Stratford Emergency Medical Service: providing high quality patient care and safe emergency transportation to the sick and injured. The Stratford Emergency Medical Service (SEMS) was established in December of 1977 by the Town of Stratford (Connecticut) to provide high quality, emergency medical services. SEMS provides coverage 24/7/365, primarily within the 19.9 sq miles that makeup the Town. The Town has a population of 51,384 (Apr 2010). SEMS responds to approximately 8500 calls per year. Stratford has one of the longest coastlines and largest forests in Connecticut. It also has two airports (1 fixed, 1 rotor wing), two major highways and Metro North rail coming through the south end of town. There is 1 skilled nursing facility and an assisted living center in town. This beautiful and diverse geography gave rise to Stratford’s motto, “Offering More from Forest to Shore”. The guiding principle of the organization is to "provide high quality patient care and safe emergency transportation to the sick and injured". SEMS is an innovator in the field of EMS. SEMS was one of the first services in the nation to adopt and use the life saving semi-automatic external defibrillators, serving as the pilot site for the State of Connecticut in 1986. In 1987, SEMS established it’s “Special Operations Division (SOD) to provide services during mass casualty incidences. In 1996, SEMS became the first volunteer paramedic service in New England. We continue to provide volunteer paramedic level, advanced life support care today. In 1997, SEMS established one of the nation’s first medical bike units. In 2005 SEMS was named the EMS Service of the Year by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and in 2007 received the Governors Award for EMS. In 2015, SEMS and it’s staff received 5 awards for performance including the AHA's Mission Lifeline Silver Award and again, the Governors Award for an EMS.