Then…

With the growing need for EMS in the community, the East Fishkill Rescue Squad was formed in 1967.  It began as a volunteer emergency relief squad within the East Fishkill Fire District and used a 1965 Cadillac ambulance to transport patients.  In 1968, the Fire District purchased a rescue van and the squad began emergency ambulance operations.  To become a member you had to be over 18, a member of one of the four volunteer fire companies in the East Fishkill Fire District and possess a valid Red Cross Advanced First Aid Card.

To access the ambulance at that time, you would have to call 471-2525 and the Rescue Squad would be alerted from Emergency Control via home alerting radios.  Within minutes you would have emergency first aider's on the scene of the call.

In 1969 the Rescue Squad responded to 260 calls, which included medical emergencies and auto accidents.

 Now…

The East Fishkill Rescue Squad is still a 100% volunteer organization.  Members can now join the Squad at age 16.  The Squad now has over 125 members who serve as Emergency Medical Technicians, Certified First Responders and Drivers to provide continuous pre-hospital emergency care to the District. As a Basic Life Support (BLS) Squad, members can provide necessary care to the sick or injured patient, whether it be CPR, breathing difficulty, or a broken leg, our members are trained to handle the situation.  We also carry and administer albuterol for asthma attacks and epinephrine auto-injectors for allergic reactions.   All the EMT’s and CFR’s on the squad are trained in Cardiac Defibrillation.

There are currently 2 ambulances in the District as well as a rescue truck which carries the Jaws of Life.  The primary ambulance is rotated weekly among the four fire companies, so the duty crew responsibility can be distributed among all the members.  This ambulance has a duty crew 24hrs/day 7days a week.  The second ambulance is used as a backup and is dispatched to calls when the primary is out on a call. 

In 2004 the Squad responded to over 1800 emergency calls in the District—the most for an all volunteer agency from Putnam County to Albany. 

To join the Rescue Squad you must be an active member of the East Fishkill Fire District   and  hold one or both of the following:

A.     A valid First Responder (CFR) card, or

B.     A valid Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) card, or

C.     Approval for driver training by the commissioners