ReadyLink

Northwest EMS provides the Elizabethtown PABorough and surrounding area with ambulance service. 

The history of Northwest EMS is short on years but long on service to our communities. Northwest EMS was created January 1, 2000, with the merger of the Elizabethtown Fire Company Ambulance and the Northwest Advanced Life Support Unit (NWALSU). The Elizabethtown Fire Co. was organized in 1836 and its ambulance service was started in 1947. This service historically provided basic life support (BLS) services to Elizabethtown and surrounding communities. Meanwhile, NWALSU, through Medic 5, provided advanced life support (ALS) services to this same area beginning in 1980.

Since January 1, 2000, Northwest EMS has provided both basic and advanced life support to the area. In February 2004 Bainbridge Ambulance merged with Northwest as well as Maytown Ambulance later that year. Our BLS and ALS service area now include Conoy Township, East Donegal Township, West Donegal Township, Elizabethtown Boro, and parts of Mount Joy Township, Londonderry Township, Conewago Township and Rapho Township. Northwest EMS also provides advanced life support services to Marietta Boro. With the continuing growth, Northwest EMS not only expanded its service area, but also increased the number of trained professional and volunteer staff members. It also hired professional management for the organization. Northwest EMS has 14 paid paramedics, 24 paid emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and 15 volunteer EMTs and paramedics.

Northwest EMS services our area from two locations, 186 Rock Point Road in Maytown, housing an ALS ambulance and paid staff, and the headquarters building at 380 West Bainbridge Street in Elizabethtown, housing six ambulances, two squad trucks, two wheelchair vans, a Cub Cadet ATV.

As our service area grows, so do our responsibilities. New housing and business developments mean more demand for public services. EMS is no exception. Emergency calls have increased by 25% from 2004 to 2005.

Basic Life Support is a level of service to stabilize patients for further care at hospitals or doctor’s offices. BLS services are provided by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)

Advanced Life Support is a level of service for critical emergencies needing immediate intensive care. Paramedics (P) provide ALS services