The Westbrook Rescue and First Aid Association was established on April 2, 1969. Frank Donahue and James Farrell are considered the founding members and are the only individuals to hold this title. The first ambulance was a used van from Sears Roebuck Co. The members converted the low-top van into a completely stocked ambulance, and it was stationed in the old Public Works garage on Stevens Avenue. The old building also served as the group’s office, meeting/training room and sleeping quarters.

Donahue and Farrell both felt strongly that a larger vehicle was needed and they used their home as collateral to purchase a new Ford van from Casco Bay Motors. In 1976 the city purchased the former Warren Congregational Church Parish House to be remodeled into a police station and at this time an addition was built onto the building to serve as new quarters for the Westbrook Rescue. In June 1977, the new police station and rescue quarters were dedicated.

From 1969 to 1984, the Westbrook Rescue was totally volunteer. It was in 1984 that a paid tech program was initiated to provide advanced life support coverage 24 hours a day. This was done because the volume of calls had risen to a point where it was becoming difficult to staff one ambulance, let alone two ambulances.

In 1986, to handle the increased administrative demands due to the increased call volume, the city hired a full-time EMS director, Ron Jones, a paramedic formerly of MedCu from Portland. Jones brought many great changes to the Rescue, such as updated equipment, better training and newer ambulances that were larger, better equipped and provided more protection and visibility.

For many years, the Rescue depended on donations to purchase new equipment and supplies. In fiscal year 1990, the city started billing for Rescue responses and this put a major dent in the amount of donations Rescue received. All revenue the city gets from Rescue billing went into the General Account rather than back toward Rescue needs.

Over the years the demand for more certified training has required the city to hire more full-time and per-diem personnel, and the volunteer rescue is a thing of the past. The volunteer members of the Westbrook Rescue Unit who served over the years were dedicated people that made many personal sacrifices to provide the citizens of Westbrook much-needed medical services and they should not be forgotten. The Westbrook Historical Society has a display honoring these dedicated people.

– Mike Sanphy