We will be presenting various posts this week in honor of National EMS Week.

With the nationally publicized visit of President Ronald Reagan in May of 1985 to the newly developed Great Valley Corporate Center, as well as other planned development in East Whiteland Township, it became apparent that changes would be needed for emergency services. Two of those needed services were EMS and Rescue. Former East Whiteland Fire Chief Gary Long saw the development as an opportunity to bring those services into the East Whiteland Fire Company. Chief Long recalled that it was a difficult and challenging process, but one that was definitely needed in a growing and prosperous township. One of the most difficult elements of the EMS program was ensuring there were enough personnel committed to staff the ambulance, and of course all those personnel had to receive training. At the same time, it was essential for rescue operations to be implemented to the existing fire fighting apparatus and personnel, that which required additional training. During the late 1970's, as the Great Valley Corporate Center was fully underway as a major technology center, not only to the township but to the region, both EMS and Rescue Operations were welcomed into the East Whiteland Fire Company. For a time, Advanced Life Support services were provided by Paoli Memorial Hospital with Medic 92, and today that ALS service comes from the Malvern Fire Company Medic Units and Paramedics. Thanks to Chief Long and everyone involved with implementing and continuing our EMS and Rescue services, the East Whiteland Fire Company, our community, and those who travel and work in our district benefit greatly from the services we provide.