Acton EMS provides primary Emergency Medical Services to the Town of Acton, Maine. Our all-volunteer organization operates from the Acton Public Safety building at 1725 Route 109 in Acton, and handles an average of 250 emergency calls per year. Our operations are funded by invoicing for services provided, fund raisers, and donations from organizations, individuals, and the Town Of Acton. We currently have a roster of 43 personnel, 34 of whom hold an EMS license of Basic-EMT or higher, 8 drivers and 1 junior member.

A Brief History

Acton EMS is a unit of the Acton Ambulance Association, a non-profit organization founded in 1979 by a group of citizens. The town of Acton had been informed by neighboring town Sanford that Sanford could no longer provide ambulance services to outlying communities, and this group took up the task of forming an ambulance service for Acton.

Rather than burdening the taxpayers of Acton with the cost of starting up and operating the service, the citizens group decided to form a non-profit association and raise funds from donations to purchase equipment and an ambulance. The association formed two components: the Board Of Directors, charged with fundraising and handling the business matters of the association, and the EMS crew or "squad", who were responsible for answering emergency calls and handling matters related to training and licensing.

Volunteers would be needed for the EMS crew to take intensive training and become certified as Emergency Medical Technicians to care for patients of the service. Some members of the volunteer Acton Fire Department stepped forward to take this training, as well as some new volunteers who wished to serve only on the ambulance service.

The group was highly successful in its fund raising efforts. Through the generosity of Acton's citizens, seasonal property owners, and even a number of residents from neighboring towns who donated time and money for fund raisers, the association's goals became reality. Many of those who donated at the beginning continued to do so year after year, and some still do today.

A used ambulance, required equipment and supplies were purchased. Upon completion of training the new EMTs got their licenses and prepared to launch the emergency service. On January 1, 1980 at midnight, Acton EMS went into service for emergency responses. Shortly after midnight, the crew was tested on their very first call for service.

Acton EMS Today

Acton EMS boasts a roster of over 50 crew members, all but a few of whom hold a medical license at the EMT-B (basic) level or above. We have an ambulance that was purchased new in 2000, and a variety of new and older equipment, with plans in the works to phase out older equipment over several years.

The operation of the Association is a joint partnership between the Board of Directors and the Crew. The Board of Directors consists of elected officer positions, the crew officers, a member-at-large from the crew, and members at large from the public. The board officers and members-at-large from the public are elected at the Association's annual meeting, usually held during the third week of January. Any individual who has contributed anything to the association (money, time or resources) over the previous year can vote at the annual meeting.

The crew officers are elected for yearly terms by the crew members at the December monthly crew meeting. Three officers automatically become members of the Board of Directors.

Board Of Directors (2008)	EMS Crew Officers (2008)
President Linda Whitman Vice President Leonard Turcotte Secretary Martha Turmelle Treasurer Deb Casey Member-at-large Jim Crowley Member-at-large Roger Roy Member-at-large Jane Holtby	Chief Denise DeAngelis Assist Chief John Moulton Health Officer Don Ouellette QA/QI Officer Pat Adams Training Officer Kevin Romano Supply Denise DeAngelis Personnel Sharon Anderson

Acton EMS is ALWAYS looking for volunteers (and donations). If you want to help in any way, please contact us! Our mailing address is:

Acton Ambulance Assoc.
P.O. Box 185
Acton, ME 04001