Ellington Ambulance Celebrates 50th Anniversary

On Saturday, the Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps will mark 50 years of serving the community. 

To celebrate, there will be an at the Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps building from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be food, entertainment, and live demonstrations.

The was founded in early 1962 by a group of five individuals headed by Ken Gayton of the Office of Civil Defense. 

A used 1952 Cadillac hearse was purchased for $400 and converted into an ambulance which was placed in service in May of 1962. Completion of an advanced first aid course was the training requirement to become a member. During much of the 1960's, the ambulance operated with two person teams with communication coordinated through the Vernon Police Department. 

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EVAC's vehicle was known as Emergency 31 with the base station (Vernon PD) known as Station 3. In 1969, the ambulance designation was changed to Rescue 512 and communications began to be dispatched from Tolland County Mutual Aid and Fire Service where it has remained for the past 26 years.

The Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps has grown from a five member loosely knit organization in 1962 to the current 30 plus member organization. The training EVAC members experience has advanced from basic first aid in the early 1960's to a comprehensive and extensive EMT-Basic course, CPR course, Blood and Air borne pathogen classes and constant traning that enables all of its members to provide the best emergency care possible to our community.

Ellington Ambulance provides basic life support to the citizens and visitors of Ellington as well as assisting neighboring towns when called.