Pownal Rescue Squad

01/01/2026

🚑 Pownal Rescue – 2025 at a Glance 🚑

In 2025, Pownal Rescue responded to 878 calls to serve our community and neighbors. Here’s how we spent our year:

📞 Calls by Type

🚨 Pownal patient transports: 288 (33%)
Transporting patients to the hospital for treatment.

🤝 Mutual aid transports: 211 (24%)
-Supporting neighboring communities when extra EMS help is needed.

📍 Bennington: 149

📍 Massachusetts: 56

📍 New York: 6

❌ Patient refusals: 152 (17%)
-Patients were evaluated (and sometimes treated) but did not need or want transport.
-These calls require a full EMS response but bring minimal reimbursement, if any.

🛑 Cancellations: 91 (10%)
-Calls we were dispatched to but cancelled before arrival, sometimes due to other responders arriving first or the situation resolving.
-These calls do not generate reimbursement.

🏥 Transfers to higher-level hospitals: 88 (10%)
-Transporting patients who need a higher level of care to facilities equipped to provide it.

🏠 Local transfers (nursing homes, etc.): 48 (6%)
-Returning patients safely to their homes or transferring them to local nursing facilities.

To our community members, partner agencies, local hospitals, and dedicated staff and volunteers—thank you. Your trust, support, and collaboration allow Pownal Rescue to respond to emergencies, train for excellence, and continue serving our neighbors 24/7.

Every donation, every word of encouragement, and every moment you stand with us makes a real difference. We are proud to serve you and grateful to do it together.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe! 🚑❤️

12/25/2025

🎄 Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎁

Wishing our community a happy holiday. Please stay safe, and thank you to those who have put their own plans on hold to care for others this holiday season! 🎄

12/08/2025

Last month, we sent out our annual donation letters, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us so far!

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to contribute, there’s still time. Your support helps us continue providing essential emergency services to our community.

💙 Make a tax-deductible donation online:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5BLQ59RQ2AJEU

or

📬 Mail your donation to:
Pownal Rescue Squad
PO Box 334
Pownal, VT 05261

Thank you for supporting your local rescue squad! 🚑💙

11/17/2025

❄️ Winter Weather Safety Tips from Pownal Rescue ❄️

As winter weather settles in, your safety is our priority! Here are some helpful reminders to keep you and your family safe during the cold months:

🌨️ General Safety
•Keep a 3–5 day supply of food, water, and medications.
•Charge phones and backup batteries in case of power outages.
•Check on elderly neighbors, family,friends, and pets!
•Dress in layers and limit time outdoors during extreme cold.

🧹 Snow Shoveling Tips
•Warm up before heading outside — cold muscles are more prone to injury.
•Push snow rather than lift when possible.
•If you must lift, use your legs and keep your back straight.
•Take frequent breaks and never ignore chest pain or shortness of breath.
•Stay hydrated — even in the cold, you can overexert yourself.

🚗 Winter Driving Safety
•Slow down and increase following distance.
•Keep your gas tank at least half full.
•Clear all snow/ice from your vehicle — roof, lights, mirrors, and windows.
•Carry an emergency kit: blanket, flashlight, water, snacks, and a phone charger.
•If roads are bad, avoid unnecessary travel.

🔥 Furnace & Home Heating Safety
•Have your furnace and chimneys inspected yearly.
•Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heaters.
•Never use ovens or grills to heat your home.
•Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly.
•If using a generator, keep it outside, away from windows and vents.
•Keep exhaust vents clear of snow.

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

11/06/2025

✨ Food Drive Update! ✨

Today we were able to drop off donations from our food drive to Faith Church! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported this effort so far. Your generosity is truly making a difference.

We recognize that many families in our community are being affected by what’s happening right now, and we will continue to help in any way we can. With the holidays right around the corner, we’re excited to extend our Food Drive!

We managed to fill a good portion of our ambulance with donations today — and in the coming weeks, we’re hoping to fill the entire back of the ambulance!

We are collecting:
🛒 Non-perishable food items
🧴 Personal hygiene essentials
🐶 Dog food
🐱 Cat food

Let’s continue to come together and support our community. Every donation helps! ❤️🚑

10/30/2025

We have had a great response so far for drop-offs for the food drive! We are still collecting non-perishable items!! Drop your donation off today help support our community!

🥫 Pownal Rescue Food Drive! 🥫

We’re coming together to support our neighbors during the government shutdown, which has affected food assistance programs like SNAP across Vermont.

If you’re able, please consider donating canned goods, boxed foods, or other non-perishable items to help local families in need. ❤️
📍 Drop-off Location:
22 Ladd Road, Pownal, VT 05261
🕓 Anytime — there’s a donation box right out front!

Every item helps make a difference. Thank you for helping us support our community!

🥫 Pownal Rescue Food Drive! 🥫

We’re coming together to support our neighbors during the government shutdown, which has affected food assistance programs like SNAP across Vermont.

If you’re able, please consider donating canned goods, boxed foods, or other non-perishable items to help local families in need. ❤️

📍 Drop-off Location:
22 Ladd Road, Pownal, VT 05261
🕓 Anytime — there’s a donation box right out front!

Every item helps make a difference. Thank you for helping us support our community!

10/27/2025

Our crews had a great time attending the multiple Trunk or Treats around town this weekend! 🎃👻

10/23/2025

🥫 Pownal Rescue Food Drive! 🥫

We’re coming together to support our neighbors during the government shutdown, which has affected food assistance programs like SNAP across Vermont.

If you’re able, please consider donating canned goods, boxed foods, or other non-perishable items to help local families in need. ❤️

📍 Drop-off Location:
22 Ladd Road, Pownal, VT 05261
🕓 Anytime — there’s a donation box right out front!

Every item helps make a difference. Thank you for helping us support our community!

09/08/2025

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has generously donated to our organization and demonstrated their support. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to contribute, you can make a tax-deductible donation using the QR code provided below.

Donations can also be mailed to us at:

Pownal Rescue Squad
PO BOX 334
Pownal, VT 05261

08/29/2025

✏️🍎 Back to School = Back to Safety! 🚸🚑

As the first bell rings, remember:
🚦 Slow down near schools & crosswalks
🚌 Stop for school buses—no exceptions
📵 Put the phone away while driving
👀 Keep an eye out for kids walking or biking

Let’s make this school year safe for everyone.

07/14/2025

🚑🚑 EMT Apprenticeship Program – Now Accepting Applications! 🚑🚑

Please Share!

There is still time to get your applications in!

We’re excited to announce that applications are open now through July 21, 2025 for our first class of EMT Apprentices!
This is a "learn while you earn" opportunity designed for individuals with little or no experience. Train alongside our dedicated educators and Field Training Officers to become a full-time EMT.

💡 What is an Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a paid training program that combines on-the-job experience with classroom instruction. Apprentices earn a wage while learning the skills and knowledge needed to become certified professionals—in this case, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). It's a great way to start a new career without prior experience or student debt!

📝 Next Step:
Candidates who advance will complete an EMT Entrance Assessment.
✅ Selected apprentices begin full-time employment on August 11, 2025.

✅ Program Requirements
-Must be 18 years or older
-Valid driver’s license with 2+ years of driving experience and an insurable record
-Background clearances (criminal, EMS registry, and federal/CMS)
-High school diploma or equivalent
-Strong written and verbal English communication skills
-Must pass an entrance assessment (10th grade+ level in reading, math, science: biology/anatomy/medical terminology)
Please email pownalrescue@outlook.com for an application and for more information!
If you’re looking for a career in EMS and want to start from the ground up, this is your chance! 🚨

07/03/2025

🎆🚑 Firework Safety Reminder 🚑🎆

As we head into the holiday, we want everyone to enjoy the festivities safely. Fireworks can be exciting, but they can also lead to serious injuries and stress for pets if proper precautions aren't taken.

🔥 Firework Safety Tips for People:

-Only use legal fireworks and follow all local laws.
-Keep a bucket of water or hose nearby in case of fire.
-Never relight a "dud" firework—wait 20 minutes, then soak it.
-Light fireworks one at a time and back away quickly.
-Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
-Sparklers can burn at 1,200°F — supervise kids at all times.

🐾 Pet Safety Tips:

-Keep pets indoors during fireworks. Loud noises can cause fear and anxiety.
-Create a quiet, safe space for them to feel secure.
-Never bring pets to fireworks shows or leave them in cars.
-Make sure your pets have ID tags or are microchipped in case they get scared and run off.

⚠️ If someone is injured by fireworks, call 911 immediately. Burns and eye injuries can be serious.

Let’s celebrate responsibly and keep everyone—two-legged and four-legged—safe this holiday! ❤️🇺🇸