Vehicles                                                                                           Crew           History Of Altavista EMS                                        In May of 1946, The Altavista Life Saving & First Aid Crew Inc. was organized, becoming among one of the first rescue squads organized in the Commonwealth. The only local squads in the immediate region to precede Altavista was Roanoke Life Saving Crew, Lynchburg Life Saving Crew, and Danville Life Saving Crew.      The organization of this squad was largely the brainchild of Dr. James P. Kent Sr., who at the time owned and operated the Piedmont Hospital located on 7th Street in the Town Of Altavista. The early meetings were held in borrowed space in the basement of the Piedmont Hospital with the first vehicles & equipment stored in a shed in the hospital's parking lot.                                                    Vehicles                                                                   Initially the squad was not involved in transporting ill and injured patients. Early efforts of the crew focused on such things as rescue type work. Types of rescue work that were performed include, assisting injured victims in automobile accidents, performing dragging operations to recover bodies of drowning victims in nearby rivers or lakes, and occasionally sitting the night and / or providing oxygen to elderly homebound patients.      The first vehicle used for rescue work was an old laundry van donated by Brendle's Laundry and Dry Cleaners. Patients requiring transport to a hospital were transported by Finch & Finch Funeral Home in a hearse style ambulance.                   Crew Meeting                                                           7th Street & Pennsylvania                                                                                                                                                                                                        As time progressed, The Altavista Life Saving & First Aid Crew Inc., eventually was relocated to a building of its own located at the intersection of 7th Street & Pittsylvania Avenue. During the next couple of decades the squad would become more directly involved in handling all types of injuries and medical emergencies, as well as assuming handling the transportation needs of ill and / or injured patients. By the 1980's, the squad members were required to minimally become certified as Emergency Medical Technicians.                                                                                                            Old Crew Patch's                                                                               In 1982, The Altavista Life Saving & First Aid Crew Inc. was relocated to a new, spacious, modern facility located on North Main Street in Altavista. This facility continues to serve as the location of the squad's headquarters to date. The squad operates a fleet of  5 ambulances, 1 crash truck, 1 logistics vehicle, 2 boats, 1 rapid response vehicle, and 2 administrative use vehicles.      Constant changes and updates directly affected our service prompting the employment by the squad of 2 individuals to handle necessary day-to-day administrative and financial needs.  The agency also employees 4 career staff EMS providers in the day time hours and a career staffed EMS provider for the night time hours. During late 2001, the squad began operating under the name of Altavista EMS. This was done to project a name that better suited the changing times, public expectations, and the continued evolution of emergency medical services. Altavista Ems now handles emergency medical services needs for more than 35,000 citizens living in The Town Of Altavista, The Town Of Hurt, a vast section of Northern Pittsylvania County, much of Southwestern Campbell County, and a small community located in the Southeastern area of Bedford County.       It is the goal of Altavista EMS to meet our call load 100% of the time on our first due calls.