Our History
Northwest EMS was created January 1, 2000, with the merger of the Elizabethtown Fire Company Ambulance and the Northwest Advanced Life Support Unit (NWALSU). The Elizabethtown Fire Co. was organized in 1836 and its ambulance service was started in 1947. This service historically provided basic life support (BLS) services to Elizabethtown and surrounding communities. Meanwhile, NWALSU, through Medic 5, provided advanced life support (ALS) services to this same area beginning in 1980.
On January 1, 2000, Northwest ALSU and the Elizabethtown Fire Department Ambulance joined to form Northwest EMS, which provides both basic and advanced life support to the area. In 2004, Bainbridge and Maytown Ambulances merged with Northwest EMS. Manheim Memorial Ambulance merged with Northwest EMS in 2014, followed by a merger with Brickerville Ambulance in 2016.
Northwest EMS now provides emergency medical service to the entire northwestern portion of Lancaster County (see map) along with areas of southern Lebanon and Dauphin counties. Our administrative offices are in our station at 380 West Bainbridge Street, Elizabethtown. Our other stations are at:
– E. Donegal Twp. municipal building, 186 Rock Point Road, Maytown
– 60 West Colebrook Street, Manheim
– Brickerville Fire Department, 10 Hopeland Road, Lititz.
Basic Life Support is a level of service to stabilize patients for further care at hospitals or doctor’s offices. BLS services are provided by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
Advanced Life Support is a level of service for critical emergencies needing immediate intensive care. Paramedics provide ALS services.