[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5631-S5632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE WESTPORT VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ON ITS 20TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, for twenty years, the Westport Volunteer 
Emergency Medical Service has been a lifeline for thousands of people 
in need of emergency medical assistance in the state of Connecticut. 
Since 1979, the WVEMS has provided the residents of Westport and the 
surrounding communities with caring and professional medical services, 
and it gives me great pleasure to congratulate them on their 20th 
anniversary.
  A division of the Westport Police Department, the WVEMS was created 
to respond to the increasing number of calls for emergency assistance 
in the area. This group of 140 dedicated volunteers serve as EMT's, 
crew chiefs, and support personnel who, in the last year alone, 
contributed over 23,000 hours of patient care. Their expertise and 
experience have helped thousands of people by providing medical 
training, safety coverage at town and athletic events, and offering 
public courses in areas such as first aid, CPR, blood pressure clinics, 
and safe driving classes.
  It is remarkable to note that while providing efficient, quality care 
to the residents of Westport, the WVEMS relies solely on private 
donations and fundraising to purchase its equipment, supplies, 
emergency vehicles, uniforms, and protective clothing. Volunteers have 
taken on this additional responsibility and the extra hours to ensure 
that their services remain available to anyone in need. They have made 
reliable emergency medical response a standard in many communities and 
have proven that emergency care is a vital component of the safety of 
our cities and towns.
  The ongoing success of the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical 
Service is most evident in the nearly two dozen new students that 
receive training by the group's own personnel each year. Working in 
conjunction with area hospitals and local physicians, the WVEMS and its 
volunteers have earned the highest marks in state examinations while 
also having members serving on state and regional EMS councils. 
Moreover, volunteers have found their work so fulfilling that many have 
gone on to further their medical training and education as a full-time 
career.
  What truly sets the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service 
apart is the level of commitment and concern its members have shown for 
people in need. In situations that can often be emotional, chaotic, and 
dangerous, these men and women put the welfare of others first in order 
to calm fears and provide lifesaving care. Members are on standby 
twenty-four hours a day and, in many cases, are the first ones on the 
scene of an accident. It is

[[Page S5632]]

their quick thinking and skills that ultimately save lives.
  The city of Westport and the state of Connecticut owe these selfless 
public servants many thanks for the lives that they save and the 
outstanding care that they provide. I hope that others across the 
country will take the time to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the 
men and women within their own communities who are available day and 
night to respond to their emergency medical needs.
  Mr. President, at this time, I would like to recognize those members 
of the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service who have 
volunteered countless hours for the past twenty years to provide 
outstanding emergency assistance and who continue to pass on their 
medical knowledge to future generations of caregivers: Edwin Audley, 
Elizabeth Audley, Patricia Audley, Sharon Barnett, Russell Blair, Susan 
DeWitt, Michael Feigin, Richard Frazier, Neil Harding, Thomas Keenan, 
Lynne Minsky, Kathleen Todd, Alan Yoder, Isabel Blair, Alan Stolz, 
Pasquale Salvo, William Carrick, Peter Ziehl, Jay Paretzky, Nancy Gale, 
Gerald Randy Monroe, Barbara Potter, and April Anne Yoder.

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