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In 1944, residents of Narberth Borough decided to provide routine transportation for those involved in the war from the ports of Philadelphia. Incorporated as the Volunteer Medical service Corps of Narberth, their main goal was to provide first aid care and to do non emergency transports. As times changed, and emergency medical services grew, VMSC quickly became the provider of emergency medical services not only to Narberth Borough but to all of Lower Merion Township. By 1981, paramedics were incorporated into the organization, and Advanced Life Support service was now available for emergencies. In 1990's, the squad outgrew its headquarters in Narberth Borough. A successful capital campaign was initiated, resulting in the funds to move into its current headquarters in Ardmore, a central location in the township. In 1999, Pleasant Valley Ambulance was integrated into VMSC, providing ALS services into Conshohocken & West Conshohocken. This integration also helped reduce response times to the western end of Lower Merion Township and the Schuylkill Expressway. With the integration of Pleasant Valley Ambulance, a basic life support unit, VMSC was able to bring advanced life support services based in the Conshohocken & West Conshohocken area for the first time. In 2001, the next step for VMSC was teaming up with the Radnor Fire Company was to provide medic responder services to the citizens of Radnor Township. This unit, stationed at the Bryn Mawr Hospital for quick response to the eastern end of Radnor Township and the western end of Lower Merion Township. In addition, this unit is the primary ALS responder to Villanova University with VEMS, Villanova Emergency Medical Services, a BLS unit. VMSC is an organization built on the countless hours of work from its volunteers and career staff, working together for sixty years. Growing from one station with 2 ambulances into an EMS service incorporating 3 stations, 7 ambulances & 2 responder vehicles, VMSC now responds to over 7000 calls a year. Today, the staff includes 30 full time employees and over 70 volunteers, continuing to give time & service to the residents of Lower Merion, Narberth, Conshohocken, West Conshohocken, & Radnor.
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