Canaan Ambulance

Canaan F.A.S.T., Inc was incorporated as an all volunteer ambulance in 1976. The purpose of the corporation has been to provide emergency medical care for the citizens of Canaan and, by mutual aid agreements, the surrounding towns. The operating budget has consisted of donations from the towns it covers and from private individuals. In 2005 the Incorporation began “Soft Billing” as a means of financing the increasing costs of operations and transferring some of the fiscal responsibility to the specific individuals being served. This, along with the continued donations from the towns being served and the squads fund raising efforts, enabled the service to improve the vehicles and equipment provided to the community.

As F.A.S.T. entered an increased usage phase,it became necessary to employ one full-time EMT and one on-call EMT for daytime coverage. The remainding operating hours are covered with volunteers who receive a stipend when it becomes necessary to transport the ill or injured individual to a medical facility to receive emergency care. Members do not receive financial incentive or reimbursement for the majority of the continuing education hours mandated by the State of New Hampshire and the National Registry of Emergency Technicians. Thus the members are to be commended for their many hours of dedication to the community. 

In 2019, Canaan F.A.S.T., Inc transferred the assets of the non-profit to the Town of Canaan, which set up the quasi-independent Canaan Emergency Medical Services department. CEMS is managed by an elected Chief of Service and associated assistants. The budget is now nearly $400,000 a year with about 43% coming from the four cooperating towns of Dorchester, Orange, Grafton and Canaan. About 34% comes from insurance reimbursements, 9% from contracted services for public events and 14% from donations.

There are 26 EMTs, AEMTs and Paramedics. Coverage is scheduled 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Emergency Medical Service has 3 ambulances to serve the communities. The Service receives about $125,000 in tax funding from the Town of Canaan, is technically part of Town government, has payroll through the Town payroll system, is accounted for as a Town department and is audited annually. The actual day-to-day operation is under the supervision of the Chief of Service and the Operations Director. There is still only 1 full time employee with the rest being volunteers who receive a nominal stipend.

Our ambulances are being properly decontaminated after calls. We are doing what we can to make our community safe.