WVAS owns and operates three ambulances which are equipped to offer both basic and advanced life support services.

Basic Life Support
Basic Life Support (BLS) services are provided by Emergency Medical Technicans (EMTs). These providers are trained to independently handle calls for assistance for illness and injury not requiring intensive care or medication. This training is about 120 hours in length. Only 10% of our calls are dispatched at this level (about 120 to 150 a year).

Advanced Life Support
These services are the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care available. All ALS calls are attended by at least one Paramedic. Typical ALS calls are for cardiac or respiratory emergencies such as chest pain, heart attack, trouble breathing, or cardiac arrest, as well as allergic reactions, traumatic injury, and any other call requiring intensive care. Advanced Life Support skills can include the establishment of a IV line, administration of medications, defibrillation, and other necessary techniques. Paramedics always coordinate your care in consultation with a physician at a medical control hospital, (usually Washington County Hospital).

About 90% of our calls are dispatched as ALS (about 1100 to 1200 a year).