Saturday, November 17, 1979, marks the day that Baldwin Emergency Medical Services responded to the first medical emergency call for help as an incorporated ambulance service serving the needs of the Borough of Baldwin. However, for three long years, several Borough volunteer firefighters who were already trained as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) worked collaboratively to convince Borough Council that the responsibility of transporting sick and injured residents to the hospital that to this point was provided by Police Department needed to be shifted to the proposed NEW ambulance service. Council members who questioned whether or not a volunteer group would be capable of providing ambulance services raised many concerns. Thanks to the persistence and vision of five founding ambulance service members and the support of Borough Council, in particular, the efforts of late Councilman Joseph Kudrav that Baldwin EMS was incorporated and exists today.

Baldwin EMS has thrived the last twenty years developing and maintaining a reputation as a leader in the delivery of emergency medical services. Baldwin EMS initially operated a single ambulance from within the Borough Building located on Churchview Avenue. Baldwin EMS answered over 1,500 calls for EMS before adding a second ambulance to answer the demands of the community. In 1981 Baldwin EMS received the Volunteer Ambulance Service Certification (VASC) recognition designation from the Department Of Health. This was the first official state standard established for ambulance equipment requirements. In 1984, the EMS call volume had continued to expand and with that the need for a third ambulance. This third ambulance was the first modular-type ambulance owned by the service. This state-of-the-art ambulance provided a box-like mounted patient compartment unlike the van-style ambulances. This larger ambulance provided more room to treat patients and also had outside compartments to accommodate current and future equipment.

Over the next two years, the ambulance resources were serving the needs of the community but the EMS Board of Directors wanted to improve response times and increase the Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Paramedic services available to serve the community. The addition of two 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity sedans provided Baldwin EMS with the means of accomplishing this goal. These two emergency vehicles were equipped with medical supplies and staffed by Paramedics. These individuals would commit to a shift and compliment the on-duty ambulance crews. This effort to ensure that ALS coverage was available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week was the first to occur among the volunteer ambulance services in the area.

Baldwin EMS had outgrown the facilities available at the Borough Building and had identified the need to hire a full-time paramedic to manage daily operations and to supply ALS care when a void occurred in the volunteer schedule. In 1987 the Board of Directors hired an individual who met the requirements and needs of the service. The search then began to identify a new base of operations for EMS. With the cooperation of Borough Council, Baldwin EMS found a new home at One Leech Drive. The existing building at this site was the closed “Off the Wall Racquetball” Health and Fitness Club. This new central location provides not only adequate housing for the fleet of nine vehicles but also administrative offices and training and fitness facilities.

In 1999, Baldwin EMS celebrated its 20^th year of service to the Borough of Baldwin. The year 1999 will also be remembered as a year of change. On May 17, 1999, Pleasant Hills Borough Council designated Baldwin EMS as the sole provider of EMS for the Borough of Pleasant Hills. Services began September 1, 1999 with a crew assigned to the Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company Station 2, located along Route 51. In addition to emergency response to both communities, Baldwin EMS continues to fulfill a commitment to provide ongoing health and safety programs for all residents.

Baldwin EMS is committed to medically directed rescue services. Starting with a small light duty vehicle, EMS personnel began providing rescue services for victims of all types of emergencies. In 2001, a replacement medium duty vehicle, identified as Rescue 50 was placed into service. All personnel are trained at various rescue skill levels and the vehicle is currently equipped and licensed by the Department of Health as a Advanced Rescue Vehicle.

As Baldwin EMS embarked beyond the twenty-year mark, many new challenges laid ahead. EMS Funding and Reimbursement as well as staff recruitment and retention are among the most significant. Contemporary EMS Systems were created to meet the immediate needs of the acutely ill and injured and to provide "stabilization and transportation". In general, present day EMS meets these objectives in relative isolation from other health care and community based resources. Baldwin EMS recognizes the need to work closely with other EMS agencies and hospital resources in order to monitor and explore funding streams while maintaining all services currently provided to our residents. A volunteer career mentoring/development program provides students an opportunity to examine EMS in-action as they consider the health field as a career. In addition, recruiting and retaining highly trained EMT's and Paramedic employees is a continued priority for the leadership of Baldwin EMS

Baldwin EMS celebrates 25 years of serving the community during 2004 and responds to over 5,000 emergency calls annually. The service will maintain the vision and commitment that the ideal EMS Delivery System must be built on a preparedness-based model that goes beyond just treating and transporting patients. Instead, a system that protects and serves the community health and safety issues in addition to responding to emergency needs. This philosophy of being the community “safety net” is the responsibility of Baldwin EMS. The career personnel of Baldwin EMS work very hard each day to respond quickly, caringly and professionally to the needs of you and the other residents who place their lives in our hands.