Lyme Ambulance Association

06/01/2026

What a great day at Tour de Lyme! ☀️🚴

Lyme EMS volunteers were proud to help support Lyme Land Trust’s annual fundraising event in coordination with Lyme Fire Company.

One of the best parts of the day was connecting with so many neighbors, riders, and volunteers. We enjoyed catching up with participants from our community education classes and talking with visitors who stopped by to learn more about Lyme EMS, volunteering, and the work we do in our community.

Our responders were spread out along the route all day to help ensure the more than 600 riders and volunteers were safe. Heather ready with her jump bag at the Harkness Memorial State Park rest stop, Matt riding with Lyme Fire’s ATV team for access to hard-to-reach areas, and our crew at Grassy Hill ready to respond if needed. Thankfully, there wasn’t much for us to do beyond answering great questions about Lyme EMS and volunteering.

⭐️ Our star patient of the day? Lyme Land Trust’s Executive Director and Event organizer Kristina White, whose minor scrape was quickly handled with a little antiseptic and a Band-Aid. Glad you’re okay, Kristina and thank you for all you do to help preserve and protect the natural spaces that make Lyme so special!

Thank you to the Lyme Land Trust, organizers, volunteers, and riders for another wonderful event. We’re grateful to be part of a community that comes together to support one another. 💙

05/22/2026

It’s National EMS Week! This week recognizes and celebrates the work and dedication of emergency medical services professionals and is the perfect week for our annual awards celebration. 💙

Tuesday evening at Fox Hopyard, we gathered to celebrate and recognize our extraordinary volunteers whose dedication and countless hours make Lyme EMS possible. Along with recognition and gratitude, the evening was also filled with camaraderie and the special bond that comes from being part of our Lyme EMS volunteer family.

Chief Steve Olstein opened the evening by honoring the dedication of our team and reflecting on the deeper meaning behind the work we do. “It’s a calling,” he shared, “about doing good for people.” He also spoke proudly of the many volunteers who continue to step up in different ways to strengthen Lyme EMS - volunteer staff behind the scenes and to our volunteers who stand duty 24/7 ready to answer the call.

Board President George Mooney thanked our volunteers for their extraordinary dedication, sharing, “The fact that you can do all this is just truly amazing, and an example for all of us who live in Lyme.” He also reminded us of the importance of continuing to grow our volunteer team so Lyme EMS can remain strong for the future.

Deputy Chief Ariana Eaton presented awards recognizing volunteers for years of service, hours served and calls responded to throughout the year. The numbers were truly incredible. Together, Lyme EMS volunteers donated well over 20,000 hours of service to the Town of Lyme this year alone! That's the equivalent of ten full-time employees!

⭐️ Ed McCusker volunteered an extraordinary 1,770 hours this past year, averaging 35 hours per week while responding to 199 calls! Even Ed couldn’t believe the numbers!
⭐️ Jason Howell averaged 31 volunteer hours per week while responding to 62 calls.
⭐️ Chief Steve Olstein averaged 26 volunteer hours per week while responding to 61 calls.
⭐️ Dan Labriola also responded to 61 calls this year.

We were also proud to congratulate our youngest responder, Matt Cavallo (16), on officially becoming an EMT (shown with Missy Cotter, our Training Officer) and to welcome our soon-to-be newest member, Susan Norton, who is nearing completion of her EMT training.

Dan wrapped up our celebration with a shout out to all our volunteers, wishing everyone a Happy EMS Week!

To every volunteer, support member, family member, and community supporter: THANK YOU! Your dedication, encouragement, and service continue to build a stronger, safer Lyme together.

05/19/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to be part of a community that continues to step forward for one another. From attending classes to volunteering, hosting and sharing information, every effort helps build a stronger, safer Lyme. 💙

We were thrilled to catch up with Patty, First Mate on Seldon III, Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, who helped spread the word about our Community Education Series. Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who continues to share our classes, encourage friends and neighbors to attend and help keep this series growing strong.

Here are a few photos from our recent Hands-Only CPR class at Lyme Public Hall. Another big thank you to Lyme Public Hall for hosting a full class!

Up Next:
📍 June 13 - First Aid
10AM | Location TBD

📍 June 17 - Thrive at 65 and Beyond
1 PM | Lymes’ Senior Center, Old Lyme
Helpful tips for all!
Register online, link in bio

Interested in hosting a class or arranging a private training?
Call Ariana: 860.434.7225

Stay connected! Upcoming classes are announced through our email list, website and social media.

Where have you spotted Lyme EMS lately?

05/15/2026

Tick season is here and this year is already shaping up to be an especially active one across Connecticut.

The good news: a few simple habits before and after spending time outdoors can greatly reduce your risk.

In this post:
✔ Easy prevention tips
✔ What to do after outdoor activity
✔ What to do if you find a tick
✔ Information about FREE tick testing for Connecticut residents
Tiny nymph ticks active now through mid-summer cause most Lyme disease cases because they can be difficult to spot. Daily tick checks remain one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family.

More info and tick submission form: lymeambulance.org/news-2020/

💙 Stay safe and enjoy the outdoors.

05/11/2026

⭐️New Date - June 17
Join Lyme EMS for a fun, interactive workshop focused on healthy aging at home, independence and practical everyday wellness. You’ll leave with simple ideas, helpful resources and easy tips you can use right away.

Discover:
✔️ Easy home safety updates that make everyday living easier
✔️ Tips for staying active, independent, and confident
✔️ Community resources and caregiver support
✔️ Ways to stay social, engaged, and connected
✔️ Simple strategies to help you thrive at home
…and more!

Perfect for EVERYONE!
• Adults 65+
• Family members
• Caregivers
• Anyone planning ahead for themselves or a loved one

Come learn, connect, ask questions and leave with helpful tools to support healthy aging at every stage.
Getting older should mean living confidently, staying connected and continuing to enjoy the things you love.

REGISTER TODAY
LymeEMS.org
860-434-7225

How to Thrive at 65 & Beyond
FREE Community Workshop • Wednesday, June 10 at 1pm
Lymes’ Senior Center
Town Woods Road
Old Lyme, CT

05/04/2026

We’re feeling especially grateful to live and serve in a town where people truly show up for one another... and where we can enjoy the beautiful land around us with peace of mind knowing help is never far away.

Volunteers from Lyme EMS were proud to stand alongside our partners at the Lyme Fire Company in supporting the second annual Mount Archer Trail Race this weekend. Together, we provided coverage along the course to ensure runners had care close by if they needed it.

Moments like these reflect how we work together every day coordinating closely, supporting one another, and showing up for our community when it matters most.

The race winds through some of Lyme’s most stunning preserved land, cared for and protected by the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy and the Lyme Land Trust. It’s a reminder of how deeply this community values its natural spaces.

From volunteer responders to conservation stewards, Lyme is a place where people give their time, care for their neighbors and work together to protect what matters today and for our future.

Thank you to the organizers and runners for supporting Lyme Fire Co. and Lyme EMS, we’re grateful to be part of a community that shows up for one another. 💙

📷 :
Lyme EMS ( ) Volunteers (L to R): Heather B. (EMT), Bill Prentice (EMT in Training), Missy Cotter (EMT), Ray Fusco (EMT), Matt Cavallo (EMT), Geoff Liggett (EMR) and Steve Olstein (Chief of Service)

Lyme Fire Company Volunteers (L to R): Archer Evans (Capt. Hadlyme Station), Sam Adams (Deputy Chief), Edward Vidou (Assistant Chief Hamburg Station), John Evans (Chief), Chase Reneson (Capt. Hadlyme Station), and Firefighters Kevin Davidson and Jack Holzworth

Partnership has its perks, we caught Matt getting to a patient on the trail with Lyme Fire’s UTV - a great vehicle for those hard‑to‑access spots Lyme, CT is known for.

#2026 USATF‑CTMUT Grand Prix

05/03/2026

Beautiful morning for an 8am trail run.🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Proud to volunteer alongside Lyme Fire Company supporting the Mount Archer Trail Race. Great teamwork, strong community spirit and a safe event all around. 💙 Thank you to the organizers for supporting Lyme EMS & Lyme Fire Company, and to everyone who showed up to run and support us.

04/29/2026

💙

We are thrilled to see Lyme’s next generation in action!

Here you see Matt and Keely well into their training with Lyme EMS.

By their side (not pictured) is Lead EMT Heidi Bill, supervising patient care and supporting our responders.

Training, skill and support, working together in every moment.

Interested in being part of it? 💙
More trained hands = a stronger, safer Lyme.

Learn more at LymeEMS.org

04/27/2026

We are thrilled to see Lyme’s next generation in action!

Here you see Matt and Keely well into their training with Lyme EMS.

By their side (not pictured) is Lead EMT Heidi Bill, supervising patient care and supporting our responders.

Training, skill and support, working together in every moment.

Interested in being part of it? 💙
More trained hands = a stronger, safer Lyme.

Learn more at LymeEMS.org

04/23/2026

🫶 Meet Your Responder: Missy Cotter

Finance professional, animal advocate, outdoor enthusiast—and a dedicated volunteer EMT with Lyme EMS.

Before calling Lyme home, Missy spent most of her career on Wall Street, working for NASDAQ and other financial firms in NYC and New Jersey. September 11, 2001, became a turning point when she witnessed firsthand the attacks on the Twin Towers. Surviving that morning led her to make a promise—to give back and do good for others whenever she could.

That promise led her to Emergency Medical Services.

❝ I didn’t come from a medical background, just a desire to help. Being there for someone when it matters most is an incredible privilege. ❞

Missy has now been an EMT for 19 years and has never once regretted the decision. In June 2023, she joined Lyme EMS as a volunteer EMT and later served as Training Officer.

By day, Missy works at Essex Financial Services, partnering with leadership to manage properties and coordinate employee and client events. Outside of work and EMS, she’s deeply involved in animal rescue, volunteering at Ray of Light Farm in East Haddam, where she mentors veterans and individuals with developmental disabilities and helps with weekly evening feedings. She also serves on the board of the Community Foundation of Middlesex County.

When she finds the time, Missy enjoys skiing, snowmobiling, motorcycling, kayaking, golfing, gardening, and working with the horses at the farm.

👉 Thank you, Missy, for turning a promise into a lifetime of service and for always showing up for our community. 💙

Lyme EMS volunteers are everyday people, just like Missy. If you’ve ever felt the call to give back, you don’t need medical experience—just heart.

📞 Contact Deputy Chief Ariana Eaton: 860-434-7225
📧 [email protected]