Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by Donating Blood

MANCHESTER- On Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 Ambulance Service of Manchester will host our seventh American Red Cross Blood Drive at ASM’s headquarters. Employees, friends, family, and community members are welcome to participate. Put on your green, and come share a pint with us! Please click on the link below to register in advance. 

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

ASM Participates in Manchester Senior Health Fair

MANCHESTER- On Thursday March 28th, 2019 the Ambulance Service of Manchester participated in Manchester Health Department’s Senior Health Fair. Over 40 organizations took part in this event offering services and demonstrations to hundreds of seniors within the community. ASM’s Sean Gregg and Matthew Kleza spent the afternoon fielding questions and interacting with participants like long time Senior Center Volunteer Earl Parent, featured in the picture above.

Aetna Attends Food Share Event

On March 5th, 2019 representatives from Aetna Ambulance Service spent the morning volunteering at Food Share to benefit residents of Bloomfield and surrounding towns. The event was organized by West of the River Networking Group.

9th Annual Emergency of Hunger Food Drive Results!

MANCHESTER – The 9th Annual “Emergency of Hunger” Food Drive, composed of first responders, Rotary members, and others, was a great success! Their combined efforts continue to make a deep and widening impact on hunger in greater Hartford. This year volunteers from Manchester, Vernon, and South Windsor collected a staggering 31,000+ food items, 675+ turkeys, and $16,000 in gift card and monitory donations. Please click here to read Contact Reporter Jesse Leavenworth’s article in the Hartford Courant!

ASM & Aetna Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer!

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight woman in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Each year, it is estimated that over 252,710 women in the United States will be diagnosed. In an effort to raise money for research, and in honor of those affected, the Ambulance Service of Manchester has offered employees pink long sleeve t- shirts and rubber bracelets (Livestrong style) for the price of a small donation. At the end of the month, the company will match the total contribution and direct all of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

In addition, Aetna Call Taker Kelly Shapiro is acting as Team Captain for the
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Hartford Walk on Sunday, October 29th, 2017 at 930 am. Please consider joining Team ASM-Aetna or making a donation. Use the link below to register.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/teamASM-AETNA

Check back on Wednesday for pictures and details of Aetna’s involvement!

EMS Recruitment Tool – PSA Video

The link below leads to a video recently produced by the Public Information and Education (PIE) Subcommittee of the Connecticut EMS Advisory Board. The video demonstrates the true value of EMS professionals within the healthcare continuum. In addition, it acts as a recruitment tool for prospective EMS providers.

 

Click Here!

Boston MedFlight Presents at ASM!


MANCHESTER- On March 20th, 2017 ASM hosted a Difficult Airway Course put on by Clinical Team Educator Fred Jeffries of Boston MedFlight. With assistance from co-worker, and Critical Care Transport Paramedic Jen Wheeler, the 8-hour course was attended by ASM employees, as well as members of local fire departments and other healthcare agencies. A comprehensive assessment of anatomy and physiology, case study reviews, demonstration of advanced airway techniques, and the opportunity to perform a surgical cricothyrotomy on a pig trachea include some of the features available to attendees.

Fred Jeffries has presented at ASM on numerous occasions. In addition to the airway course, Fred offers an interactive lecture on 12-lead interpretation as well. Please access ASM’s Webpage for upcoming CME opportunities from BostonMedflight and other great providers.




ASM Adds Second Type III Bariatric Ambulance

Ambulance Service of Manchester Bariatric Ambulance Stryker Power LoadMANCHESTER — On March 21, 2014 the Ambulance Service of Manchester put in service a second Type III ambulance for the transport of morbidly obese patients as well as for use with certain flight, specialty and critical care transport teams. The ambulance is identically equipped to ASM and Aetna’s existing bariatric ambulances, complete with a Stryker Power-LOAD stretcher lift system.

Capable of lifting a maximum patient weight of 700 pounds, it is the company’s belief that the Stryker Power-LOAD is the safest overall bariatric ambulance equipment. Read more about what makes the Power-LOAD system the safest...

STRYKER Power Load Stretcher - Aetna ASM AmbulanceAdding an additional bariatric ambulance is part of ASM and Aetna’s continued commitment to the communities and clients the companies serve. 

Stryker Power Stretcher System Deployed on Bariatric Ambulances

The safest bariatric ambulance loading system in use today. 

POWER Load Stretcher - ASM Aetna Ambulance

HARTFORD and MANCHESTER, Connecticut — On October 1, 2012, Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester installed and deployed Stryker Power-LOAD stretcher lift systems in each of the company’s two bariatric ambulances. 

Capable of lifting a maximum patient weight of 700 pounds, it is the company’s firm belief that the Stryker Power LOAD is the safest overall bariatric ambulance equipment for a number of reasons:

  • Power-LOAD is the best product for protecting the dignity  of  the patient. There are no industrial winches or uneven, ten foot track systems. There is no large rear deployment area that has the patient sitting out exposed to the elements.
  • Power-LOAD is the best system for protecting the well-being of the ambulance crew. Patient and stretcher lifting is done entirely by the powered system and not by the backs of the crew. The system reduces stretcher drops and makes the best use of its low center of gravity.
  • Power-LOAD is the best method for healthcare facilities as it is not large and unwieldy. It is easy to maneuver and fits into any space where a standard stretcher would fit.

Equipping our bariatric units with the Power-LOAD stretcher lift system is part of Aetna and ASM’s long-term commitment to the safety of our patients and employees. 

Read the Hartford Courant Article here: Ambulance Service Of Manchester And Aetna Ambulance Get New Equipment For Obese Patients…

Continue reading

Manchester’s School Nurses Hold CPR and Annual Training at ASM

MANCHESTER — On August 31, 2012 the Ambulance Service of Manchester hosted the School Nursing team from Manchester Public Schools  for their annual in-service and CPR training.

As Manchester is a HeartSafe Community, Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) now have a prominent place within the school system. Participants received an update in the use of the AED as part of the Healthcare Provider CPR training. They also received a refresher on the management of the choking victim.

The remainder of the in-service included medication administration, disease awareness, review of protocols, epinephrine administration, and other topics and was conducted by MPS staff.

Three More Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Ambulances Arrive

MANCHESTER — On August 24, 2012 three Mercedes Sprinter Ambulances arrived from American Emergency Vehicles in North Carolina.

The three additional, unmarked ambulances will be added to the two already being held on-site as ASM. Four of these will soon be sent out to receive the high-visibility Aetna/ASM Battenburg markings, rear chevrons and company logos.

The Mercedes Sprinters will replace several aging Ford models, leaving the fleet with only four Fords at ASM and seven at Aetna as of this writing.

American Emergency Vehicles’ Brochure Features Aetna’s Design

Aetna Ambulance - AEV Brochure for Sprinter

AEV Brochure for Sprinter

HARTFORD — Aetna’s distinct half Battenburg featured on the Dodge version of our Sprinters was used in an American Emergency Vehicle brochure for their Mercedes version.

Aetna began taking delivery of AEV Dodge Sprinter ambulances in 2009 and Mercedes Sprinter ambulances in 2011. Only a handful of Ford ambulances remain in both fleets.

See the full AEV brochure that features Aetna’s design here…

Aetna Sprinter Ambulance

Words That Describe Us: Volume 2

Aetna Ambulance - Ambulance Service of ManchesterMANCHESTER and HARTFORD — Aetna and ASM send Patient and Customer Satisfaction Surveys to a random sampling of patients who have received emergency or STAT inter-facility services from our companies.

The final question in the survey asks “Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve our service.

Some of the answers included:

  • “One suggestion is hire more outstanding, professional, compassionate individuals like Matt and Jackie. Coming from a healthcare provider, these two were fantastic.”
  • “Continue to hire good quality people like the crew that took care of me!”
  • “You saved my life! Thank you!”
  • “[Your] service is admirable”

EMS is often a thankless field. We feel that expressions of appreciation deserve to be shared and constructive comments deserve to be acted upon. An effort is made to share positive and/or constructive comments with the field staff and with the public we serve. Some of the other responses we have received are highlighted throughout our blog and on our website.

If we have treated you and you would like to request a blank survey please call our office at (860) 647-9798 or send your comments to us at PO Box 300, Manchester, CT 06045-0300. Or, simply click the Leave a Reply link below.

Meet the Team: ASM’s Vinnie Maston

ASM's Vinnie Maston

ASM’s Vinnie Maston

At the age of 28-years-old this is my tenth year in the pre-hospital emergency medical system.  I got my start at Thomaston Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC) at the age of 18.   Five months after joining TVAC I completed an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course and proudly acquired my EMT certification.  Over the next two years as a member of TVAC I gained my EMT-Intermediate level through more education and became an advisor of TVAC’s Explorer post.

In August, 2003 I was employed by an EMS Management and Staffing Service.  My role included staffing Volunteer Ambulance companies throughout the state of Connecticut.  By staffing twelve different volunteer ambulance associations and receiving medical control through seven hospitals my knowledge and adaptability was expanded upon. Continue reading

ASM and Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Celebrate First Anniversary of Partnership

Windsor EMS and ASM Celebrate 1 Year

Windsor EMS and ASM Celebrate 1 Year

WINDSOR — On July 1, 2012 the Ambulance Service of Manchester and Windsor Volunteer Ambulance (WVA) will celebrate the first anniversary of a successful partnership.

In 2011 WVA selected ASM to be the supplemental emergency provider for the Town of Windsor. This arrangement has meant that ASM provides ambulance and paramedic coverage to the town when Windsor EMS’ resources have been exhausted by 911 calls. It also gives WEMS the ability to call on ASM for supplemental resources as they see fit.

Access to shared radio frequencies and a contractual billing arrangement has made most situations seamless to Windsor residents, leaving the only obvious sign of ASM’s presence being the checkered Sprinter ambulances occasionally in town.

“Since partnering with ASM last July it has been a pleasure for us to work with such a professional organization.”

-Dennis C. Guay, Chief Executive Officer Continue reading