Waymart Ambulance then…

With its first organizational meeting in April of 1972, the ambulance corps purchased its first ambulance, from a Carbondale area funeral home, in July of that year. On October 20, 1972, the Waymart Volunteer Ambulance Corps became an incorporated non-profit organization. From its humble beginnings operating out of a rented garage and dispatching out of Jenkins Funeral Home using one of funeral director’s hearses as an ambulance, the Waymart Volunteer Ambulance Corps has come a long way over the years. In 1989, our current building was erected on land, located in the Waymart borough, loaned to us in the form of a lifetime lease from the borough of Waymart. This building was built to hold both ambulances and a sufficient amount of supplies and other emergency medical equipment. Eight years later, in 1997, we added an addition on the rear of the building to allow us to hold meetings without having to pull our ambulances out of their bays.

Waymart Ambulance now…

The Waymart Volunteer Ambulance Corps located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania operates two Basic Life Support ambulances licensed through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. We are the first due Basic Life Support ambulance in Waymart Borough, Canaan Township, and South Canaan Township, along with parts of Clinton Township and Prompton Borough. In our over 75 square mile first due response area, there are two assisted-living facilities, one nursing home, a state prison, a recently opened federal penitentiary and the largest wind farm in Pennsylvania. Our response area is an all-rural area. 50% of our first-due area is used for residential purposes, while 25% is classified as agriculture/wild land/open space. The other 25% is utilized for commercial and industrial purposes. From its earlier days, the Waymart Volunteer Ambulance Corps continues to make strides in delivering quick, compassionate and competent care to anyone in need. In 2001, seeing the need for continued quick, professional responses and faced with a declining number of volunteers and monthly increase in calls, the Corps decided to provide career staffing for daylight emergency calls. This concept of quick, professional responses, has also led to one paid professional on station during the evening and nighttime hours. We have nine paid emergency medical technicians and over fifteen volunteer responders who are certified emergency medical technicians and first responders.

Here at Waymart, planning is of utmost importance. In early 2006, the Corps established a Strategic Planning Committee to develop short-term and long-term goals for the company to aim for, all with an overriding purpose to improve patient care in our primary response area. This has led to much success: In 2006, Waymart was the only EMS company in Wayne County to receive a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Waymart was also the only ambulance company in northeastern Pennsylvania in 2006 to receive a total of $60,000 of state and federal funding for capital projects to improve our services offered to the community. An upcoming Recruitment and Retention Drive and plans for a new, state-of-the-art facility are all in the works for the WVAC has we continue to meet the current needs and prepare for the future needs of our residents.

To the residents of Waymart and Prompton Boroughs, Canaan, South Canaan, and Clinton Townships: Your dedicated and professional responders of the Waymart Volunteer Ambulance Corps will continue to meet goals and accomplish objectives to continue providing you, your family and friends with the excellent patient care that you all deserve and have become used to receiving. Thank you for your continued support as we continue to proudly and respectfully serve you, plan for the future needs of our communities, and respond to emergencies here in Wayne County.