For most of its 25 years, the Lebanon Volunteer Rescue Department was manned by a handful of dedicated people, typically no more than a dozen. However, when Lebanon experienced its 2002 crisis when voters shut down the town government and rescue service in an attempt to save money, something changed.

Battling misperceptions, those connected with the rescue department more clearly informed the population of their mission and means, and by the end of the year, the department – as well as the municipal government – was back in business with an overwhelming vote of 1,700-200.

By engaging in effective public relations, the Lebanon Volunteer Rescue Department made the people understand what valuable services were being provided by the corps of volunteers, which soon thereafter grew, with the latest count standing at 52. And it is this group that is being honored with one of the first Starfish Awards of 2006.

Assistant Chief Jason Cole, who has been with the department eight years, points to the transport service – started in 2002 – as a key factor in the increase in emergency calls and corresponding growth in volunteers.

“Before that, we had a contract with Frisbee Hospital in Rochester, and Care Plus in Somersworth,” says Cole, “as well as mutual aid agreements with other towns. Over the years, the biggest problem that people had was that we would respond to calls, but then had to turn over care to another ambulance provider. We had no follow-up with the patient. Now, we get to follow the patient to the hospital.

“In small towns, you always know someone on the rescue,” says Cole, “and people feel more comfortable knowing that neighbors are coming to help them.”

Beyond responding to calls, of which Cole says there were 16 this past weekend, the volunteers are engaged in public safety awareness education, hold blood pressure clinics, and are on stand-by during local soccer, baseball, and football games. And in conjunction with the Lebanon Recreation Department, they help mount the annual road race and flag football matches.

To become a basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a volunteer must undergo 180 hours of medical training, earn state certification, and take an additional 100 hours of clinical time. An intermediate EMT needs 200 classroom hours and 150 hours of practical/clinical time, while a paramedic is required to take close to 3,000 hours of training. Those who are interested in being drivers attend 40 hours of Ambulance Vehicle Operation Class, plus 20 hours of in-house training on the department’s vehicles.

Also of importance in that crucial year of 2002 was the appointment of the Lebanon Rescue Department’s first Chief, Samantha Cole, who, in a letter to the community recapping the year 2005, summed up why the department has been so successful:

“Without the 51 [people] that volunteered in 2005, our department would be non-existent. These volunteers have brought our service to being one of the most respected services in the region. When you see a member wearing a Lebanon Rescue shirt, stop them and thank them for their very dedicated service to our community.”