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Rittman EMS was established in 1981 to provide emergency medical service to the City of Rittman. Prior to that
time, Gillman Funeral Home provided ambulance service to the City. In 1980 Gillman's notified the City that they
would be phasing out ambulance service. At that time, the City leaders studied various options for providing this service
to the community; and it was determined that a "third service" emergency medical provider system was the best option.
A "third service" department is one that is operated by the municipality, but not affilliated with the fire department;
a stand-alone department with its own organizational structure.
Chief Ed Bowen was hired to implement the service. Under his leadership and vision, the department became a Paramedic
level service; the first Paramedic service in Wayne County. The members of Rittman EMS set up headquarters in a garage
located behind City Hall. They also boasted some of the most modern equipment of the era: van-style ambulances,
LifePack 500 cardiac monitor/defibrillators, and Minitor I radio pagers.
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