ORIGIN
The Pittston Township Ambulance Association had its humble beginnings from a group of concerned Pittston Township residents, who saw and realized a need for a locally operated Ambulance service.  These residents, who were the members of Pittston Townships United States Bi-Centennial Committee decided to place all the financial proceeds of their efforts into an investment of an ambulance service for fellow residents and visitors to the community.  As the national and community celebratory events for the USA came to a close in 1976, township residents were asked if they would support a locally operated ambulance service and the residents gave a resounding “YES” to the idea. The proceeds of that Bi-Centennial Committee were then placed into a non-profit organization that became known as the Pittston Township Ambulance Association.  The first officers of the Ambulance Association were Michael Charge, President; Dora Weiskerger, Vice President; Rosemary Thubbron, Treasurer and Helen Tierney, Secretary. All of the original officers are now deceased.

Chartered in 1977, the Pittston Township Ambulance Association had its start and rapidly worked to attain its goals of not only obtaining the necessary tools to serve the public in its mission of providing care, but also to do it with skilled and qualified staff. The business operation was done by an all volunteer administrative staff and persons staffing the ambulance were also all volunteers.  The structure of the Association is in two levels, a Board of Directors that has an Executive Committee who are responsible for the business aspect, and an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Operations Staff that actually mans the ambulance for emergency responses.  The Operations Staff has its own officer structure that reports directly to the Board of Directors.

To purchase an ambulance vehicle and necessary equipment became an immediate goal, along with necessary training. A number of fund raisers were conducted to supplement the available funds, along with a Membership Donation Drive, then $7.00 annually per household.  The first ambulance obtained was a 1974 Pontiac Station Wagon Ambulance, surplus from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and was stationed at the Pittston Township Municipal Building.  In addition, various medical supplies were obtained as required by the PA Department of Health.  EMS Staff members then began training in EMS treatment and care procedures.  The first certified staff Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) was Stan Zurek, who is still active to this date on the Board of Directors.  The Emergency calls began to be taken in early 1977.

Dispatching and Response 
Dispatching of the Ambulance in the early years was a true coordinated effort of many volunteers as this was before the era of the modern technology of 911.  Calls for ambulance emergencies were made to a seven digit phone number, which rang simultaneously in seven locations. This phone was set up as an incoming party phone line only, the phones being located in the homes of volunteers of the Ambulance Service. These phones were old black style desk phones without dials, so that only incoming calls could be accepted and one of these old phones is on display at our Ambulance Station.  Once an emergency call was received, volunteers then went to the ambulance or other volunteers were summoned by phone and notified of an emergency call. This required at least one volunteer to be at home every hour of the day, every day of the year, to ensure the phone would be answered and that the emergency call would be dispatched.  This method of dispatching continued until 1990.

Some modifications for dispatching became necessary as the service and needs of the community grew.  To make for quicker responses, a commercial paging company was contracted to provide pagers in the early 1980’s and serve as a backup answering service coverage for dispatching. However, volunteers still did answer the emergency phones up until 1993 and set off the commercial pagers to notify the staff of an emergency call.

In 1993, dispatching became an increasing burden for volunteers and the Ambulance, Fire and Police services of the township sought a better method for answering the emergency phone lines.  The help of the Municipality was sought and an agreement for dispatching all Pittston Township Emergency Services was then done by Duryea Borough, who had a 24 hour dispatcher on duty.  This continued until 1997, when Luzerne County began its 911 service and then did all emergency dispatching under specific standards and guidelines as required by state law.  Luzerne County 911 does all emergency dispatching to this date.

In 2007, with the continued growth in the community, a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device was installed in the Ambulance vehicle to assist in locating resident locations more rapidly and for use with determining global coordinates when landing air medical helicopter assistance. 

Ambulance Vehicles
The Ambulance vehicles in service have been varied in type and nature, but all with accepted design and technology for their time of service.  The first vehicle obtained was a 1974 Pontiac Station Wagon, surplus from the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  With community support very strong in membership donations, that vehicle was not in service very long, as it was replaced in late1977 with a brand new Ford Van Wheeled Coach Manufactured Ambulance.  In 1986, the Ambulance Service purchased it first modular design of Ambulance, a 1986 Ford Horton Ambulance.  This vehicle was replaced in late 1993 with a 1994 Ford Mobile Medical Ambulance, another modular design. In 2003, the Mobile Medical ambulance was replaced with a similar 1994 Ford Horton Ambulance with funds from a state grant.  In April 2005, the Association took delivery of a new ambulance, a 2004 Ford PL Custom Modular (dealer demo), replacing the previous vehicle in service.

Medical Equipment
Medical equipment used and required has gone through many changes and upgrades.  Simple tools of the trade have become complex items.  Common wooden backboards have been replaced with plastic ones for ease of sanitation and now have removable patient straps.  Floating backboards for water/pool use are also standard.  Glass thermometers have been replaced with plastic digital for safer use.  Blood pressure cuffs have been upgraded with auto machine types that take both BP’s and pulses freeing the EMS provider to do other aspects of patient care while the machine does its work.  Pulse Oximeters register oxygen levels in the blood so that EMS care providers can more accurately assess the patients need for oxygen therapy assistance. Specially designed care items are now carried for child/pediatric patients. And everything on board that is electrically supplied, are both rechargeable and portable to be used wherever the patient happens to be.  But the most important aspect of patient care is the skilled EMT/EMS provider who can accurately assess a patient condition and use the equipment available.

Communications
Radio communications have dramatically improved, from relying on phone calls to notify staff of emergency calls, to now all EMS staff member having pagers and/or two way radios for reliable communication between EMS providers and the 911 centers of Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties.

Business Management
The business end and management of the Ambulance Association has to this date, been done mostly by those in Executive capacities.  The Annual Membership drives from the formatting of the mailing to the assembly of letters and mailing list is still done by the Association members.  At one time, membership drives were done by hand delivery door to door until 1984.  The first mailing of memberships took place in 1985 and envelopes were addressed by hand until 1988 when a computerized list was created and mailing labels were produced.  As a legally recognized 501(c) non-profit corporation, annual audits of the finances are done and filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

Due to growing costs of operating the Ambulance Service, billing for all emergency responses began in 1991.  Billing was done by board member Helen Tierney until 1997, when, due to insurance complexities, this aspect was contracted out to a billing agent.  

Also, in 1991, a municipal hired EMS person was employed in a clerical position, a first in the area, but this position was eliminated by elected officials in 1999 as the elected officials deemed it no longer necessary. This action terminated a direct government involvement of staffing and providing EMS to the public. The Ambulance Service reverted back to creating staffing schedules on its own. 

Licensure
The licensure of an Ambulance Service in Pennsylvania was a total voluntary compliance until 1991 after which it became mandatory.  From its inception, the Pittston Township Ambulance has been licensed either voluntarily or by mandatory regulation.  The license that appears on the side of our vehicle indicates to the public that our service is in compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Health requirements for operation of an Ambulance Service.  Inspections are held every three years, in which a state inspector visits the Ambulance Station, reviews operational records for response, staffing levels, policies, staff certifications and physically inspects the vehicle and the equipment on board for presence, ability and reliabilty of use and stock of medical supplies carried.  Each time the ambulance responds the public is assured of a qualified staff on board, with a certified vehicle driver and EMT.

Station Construction
The Pittston Township Ambulance Association was always interested in having a home of its own.  Originally located at the Township Municipal Building on Broad Street from its beginning in 1977, the Ambulance remained there until 1995 with all administrative operations being conducted from Ambulance Executive official’s homes.  An expansion project of the Municipal Building saw the ambulance being moved to a temporary location at the Municipal garage/recycling center on the James Musto (Pittston) By-Pass.  It was at this time the Municipality owned and donated a plot of land to the Ambulance Service to erect its station and administrative office at a location now known as 24 Bryden Street.  

In 1999, a newly elected Municipal Supervisor and his supporters questioned the legality of the Ambulance Station being located at 24 Bryden Street. It was alleged that the Ambulance Service erected its station in violation of zoning ordinances, and was also alleged to be a public nuisance due to the 24 hour EMS operation. While the Ambulance service was never cited for zoning or noise/nusiance violations but based on complants of three residents residing near the Ambulance Station, the Municipal Supervisors began legal proceedings against the Ambulance service, seeking relief in sanctions that included closing of the ambulance station, vacating the premises and/or limiting the ability of the Ambulance Association to use its property. A lengthy court proceeding in the years that followed ended in 2003. The Court denied the Municipal elected officials any of the relief it sought and ruled totally in favor of the Ambulance service as the Municipality failed to substantiate and/or prove any of its numerous allegations contained in its lawsuit. Click to see > (Legal Ruling on the Zoning Matter, Luzerne County)

The Pittston Township Ambulance maintains a 24/7/365 presence at 24 Bryden Street for residents and visitors to the community.

Personnel and Staff
The EMS staff has been a highly trained group from the humble beginnings of the Pittston Township Ambulance.  Both EMS staff and Board Members have always held community service and the interests of the community in high regard along with the careful administration of the Ambulance business functions.  Many EMS staff members began their professional careers as EMS providers, becoming nurses, doctors along with others whose employment is beneficial to society.  And, a number of persons remained as volunteers for the community, staying in the Ambulance Service, along with their regular employment. And as EMS professionals, staff members have been called upon to testify in both civil and criminal cases and have served as paid consultants in litigation regarding civil lawsuits.

As the number of volunteers has dwindled, the Pittston Township Ambulance has maintained a steady roster of available persons.  It is rare not to have staff available for responses and the Pittston Township Ambulance provides more out of town coverage than it receives in return in a typical year.

Funding and Grants
The Pittston Township Ambulance has received a number of grants from businesses in recognition of their employees who are members of the EMS.  Over the years, financial grants have been received from Acme Markets/American Stores Corporation (now SuperValue), Menasha Corporation, Wal-Mart and the TJX Foundation (TJ Maxx Company). Collectively, these grants exceed $40,000 and have gone to improvements in delivery of medical services to the community. Other grants provided over the years from various local and state governmental sources total over $66,000 as of 2009.  But the most valuable source of donation is those persons who have tirelessly donate their time and talents to the EMS operation without compensation.

Our Service Area
The service area is 17 sq miles, now with 3,750 residents, a transient population of 60 to 70 thousand persons daily that travel through the community via two Interstates, and a state and federal highway. There are 3 industrial parks, two expanding commercial districts, numerous residential areas, a juvenile detention center and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport that receives EMS from the Pittston Township Ambulance Association. 

And in the beginning, the first year saw 175 emergency calls.  Currently, the EMS responses range from 450 to 500 annually.

From our humble beginning, dedicated persons to their community and EMS have made the Pittston Township Ambulance Association what it is today.