The History of Trumbull EMS
The presently operating Emergency Meidcal Services system in the Town of Trumbull is the realization of a long-standing commitment that began one November night in 1973. On the night before that year's local election, R. Jack Hayman met the candidate for First Selectman, James A. Butler, at a campaign coffee hour. Mr. Hayman, a former resident of New Jersey, were emergency serivces such as Trumbull's have been successfully operating for quite some time, asked Mr. Butler, also a former Jerseyite and familiar with the EMS concept, about the possibility of such a service for Trumbull. Mr. Butler had also entertained such thoughts and contacted Mr. Hayman directly after the election.
On June 10th, 1974, Mr. Butler appointed Mr. Hayman to the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council as Trumbull's representative. This council was created in response to a newly enacted Statue Statute regarding emergency medical services in Connecticut. At that time, it was Trumbull's intent to become a part of a planned regional system. As things progressed, it was felt that a local effort could begin much more quickly, and the machinery was put in motion to formally establish a local commission.
On August 4th, 1975, the Trumbull Town Council enacted legislation which created the Trumbull Emergency Medical Services Commission. The Commission was given the authority to :
- ...train, instruct, and provide a location for sufficient personnel in order to properly maintain an emergency medical services delivery system for the Town of Trumbull and further have the authority to design and develop an EMS system.
- The Commission shall be charged with the exclusive control, management, and administration of all public emergency medical services within the Town of Trumbull.
In Agust, 1975, First Selectman Butler appointed seven members to serve on the Commission. In addition to Mr. Hayman, the members were Dr. Ramona B yard; Mr. Douglas Doyle; Mrs. Julia Jones; Mr. Paul Kurtz; Mr. Robert Pescatore; and Dr. Edwin Rogalewski. Except for Mrs. Jones, who has moved from Trumbull, each of the original Commissioners remains. A sum of $500 was appropriated be the Board of Finanace to cover the clerical costs for the Commission. The Commission met for its first offical meeting ono August 21. At that meeting, Jack Hayman was elected Chairman. It was agreed that the aim of the service would be "to save lives and prevent debilitating injuries..."
Discussion began fromo that first meeting as to whether of not the program would be staffed by volunteers or paid workers. Although the possibilities of establishing a fully-paid system of a call-paid system were researched, it was decided that the concept of an all-volunteer service would be persued. It was also decided that it would be the goal of the program to provide a 24-hour service with on-duty responders and on-call responders assigned to districts in town so that dispatch to any location in town could occur within three minutes.