OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad’s Annual Appeal is under way.
This year, funds generated from the Annual Appeal will be used to provide training and equipment for its members to “better serve you when you have a medical emergency.”
The squad’s Annual Appeal letter has been mailed to residents in Ogdensburg.
Last year’s appeal allowed the rescue squad to purchase a LUCAS CPR device that is now in service.
“This device is like adding an additional person to the crew during a cardiac arrest call, freeing up our personnel to perform other time essential medical tasks,” the letter states, “While we didn’t quite reach our financial goal, your donations sill provided enough support to allow us to make purchase. We are extremely grateful for your continued support, both financial and moral, that allows us to provide some of the best EMS service in the North Country.”
In 2023, the Ogdensburg rescue squad responded to 2,987 calls that ranged from medical calls, stand-by’s, fire calls, accidents, transports and others, up from 2022 when they responded to 2,664 calls.
Out of those calls, a total of 1,630 were located within the City of Ogdensburg.
The OVRS receives the majority of its revenues from service billings and transports.
“The OVRS responds to all calls for emergency medical service regardless of the ability of the patient to pay. The vast majority of our operating income comes from billing our patient’s insurance for care and transportation. The cost of providing service, including staff, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, personal protection equipment and nearly every other operating expense continues to increase each year,” the letter stated.
This year’s Annual Appeal will assist in providing training required for paid and volunteer staff as well as to replenish the squad’s capital expense funds which are used to purchase new as well as to repair and upgrade existing equipment.
“To make this a reality, we are setting a goal of raising $20,000 this year,” the letter states, “To make this a reality, and improve the level of patient care offered by the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and our EMS patient care providers, we are humbly asking you to donate as generously as possible to our 2024 appeal.”
To make a donation to the Annual Appeal, send a check to “2024 Annual Appeal,” Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 172, Ogdensburg, N.Y. 13669. Donations can also be made by PayPal.
The Ogdensburg rescue squad is also offering a memorial brick option for donations of $100. An entryway brick to the rescue squad costs $650. Contact the Ogdensburg rescue squad for more information on these options to help the volunteer organization.
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