About Us

Lisbon-Mt. Vernon Ambulance Service

In 1973 a call to action was inspired when a citizen was struck by a car and suffered in the street for 45 minutes before and ambulance arrived. An active group of volunteers was interested in organizing an ambulance service for the Lisbon Mount Vernon Community to ensure timely and high-quality community care was available. A group of dedicated citizens from both towns made plans and recruited people to go door-to-door, town and country alike. The group raised enough donations to buy an ambulance and the Lisbon Mount Vernon Ambulance Service became a reality answering its first call in July of 1974. In 1989 another door-to-door canvas for funds was conducted and in 1990 a new building was erected. The new building at 703 1st Street SE in Mount Vernon was built to house two ambulances and all equipment. The building also included a meeting room, sleeping rooms for out-of-town volunteers, offices, and storage space.

Community volunteers staff the service. Those involved include professional medical personnel as front line providers (Paramedics, EMTs, AEMTs, and RNs) and drivers. Drivers are not required to be medical professionals. The ambulance service, fire departments, and police departments from both towns and the surrounding areas work side-by-side to provide the best emergency service possible.

The Lisbon Mount Vernon Ambulance Service provides emergency medical services over a 150 square mile area, which includes a population of more than 8,000, including approximately 1,000 students of Cornell College. The service operates two fully equipped ambulances and an ALS Equiped SUV and is licensed by the State of Iowa at the Critical Care Level - minimal staffing. We have been in continuous operation since July, 1974, answering around 850 calls annually. 

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