Rescue Inc Opens VEMSA – Vermont EMS Academy

RESCUE INC. OPENS VEMSA, VERMONT EMS ACADEMY 

Brattleboro – Rescue Inc. is proud to announce the opening of VEMSA, Vermont EMS Academy, to bring state-of-the-art emergency medical training to Southern Vermont and the surrounding region. The facility is on Route 30 in Newfane, Vermont, just minutes off I-91. VEMSA will be opening this fall with an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and AHA (American Heart Association) classes and many other courses soon to follow. 

“It’s both a natural progression and a dream realized for Rescue Inc,” said Drew Hazelton, Rescue Inc’s chief of operations, “We’ve always wanted to create a place where doctors, nurses, teachers, and first responders can hone and broaden their skills.” VEMSA will focus on the latest in emergency medical techniques for all skill levels. “We will offer CPR courses, for instance, to high school students and teachers while also providing instruction to practicing medical professionals,” said Hazelton.  

The school will be doing a “soft launch” starting this September with EMT and Advanced EMT coursework that can prepare individuals for certification. Marc Schauber, a former paramedic himself, has been chosen to be the Academy’s director. “I’ve been working in and around the emergency medical field for decades and the timing for this school couldn’t be better,” said Schauber, “Many rural communities in Vermont and around the region rely on their local emergency medical responders but there’s a dearth of qualified individuals and training opportunities. With many communities being an hour or more from the nearest hospital, the quality of care that individuals can receive on the scene and enroute is literally a matter of life and death.”  

The funding to start VEMSA came from federal money that flowed into states in order to respond to the Covid pandemic. Rescue Inc. played a large role in Vermont’s nation-leading vaccination response as they traveled throughout the state meeting with and vaccinating those who couldn’t leave their homes due to medical issues. “We have a large staff of amazing professionals who were able to reach all the people in Windham County who needed to be vaccinated within a couple of weeks,” said Hazelton, “We completed Windham County so quickly that the state asked us to do the home visits and clinics for Windsor, then Bennington, and then on and on.” Having been the vaccine providers for so many Vermonters, Rescue Inc. received a surprising influx of federal dollars. “We knew it was a one-time thing and not the ‘new normal’ so we discussed how we could use those funds to serve the health needs of our communities—the Academy was a clear choice.” 

Rescue Inc. has been recognized at the state and federal level for its excellence and this translates directly to VEMSA as well. “When it comes to emergency medical training, experience counts,” said Schauber, “Our faculty will include some of Rescue’s own staff as well as pulling teacher-practitioners from around the nation.” The Academy is opening its doors in the coming months for initial classes with the goal of being fully open later in the fall. To learn more, go to vemsa.org. 

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Founded in 1966 by a small group of dedicated volunteer EMT’s in Brattleboro, Vermont, Rescue Inc.. has evolved into a leader in the field of rural emergency medicine. Rescue was among the first EMS agencies in the nation to offer paramedic level care and now services 12 towns in southern Vermont and 2 in southern New Hampshire withtheir large staff, including Board Certified Critical Care Paramedics.