Chatham Emergency Services is making final preparations for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities. Two hundred licensed EMS personnel and command officers, plus approximately 20 additional licensed EMTs who are currently paramedic students, will provide emergency medical coverage and response during the parade and throughout the weekend. 

As of this Friday afternoon, Chatham EMS will begin staffing for additional ambulance coverage and provide ATV paramedic teams for the main festival areas. 

During the parade on Saturday and for additional Saturday night events, they will have 20 ambulances on duty, 4 paramedic EMS teams on ATVs, and 4 paramedic EMS teams on bicycles. They will also have additional management staff in place to support the weekend’s festivities including a dedicated IT/Radio Support Officer, a dedicated dispatcher for the festival area, and six dedicated command staff with access to quick response SUVs and additional ATVs. 

Chatham Emergency Services has also participated in the St. Patrick’s Day parade for many years, debuting a different “theme” ambulance each year in support of a community organization. The last three years have included a pink ambulance for Breast Cancer Awareness, a patriotic American flag ambulance, and last year’s lucky shamrock ambulance. This year’s theme, which will support several beloved local organizations, has not been announced yet but will be a surprise as part of Saturday’s parade. 

In regards to their participation, CEO Chuck Kearns noted, “As a community-minded organization, our team looks forward to participating in the St. Patrick’s Day festivities each year. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate our dedicated first responders while also serving our citizens through first response and medical assistance.”