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Most of the Rescue Squads in St. Lawrence County have their origins in their local Fire Department and many of them continue as Fire Department based. Others, like Canton Rescue, grew to become independent organizations.
Sometime in the late 1950’s or early 60’s, a Dies Street mechanic took it upon himself to monitor police calls, put a red light on a station wagon, and begin picking up the sick and injured and taking them to the Canton Hospital. Within a few years, two Canton undertakers were doing the same with their hearses.
The Fire Department began informal ambulance service in May of 1964 when it purchased a 1955 Cadillac hearse, repainted it, labeled it Canton Fire Department, and outfitted it with a red light. It was in service for ten years until it was replaced by a used 1962 Cadillac. Later, a Pontiac station wagon modified with a raised roof and more formal red lights and a siren was put into service. The first true ambulance, a Ford modular cab and chassis like many of today’s, was put in service in the late 1980’s.
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| 1955 Cadillac |
1962 Cadillac |
Pontiac Station Wagon |
Ford Cab & Chassis |
The first trained EMTs were several Fire Department members who took an EMT class in 1964 or 1965. By the late 1970’s the need for advanced life support was recognized and four doctors and sixteen nurses joined the Fire Department to form the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Unit. We were among the first rescue squads in the area to offer advanced life support.
The Canton Fire Corporation was originally certified by New York State as a transporting ambulance service on January 26, 1978, with the Town and Village of Canton as its Primary Operating Territory. The Canton Rescue Squad was incorporated in July of 2003 with the mission "To provide emergency medical and rescue services, to render first aid service in conjunction with the operation of ambulance services; to save life, relieve suffering of the injured and promote safety in all its aspects; to assist in the transporting of the ill, injured and infirm; and to give aid in the times of disaster.” The Fire Department Operating Certificate was transferred to the Rescue Squad. In 2019 the Rescue Squad purchased the R B Lawrence Ambulance service and began offering interfacility transfers.
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