About Us

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Adam P. Sigal, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADMINISTRATION

Matthew Stairiker, President

Philip Salamone, Director of Operations

Missi Szabo, Vice President

Hunter Martin, Secretary/Treasurer

James Oswald, Assistant Director of Operations

Miguel Torres, Captain

Carol Wentzel, Director Emeritus

PREHOSPITAL REGISTERED NURSES

Brian Szabo

PREHOSPITAL PHYSICIAN EXTENDERS

Erica Tait

PARAMEDICS

Matthew Amyx

Christopher Bixler

Rebecca Kantner

Nathan Klein

Lindsay Lauer

John Rivera

Craig Sweigart

Brandon Tait

Mervin Wertz

ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS

Timothy Eisenhard

Timothy Fox

Luke Miller

Haley Pinkasavage

Jacob Pinksavage

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS

Natalia Arbelaez

Braiden Bice

Harriet Bombay

Alexander Clauss

Emilee Cooper

Mathew Dempsey

Justin Diehl

Barry Frymoyer

Ryan Gilfert

Brian Gottschall

Makenzie Hottenstein

Luke Kirlin

Nelson Lopez

Emily Miller

Emilee Readinger

Paola Ruiz Rodriguez

Jerry Wary

Rachel Wood

OUR HISTORY

Lower Alsace Ambulance Association [LAAA] has been proudly serving the municipalities of Lower Alsace Township, Mount Penn Borough, Saint Lawrence Borough, and Alsace Township since 1987. Since then, LAAA has grown from a predominantly Basic Life Support all-volunteer organization

to a 24/7 Advanced Life Support (ALS) Ambulance provider supplying the southeastern Reading region with Emergency Medical Services.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, like so many other volunteer ambulance organizations in Pennsylvania, many

agencies struggled with recruitment and retention. With a booming economy, those that elected to volunteer, found themselves unable to provide the volunteer services they once could. In mid 1986, the Lower Alsace Fire Company was forced to disband their coverage to the region.

It took over a year, but thanks largely to advertising blitzes, community awareness, and generous community donations, Lower Alsace Volunteer Ambulance Association was born on November 24.

Today, LAAA responds to nearly 2,000 calls annually. The organization that started with one singular Basic Life Support ambulance now hosts three Advanced Life Support ambulances and one Advanced Life Support Chase unit.

Pennsylvania Department of Health ambulance seal from the first ambulance operated by LAAA.

The first Pennsylvania state ambulance seal displayed on LAAA’s first ambulance, marking the beginning of the Association’s licensed ambulance operations.

LAAA staff at National Night Out.

Circa 1988 Reading Eagle newspaper article reporting Mount Penn Borough Council’s pledge of support for the newly established Lower Alsace Ambulance Association.

Acceptance of the First LAAA Ambulance

LAAA members gathered beside the Association’s first ambulance to mark its acceptance into service, a significant milestone in the organization’s early history.

Pennsylvania Department of Health ambulance seal from the first ambulance operated by LAAA.

The first Pennsylvania state ambulance seal displayed on LAAA’s first ambulance, marking the beginning of the Association’s licensed ambulance operations.

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