Deerfield Valley Rescue utilizes several means of communication to aid us in our job of providing Emergency Medical care.  At our disposal we have the means of using sophisticated radio systems that enable us to not only talk amongst ourselves within the Deerfield Valley, but allows us to talk within our mutual aid system and in some cases state wide.  DVR's units also carry cell phones for their use when our trucks are on the road, and we also utilize our normal phone system in homes, to talk to Medical Control for medication orders or advise or to notify Doctors offices or whomever else becomes involved during our calls.

DISPATCH-  DVR is dispatched through Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid in Keene New Hampshire.  Mutual Aid provides Fire/Rescue/EMS dispatching services for 78 towns in New Hampshire and Vermont.  Signals are sent from the Dispatch Center located at 34 Vernon St. in Keene to several towers via microwaves and antennas to dispatch the services as needed.  While the distance from Wilmington to Keene New Hampshire seems rather great (35+ miles), the communications happen as though the dispatch center is located right in Wilmington.  This is done via towers on Chimney Hill in Wilmington, Mount Snow in West Dover and Collins Rd. in Halifax to effectively distribute the information to the whole Deerfield Valley.  Most calls are received via 911, so the Vermont 911 PSAP (Public Service Answering Point) distributes the caller to the appropriate dispatch center.  During this process, information regarding the address, phone number and other information is confirmed.  If the call is medical related, 911 will actually give the caller First Aid/Medical instructions to utilize until the ambulance arrives.  The dispatchers at Mutual Aid also have this capability as well.  Most dispatchers within Mutual Aid serve or have served at one time as a member of a Fire Department, Ambulance Service or Police Departments.  Once the call is received by Mutual Aid, the proper agency is notified by Mutual Aid via pagers that each member of every organization carries.  Communication from units in the field are transmitted via portable radios and mobile radios.  Listen to our dispatch via KMA's live audio.  Due to the fact that we operate on a frequency different then the dispatch frequency you will only hear our initial tones.

Paging-  All of DVR's members carry pagers for receipt of the calls.  At the present time, we utilize Motorola Minitor 2,3,4 and 5's.

 

Portable/Mobile radios-   DVR utilizes portable radios as well as mobile radios in the ambulances to communicate with dispatch, other members and other Police/Fire/EMS agencies throughout Southern Vermont.

 

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