QRS Certification

As part of a well-rounded agency, we offer our services as a Pennsylvania Department of Health Quick Response Service (QRS).  This is a certification that ensures we meet a minimum standard for basic, immediate, and non-transporting emergency medical services (EMS).  While we do not use this on many occasions, it ensures that we have proper personnel, training, and equipment to provide immediate EMS care until the arrival of an advanced life support (ALS) service, or a transporting basic life support (BLS) unit.  With three ALS providers and numerous BLS providers, this certification enables us to provide aid to our own personnel if needed or assist local ALS/BLS agencies.

Water Rescue

Our agency offers a series of specialized rescue capabilities.  We are one of several swiftwater rescue teams providing motorized inflatable boat capabilities to Ephrata Borough, Township, and surrounding areas.  We staff two motorized and inflatable boats, as well as an inflatable raft to operate in swiftwater conditions.  We have been previously recognized as a Level 4a Team for the Pa VRSR and are currently working on upgrading our status.  Our water rescue personnel complete the entire Pa Fish & Boat Commission water rescue curriculum, and some have completed the 1006 surface water and swiftwater rescue technician certification.  We operate with a full cache of water rescue PPE, line launcher, rope hardware, and other varied equipment to effect swiftwater rescue.  We have two Pa water rescue instructors as part of our active roster, and we provide all necessary PPE for individuals on the water rescue team.

Special Operations

We function in several technical rescue disciplines.  Aside from swiftwater rescue, we focus on rope rescue and confined space operations.  This is primarily due to hazards within our first due, and surrounding areas.  We pride ourselves on harnessing modern rope rescue technology and techniques.  We have personnel certified and credentialed at the Rope Rescue Technician level.  Additionally, due to first due hazards, we focus our technical rescue skills on confined space operations as well.  We have a multitude of confined spaces in our district and depend on the operational abilities of our personnel to initiate operations for successful operations.  We have personnel operating at the 1006 Confined Space Technician level.