In order to provide expanded care to the communities it serves, which includes a large portion of southeastern Lancaster County, as well as parts of western Chester County, the Christiana Community Ambulance Association (CCAA) now offers Advanced Life Support (ALS).

CCAA has been providing Basic Life Support (BLS) service since it was founded in 1989. In 2024, it advanced to intermediate ambulance service; in January, the company launched ALS by adding paramedics to its staff.

"We have been BLS since we started," explained Ben Scheffel, CCAA president. "We upgraded to intermediate after a donation from one of the seven municipalities that we serve through an ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grant, (which allowed us) to buy some equipment and run intermediate. We have gotten a lot of requests for us to continue growing into an ALS provider - the highest level of care - which is paramedics."

As an ALS provider, CCAA had to purchase additional vehicles to transport paramedics to emergency calls. "We purchased two chase vehicles. These are Ford Explorers with lights and sirens," Scheffel explained. "If a call goes into 911, and a person explains what is happening and if it sounds like they need a paramedic, they respond. They would dispatch a BLS unit and a paramedic. Oftentimes, the paramedic will jump into the ambulance with the BLS if a higher level of care is required."

CCAA chief Corey Gossert explained that emergencies are categorized into classes, with Class 1 referring to immediate life-threatening emergencies. An example of a Class 2 emergency may be a broken bone, and Class 3 would be a serious condition but not immediately life threatening.

Paramedics are allowed to administer medication, start IV lines and treat cardiac conditions, since they are able to read EKGs and administer defibrillation. "Class 1 would be ALS for someone with chest pains or a cardiac emergency," noted Gossert.

"We still have the BLS. The bulk of our classes are still Class 2 and 3 (emergencies)," Scheffel added.

Both men noted that the advancement to ALS provides faster response times. "We are in an area where we are between Lancaster and Chester counties. For an ALS provider ... it would take 18 minutes to Atglen or Christiana (or surrounding areas). We are right there; we are within four minutes," said Gossert, noting that neighboring municipalities supported the advancement to offering ALS. "We met with each municipality and told them what we were doing, and ... they were willing to support us."

"Response time was big piece of it," added Scheffel. "We are providing Advanced Life Support for the first time in Christiana history."

CCAA, located at 55 Pine Creek Drive, Gap, is a nonprofit organization that serves Christiana and Atglen as well as Salisbury, Sadsbury, Bart, West Fallowfield and Colerain townships. In 2025, the company responded to 1,399 calls, an increase from 2024, when there were 1,302 calls. In 2023, there were 1,211 calls. "It keeps going up," Gossert added.

CCAA members also take part in fire camp offered by the Christiana Fire Department, offer CPR courses at local businesses and participate in the Octorara homecoming parade.

In addition to Scheffel, CCAA officers are George Stuart, vice president; Alissa Buckwalter, treasurer; and Tina Abbott, secretary. Board members include Tim Zook, Paul Zook and Brian Petersheim. 

CCAA includes both paid staff and volunteers. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Gossert at chief46@christianaems.org or Scheffel at bscheffel@christianaems.org.

More information about the CCAA is available at http://www.christianaems.org and http://www.facebook.com/ChristianaAmbulance46.