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Purpose
The Oxford Ambulance Association was organized by its members and the
townspeople to provide responsive, friendly service and transportation to a
treatment facility. The organization's purpose is:
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To acquire, equip, house, maintain and operate one or more motor ambulances for
the Town of Oxford, without profit, subject to law and lawful regulations.
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To provide the residents of the Town of Oxford with non-profit transportation
within its sole discretion for anyone sick, injured, or disabled, between the
Town of Oxford and various facilities convenient to the Town of Oxford.
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To provide non-profit ambulance service and ambulance transportation within its
sole discretion for anyone sick, injured, or disabled, within the Town of
Oxford, to various institutions, hospitals and other places convenient to the
Town of Oxford.
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In case of emergency or disaster outside the town limits of Oxford, to provide
ambulance transportation, solely within its discretion, to such persons as may
be sick, injured, or disabled, to such hospitals, institutions and other places
convenient to the place of emergency.
Organization
Oxford Ambulance Association (OAA) was established on November 9, 1954. A
devoted few put everything in their lives on hold to begin the task of meeting
the town's growing need for medical care. Local businessmen, firemen,
housewives, teachers, citizens, and the community as a whole pulled together to
provide the Town of Oxford with community-based Emergency Medical Services.
OAA began its service with a used hearse-style ambulance that was donated by our
neighboring town of Beacon Falls. The ambulance was housed in the old Center
Fire House located on route 67. Oxford Ambulance evolved as times began to
change and the need for more advanced emergency medical services grew. In the
early 1970's, OAA added a second vehicle to its service anticipating the town's
growing needs. Over the next twenty years, OAA participated in the greatly
advancing field of emergency medicine, adding new equipment and leading edge
pre-hospital care to the citizens of Oxford.
In the early 1990's, OAA began its separation from the Oxford Fire Department.
OAA and Oxford Fire Department, recognizing the need for the organizations to be
two distinct entities, finalized the separation on July 6, 1994 with a town
ordinance revision.
With equipment and training costs on the rise in the 1990's, OAA was forced to
look to the town that it has served so well for increased support. The town
agreed to assist the ambulance corps with additional funding for equipment, and
also assisted in the purchase of a new ambulance. In January of 1999, OAA began
to research the possibility of billing for service, anticipating the need for
paid staffing in the immediate future. After over a year of research, OAA and
the town agreed that there was a need for additional funding. In an attempt to
avoid costs being borne by our townspeople, OAA began billing for service in the
late spring of 2000.
Historically throughout the existence of OAA, daytime coverage and
administrative tasks have always been an issue. Our dedicated members fulfilled
these obligations, many times putting their families, jobs, and lives on hold to
help a fellow neighbor. OAA members serve the community on a daily basis and go
above and beyond the basic requirements of an ambulance organization. They
provide, among other things, public safety programs, CPR training, first-aid
training, and senior citizen programs. As the town continues to grow and change,
so does OAA.
Which brings us to today. In an attempt to better serve our neighbors and
community as a whole, OAA is again coming to the town that it has served without
interruption or question for the past 46 years. OAA is a community organization
which has historically been proven dedicated to the town of Oxford, and wishes
to continue to serve its fellow neighbors.
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