President’s Letter: Fully Staffed
I am pleased to report that Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad is fully staffed. After a period of recruitment and onboarding, we now have the team in place to provide reliable 24/7 paramedic coverage across South County. This is a significant milestone and a testament to the hard work of our operations team.
— Jim Santos, 50-Year Volunteer & President
A Conversation with Dr. Eleanor Ragone
Dr. Eleanor Ragone is an emergency room physician and a paramedic — a rare combination that gives her unique insight into pre-hospital care. “What paramedics do in the field in those first minutes sets the stage for everything that happens in the emergency department,” she told us. “Having paramedic-level care in a rural community like South County is not a luxury. It’s a lifeline.”
Benefit Concert — April 11 at Taggart House
We are excited to announce a benefit concert on April 11, 2026 at 6pm at Taggart House, 18 Main Street, Stockbridge. The event will feature Jordan Weller & The Feathers. Tickets are $100 per person. Space is limited. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite →
Black Bear Training Gets an AED
We are pleased to have donated an Automated External Defibrillator to Black Bear Training in Great Barrington. Black Bear’s facility hosts a large number of community members for fitness training, and having an AED on-site significantly improves outcomes in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.
Last Thoughts: Think Before You Refuse
Our paramedics occasionally respond to calls where a patient declines transport to the hospital. We understand — hospital trips are disruptive and sometimes frightening. But many serious conditions — heart attacks, strokes, internal bleeding — can appear to stabilize briefly before rapidly worsening. If our crew recommends transport, please take that recommendation seriously. We are asking because we believe it matters.
