Server: Netscape-Communications/1.1 Date: Friday, 19-Dec-97 20:33:25 GMT Last-modified: Friday, 07-Nov-97 20:52:54 GMT Content-length: 10273 Content-type: text/html
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CVS/SAMARITAN VANS
EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES AND MORE CVS/Samaritan Vans are "emergency response vehicles," patrolling some of the major highways of Boston and Springfield (Mass.), Providence, RI, Albany and Westchester County in New York, and Washington, D.C. They roam the major traffic arteries during rush hour in search of disabled or abandoned vehicles and motorists in need. The drivers -- trained mechanics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and crisis counselors rolled into one -- can make minor on-site repairs (flat tires, broken fan belts, frozen gas lines, dead batteries, and more), administer medical help, calm a tense situation, or use their communications equipment to summon the state police or tow trucks. CVS/Samaritans also provide traffic reports and information to their radio and TV station partners and help remove road debris, from tractor-trailer tire caps to a spilled load of cantaloupes. In 1995, the 12 CVS/Samaritan Vans traveled nearly 442,000 "help miles" and made contact with 50,000 motorists. In the process, they've seen just about everything -- dozens of car fires, hundreds of accidents and thousands of abandoned vehicles, plenty of road debris, loads of flat tires, even the occasional harried breakdown victim to be transported to a job interview on time. But the Samaritans always lend a helping hand. By policy, CVS/Samaritans never pass a motorist on the side of the road. All repairs and aid -- even parts and gasoline -- are provided free-of-charge, courtesy of CVS. THOROUGH TRAINING The men and women who drive the CVS/Samaritan Vans relish their roles as "highway incident managers". Almost all of them come to the program with EMT certification, vast automotive repair expertise, and a wide array of other relevant experiences including firefighting, teaching and police work. All Samaritans also complete an intensive 30-day training program, which includes instruction in hazardous material response, driver courtesy, emergency response/accident management and traffic reporting, among many other topics. They then spend up to eight weeks out on the road training under a senior Samaritan. Careful preparation aside, sometimes common sense, good judgment and solid instincts are the most important tools in the Samaritans' collection. Often first at the scene of an accident, they must set up an improvised triage system for accident victims, secure the area and perhaps try to cool down hot tempers. Of course, old-fashioned ingenuity doesn't hurt either. They've been known to use everything from pencils to pantyhose to make temporary mechanical repairs. COMMITMENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE "The CVS/Samaritan Van program is all about helping people," says Tom Ryan, CVS president and chief executive officer. That's right in keeping with our company philosophy and our commitment to neighborhood and community service. And it has translated into good business as well." Since 1978, when CVS became the major sponsor of the Samaritan Vans, the company has grown to be the fifth-largest drugstore chain in the country, with more than 1,400 stores and $5.5 billion in sales. Named for the peoples of ancient Samaria, renowned in Biblical stories and parables for their altruistic nature and good deeds, the Samaritan Van program is operated by Samaritania, Inc., of Franklin, Massachusetts.
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