About

Sick and seriously injured patients rely on us to give them the best medical attention and care.  To do that you count on us to have the knowledge, experience and compassion to help you through your time of need. With our team of 46 volunteers and 12 career Medics we provide Advanced Life Support and Rescue services 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

(Staff Photo)

To learn how you can serve your community and be a part of this team visit the Volunteer link on the main menu.

The Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad is a Non-Profit, 501(c)(3) organization.  It has been providing Ambulance, Advanced Life Support, Off Shore Rescue and Recovery, and Extrication Services to the citizens of Ogdensburg, Village of Heuvelton, Town of Oswegatchie, Town of Depeyster, and surrounding areas since 1961.

If you have questions regarding a bill, contact Certified Ambulance Group at 1-800-336-6402.

History

The Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad was formed in 1961, with the first organizational meeting taking place in July of that year. As in most localities ambulance service prior to that time was provided by the local police department using the paddy wagon and the local undertaker using the hearse. Ogdensburg Rescue's first ambulance was 1948 Cadillac hearse donated by local Mortician Charles Fox. It was promptly painted bright yellow, equipped with a siren, stretcher, and equipment necessary for caring for the sick and injured. It was housed in the first garage in the 300 block of Jay Street behind the VFW.

First Ambulance - 1948 Cadillac
Pictured - Tom Sequin and Bill Abbott

October 28, 1961

The Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. answered its first call. At that time there were no radio communications. The only communication was a "party type" telephone line which rang at the OVRS garage, Ogdensburg PD, and and Hepburn Hospital ER. The duty crew was then notified of the call by telephone.

January 25, 1963

The OVRS quickly outgrew its first building. The OVRS moved into its second temporary home in the Old New York Telephone Building garage on State Street behind the Sperling Building. It was here that the OVRS began to man its building at night. One member slept on the couch, one on a cot, and a third in the back of the ambulance.

Sometime in 1965

The OVRS began a fund raising campaign to raise $40,000 for a permanent home. After raising $54,000 in donations the new building was built at the corner of Greene Street and the Crescent in Lyon Park. The building was constructed and dedicated in 1966 with the understanding that the squad must maintain the Lilac trees, and at least one picnic table in the park. It was around this time that the Offshore Rescue Unit came into being.

Sometime Around 1968

The Sheriff's Department gave the OVRS some old low band radio units. Hepburn Hospital still didn't have a radio but they were informed by the scanner installed in the ER. Hopefully someone was listening. At that time the training requirements increased from a 2 -3 hour first aid course to a 9 hour advanced first aid course plus 3 hours of CPR training. in the early 1970's requirements changed again, and  squad members began to take the new 40 hour MET (Medical Emergency Technicians) course.

Sometime in 1976

The OVRS purchased its first modular ambulance The "Star Mod" cost $21,000.00 and was a heavy duty aluminum body on a Chevy one ton truck chassis. It later saw duty as the squad's extrication truck.

Sometime in the mid-1970's

Tthe training requirements increased again, and members now took the 90 hour Advanced EMT course.

Sometime in 1975

New York State began plans for the Urban Renewal of Ogdensburg and the construction of the downtown arterial. This meant that the OVRS would need to find a new home. Under the Direction of Ed Dobisky, Temporary Chairman of the Advisory Board (for 17 years), and following a lot of political activity the current location in the Greenbelt was selected. Somehow Ed Dobisky, Chuck Kelly, Joe Tracy, and Judge Leonard got $70,000.00 from NYS for the old building.

June 1978

Physician's Assistant Sister Joan MacElwain became the first female member of the OVRS, soon followed by RN JoAnn McCabe. Sister Joan tried to teach the men to knit, and they wouldn't let her watch HBO.

First set of "Jaws of Life" in 1978

The Early 1980's

Training had now become a real priority. The Advanced EMT course became the Basic EMT course and was now 110 hours long. Then came EMT-1, EMT-2, EMT-3, and EMT-D. These have now evolved into Basic EMT-D, EMT-I, EMT-CC, and EMT-P.

1985

Robert Bromley became the OVRS's first AEMT-CC. in 1986 17 members took the first EMT-D course in NYS and along with Massena and Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squads took part in the first NYS EMT-D pilot program.

1990

Dispatch was taken over by the St. Lawrence County Central Dispatch Office. With the help of the OVRS First Responder Units were established in the Heuvelton and Ogdensburg City Fire Departments, followed closely by the Rensselaer Falls Fire Department.

1992

All three of the OVRS's ambulances were now equipped for Advanced Life Support Calls.

1995

It became necessary to begin billing for our ambulance service, as the cost of providing service continued to increase. 1995 was also the year that the OVRS begain to provide ALS services to the neighboring BLS ambulance services.

1997

Paramedic Mark Tuttle became the first employee of the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. An increasing number of calls and a decreasing number of volunteers made this move inevitable. In October of 1999, Mark became the first Director of Operations of the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. The time demands on the Chief and President had reached a point where it was impossible for volunteers to fulfill the duties of these full time positions.

2001

The Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad was named the New York State EMS Agency of the Year.

2007

Under the guidance of Director Jennifer Romano, the OVRS became the first ambulance service in St. Lawrence County to carry narcotics.  That year also saw the members of  the Off Shore Rescue and Recovery Team certified to use enriched air for their dive operations.

2008

The OVRS began carrying Nitrous Oxide for pain relief.

2009

The OVRS became one of the first agencies in St. Lawrence County to use 12-lead ECGs in the field.

The current Director of Operations is Ken Gardner, AEMT-P. In addition the OVRS now employees three full time and five part time and per diem Advanced Life Support Providers. The 44 Volunteer Members with various levels of training continue to be the backbone of the OVRS.

*From "The Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, A History," by Alfred H. Hogan with contributions from Joe Basta, and Storm Cilley