In the wake of the New Year’s Eve emergency response that drew multiple agencies, ambulances and a medical helicopter to the New Glarus area, many residents were left listening to scanner traffic or reading reports filled with different acronyms and terms. EMR. EMT. ALS. HEMS. Medic. And more.

At the same time, New Glarus has entered a new chapter in emergency medical care, with Belleville EMS now providing ambulance service to the village and Town of New Glarus. Understanding who responds, what level of care they provide, and what those acronyms actually mean can help residents better understand how emergency calls are handled and why certain resources are requested.