting the week of May 18. Source: Rockport Ambulance Department
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