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CURRENT DEPLOYMENT LEVEL: 1 – Normal Services providedWe CAN dream
Friday, April 26 2025
A Busy Weekend—and a New Way to Connect
Monday, May 12 2025
Finally – the rain stopped for now. Our team at Pecos Valley Public Services had a full weekend supporting our community. We were on site for the Salvation Army breakfast and assisted with two Food Not Bombs distributions, ensuring everyone stayed safe and supported. Now, we’re gearing up for our next big deployment: standby medical services at the Woolbowl Carnival. If you’re attending, stop by and say hello!
We’re also excited to announce a new service: free Wi-Fi at every event where we’re deployed. We know that many of our neighbors have phones but struggle with cell service. Our Wi-Fi makes it easier for people to reach loved ones, access essential resources—and install our ASAP(p) community resource app.
If you haven’t downloaded ASAP(p) yet, [click here to get it]. The app is still growing, and we’re adding new tools and information every week.
Thanks for being part of our community. See you at the Woolbowl Carnival!
Missing Our Patch
Monday, May 5, 2025
While picking up supplies at the hospital today for a patient, I noticed our Pecos Valley patch was missing from the EMS break room. Maybe someone took it because they really admire us… or maybe not. Either way, our patch means a lot — it represents the pride we have in our agency and the work we do as volunteers, caring for those who are often overlooked. It stands for honor, commitment, and friendship — for values beyond working for a paycheck. Folks may not realize it, but being a volunteer providing care on the streets means a lot more than red lights and sirens. It’s about showing up, doing the hard things, and being there when it matters most.
Let’s hope the spirit represented by our patch rubs off a little on whoever took it.
We CAN dream
Friday, April 26 2025
This week, we had the chance to visit the 2025 EMS Region III Conference & Expo in beautiful Ruidoso. While budget constraints kept us from attending the full conference sessions, the exhibit floor was an absolute must — and it did not disappoint! We explored the latest technologies, caught up with old friends, and did a bit of much-needed networking. It was an incredible show. At one point, we were a little worried Michaela might chain herself to one of the amazing trucks on display — but thankfully, she showed some remarkable restraint.
Throughout the day, we had some fantastic conversations with people from all over the region. It was heartening to hear how many were truly appreciative of the Community EMS services we’re working so hard to build. Maybe — just maybe — some of the connections we made will lead to new opportunities down the road. Here’s hoping that next year, we’ll have the funding to attend the full conference experience. Until then, we’re energized and excited about everything we learned and everyone we met!
Technology and EMS
Friday, April 13 2025
At Pecos Valley Public Services, we’re always working to improve the care we provide, because we want to provide the best service while trying to reduce the rising costs of healthcare. Thankfully, we’ve got some incredibly smart tech folks on our side who help bring innovative solutions to the table! So – what are we talking about? Well, there’s our AI that helps us with additional information, we use translation and text to speech to communicate with patients in their own language. There’s speech-to-text that allows us to create patient care reports while we are assessing our patients. We are testing mmWave sensors that wirelessly monitor a patient’s heart rate and breathing. All of that technology has been developed and donated to us, we do not use any third party servers or services (sorry Google 🙂 . We are also working on our “Doctors on Wheels” project that brings tele-medicine to rural areas and to the street. We might be a small EMS charity, but we’re proud to think “out of the box” and to be on the cutting edge of technology for emergency medical care
Assistance League
Friday, April 11 2025
The Assistance League is a national nonprofit organization powered by passionate volunteers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of children and adults in their local communities through a variety of philanthropic programs. We at Pecos Valley Public Services were honored to be invited to present our agency to a wonderful group of more than 40 Assistance League volunteers. Since its founding, the Assistance League of Chaves County has been a pillar of service and compassion in our region. During just the 2017–2018 year, 175 dedicated members contributed over 14,000 volunteer hours, directly serving nearly 8,000 children and adults throughout the community. Their impact is truly inspiring. We salute the spirit, heart, and dedication of these incredible individuals. Michaela had a fantastic time connecting with the group, and we’re hpoing to be able to support their efforts moving forward.
Want to support their mission? Stop by their thrift shop—you’ll find great treasures while supporting an even greater cause. Or click here to learn more about this valuable organization and how you can get involved.
Who pays us?
Thursday, April 10, 2025
“So… Who Pays You?” A Question We Hear All the Time. Whether we’re responding to a call, helping someone on the street, or assisting a client in need, there’s one question we hear more than any other: “So… who pays you?” It’s a fair question—and the answer is simple: You do.
Not through taxes, not through billing, but through the generous donations from our community.
We don’t receive funding from the state, the county, or the city. We also don’t charge the people we help. That means every bandage, every drop of fuel, every piece of life-saving equipment is made possible by those who believe in what we do and choose to support it.
We run on a shoestring budget. Our directors and volunteers receive no pay. Every single dollar goes toward the essentials: medical supplies, equipment repairs and replacements, licensing, maintenance of our technology, and keeping a trained team ready around the clock.
If we were a for-profit company, our operating costs would easily be in the hundreds of thousands. And yet—we make it work, because we must. We owe it to the people we serve, and we’re incredibly grateful to those who help us keep going.
So the next time you see us out there, know this: we’re able to do what we do because of you. Thank you for your donation. Click to help us even more >>
Emergency Care becoming unstable
Monday, April 7, 2025
A new RAND report warns that the future of emergency care is becoming increasingly unstable due to rising patient complexity, declining reimbursements, and mounting demands on emergency departments (EDs). EDs are not only critical for urgent medical events but must now also also serve as a safety net for broader societal issues like addiction, gun violence, and mental illness. The report highlights chronic challenges such as overcrowding, understaffing, financial strain from uncompensated care, and growing expectations for EDs to handle everything from public health to disaster response—often without dedicated funding. Community EMS is (one of) the answers to this looming crisis. We are committed to delivering out-of-hospital care to vulnerable populations, reducing healthcare costs, and fostering a healthier, more resilient community through collaboration and innovation.
Arts & Crafts Show
Saturday, March 29 2025
Community EMS represents a commitment to care and vigilance. During the 2025 Art & Crafts Show, which attracted numerous visitors to celebrate local artists and their work, our team was on-site to provide medical assistance and support. We actively engaged with community members while ensuring the health and safety of all attendees throughout the event.
Our presence at such community gatherings goes beyond just responding to medical issues. It allows us to build stronger connections with the people we serve, fostering trust and a sense of security. Events like this are an opportunity for us to educate the public on health and safety practices, and to demonstrate the proactive role Community EMS plays in protecting our residents. By being there, we not only offer reassurance but also help prevent incidents before they escalate, ensuring everyone can enjoy the festivities with peace of mind.
Busy Week
Sunday, March 23 2025
The past week proved quite eventful for our Community EMS agency as we diligently supported various community events and services. We provided medical supplies to patients in need and offered stand-by assistance during the three-day Sertoma Colt Classic Baseball tournament, ensuring safety and readiness for any potential medical issues. We also supported the Salvation Army’s Sunday breakfast event and covered Food-Not-Bombs at Pioneer Plaza. We are happy to report that no serious medical problems arose over the week, though we attended to a few smaller issues. We enjoyed the fine weather, the exciting baseball games, and we made several new friends in the process. The team looks forward to continuing our commitment to the community next week at the Arts & Crafts Shows.
Shout-out: New Mexico EMS Bureau
Friday, March 15 2025
We haven’t made it easy for the Emergency Medical Systems Bureau, a part of the department of Health in New Mexico. After all, as a volunteer driven NGO (Non Governmental Organization) our situation is somewhat different compared to for-profit or governmental agencies. And – the idea of community EMS is also somewhat new. But the bureau helped us all the way. They answered even the most stupid questions. The took all our calls, answered our emails, they patiently explained again and again how the fairly complicated application process works – and why it has to be the way it is. We all have our experiences with governmental organizations and most of the time, it’s well .. not that good. The EMS bureau made a difference and our positive impact will be felt in Roswell and Chaves County. Thank you, EMS bureau, for your patience and your help.
Community EMS
Friday, March 15 2025
At Pecos Valley Public Services, our goal as a Community EMS provider is to address medical needs before they escalate into emergencies. Many of our clients require medical supplies regularly, but their health conditions often limit their ability to get them on their own. In the past, some would call an ambulance just to visit the ER for basic supplies—an expensive and unnecessary use of emergency services. We’ve reduced these calls significantly by delivering supplies directly to our clients, helping them avoid unnecessary ER visits. Along with this, we always make time for a quick chat or check-up to ensure they’re doing well. This is what Community EMS is all about: better care for our patients, less strain on emergency services, and significant cost savings for health insurers and the community.
We Have The App For It
Friday, March 7 2025
As an agency out on the streets, we have to deal with a lot of things. There’s patient care of course, but also organizational issues and documenting requirements. So – Michaela donated her companies time to develop the PVPS app – and it’s most likely better than anything the ‘professionals’ have.
It provides access to all of our organizational data and information, it has an inbuilt AI advisor to assist with medical problems, it enables us to use speech-to-text to create patient care reports, location sharing, it provides translation services – whatever our agency has to do – this app makes it easier. And since we’re dealing with medical data, we have to take care of confidentiality issues. No data is shared with Google or any other service. So – next time you see us “out there” and we’re talking to our phones: We are most likely communicating with our app. AI is changing the world. It sure has made our lives easier.
Another loss on our streets
Thursday, February 27 2025
We recently received the heartbreaking news that one of our clients, Pamela—”Pam” to those who knew her—has passed away at just 64 years old. Pam wasn’t born into homelessness, nor did she do anything to deserve the hardships she faced. The truth is, we failed her. Our society failed her.
Pam was well-educated and had once lived on a nice property, but over time, she began to struggle with mental health issues. Eventually, those challenges led her to the streets. She endured unimaginable hardship—humiliation, violence, and the loss of her former life. In time, she withdrew completely, retreating into her own world, until all she had left fit into a few bags.
We visited Pam often, especially during the cold snaps, offering warm drinks, snacks, a checkup, even a ride to the warming shelter, but she always refused. She had detached from a world that, in her eyes, no longer had anything to offer.
Today, Pam is gone. Another life lost in a society where too many slip through the cracks. In the richest country in the world, it’s hard to understand how we can still let this happen. But Pam’s death is a tragic reminder that we have to do better. Every life is precious, and every person deserves care, compassion, and protection. This is why we do what we do—to honor lives like Pam’s and to strive for a future where no one is left behind.
Meeting with Secretary DeBlassie
Monday, February 10 2025
Today, we had the privilege of traveling to Santa Fe to meet with the New Mexico Secretary of Health, Gina DeBlassie, to present our innovative “Community EMS” model. After two weeks of preparation, we were excited, though admittedly a bit nervous, to share our approach. Fortunately, Secretary DeBlassie and her assistant, Christina Campos, were incredibly welcoming, which put us at ease. During the meeting, we discussed the key differences between our proactive, community-based EMS model and the traditional, reactive “red light” EMS. Our approach aims to embed healthcare services within community events, helping to prevent costly emergency interventions such as ambulance rides and ER visits. We believe that by focusing on preventive care and being present in the community, we can enhance public health outcomes while reducing the financial burden on individuals and healthcare systems. More about our ideas soon.
Shout Out: Salvation Army
Sunday, February 2 2025
The Salvation Army, a Christian church and international charitable organization, operates in over 130 countries, offering critical services such as disaster relief, homeless shelters, food distribution, addiction rehabilitation, and support for victims of human trafficking. Locally in Roswell, their impact is particularly evident through (among other activities) their weekly breakfast program for the vulnerable community every Sunday morning. This meal includes fresh pancakes, sausages, coffee, and eggs, attracting both those in need and volunteers alike. Our EMS team provides medical support during these events, and in return, we are met with warm smiles, gratitude, and a hearty breakfast—a true win-win situation for all involved.
Unexpected Help
Tuesday, January 21 2025
While on night watch again during the recent cold nights, we got unexpected help. After all, this is Roswell. So – our friendly neighborhood aliens sent one of their medics to volunteer with us. They do have a slightly different physiology and GRUMZY, the alien EMT, had to learn a lot about how we do things here on our planet. We provided medical checkups, hot beverages and snacks to our clients on the streets and gave a few of them a ride to the temporary warming shelter. No client was probed or abducted during our patrols.
Busy Sunday
Sunday, January 12 2025
Today was another productive day for our team. We were requested to provide medical standby at the Salvation Army’s Sunday Breakfast event, where we also responded to multiple requests for checkups. Unfortunately, we observed elevated blood pressure in many of our clients. We took the time to educate them on the risks associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, encouraging everyone to see a physician as soon as possible. Addressing high blood pressure, often called the “silent killer,” will be a key focus for us in 2025, with several educational events planned. In the afternoon, we assisted our friends at “Food Not Bombs” with their food rescue and distribution efforts. Overall, it was another busy and fulfilling day for our dedicated volunteers.
Cold Nights Ahead
Tuesday, January 7 2025
Community partnership in action: It was a long day and a cold night. After supporting the The Salvation Army Roswell during their food delivery route, we patrolled the city until late in the night and provided packed lunches and cold weather gear to the unhoused neighbors in our area. Thanks to Food Not Bombs Roswell for providing the supplies. We also delivered a few clients to the temporary warming shelter, which is managed by the Roswell Community Disaster Relief Services. Thank you to Westminster Presbyterian Church Roswell for stepping up and providing a place for those who need to get out of the cold. We will continue to patrol the streets as long as this weather event continues.
Year End Report 2024
Thursday, January 2 2025
2024 was a challenging year, marked by numerous events and significant changes. Throughout the year, we experienced kindness, friendship, and cooperation, but we also faced resistance and misunderstandings from those unfamiliar with our vision and goals. We were tested by disasters and a variety of events, and at times, we felt overwhelmed and uncertain about how to move forward. Yet, in those moments, a helping hand always emerged—whether through critical funding, much-needed assistance, or a friendly gesture that gave us the strength to persevere. Here is our “Year End Report 2024” – for you to download.
With the deepest gratitude, we thank our dedicated volunteers, supporters, and everyone who contributed to our efforts. It is through their support that we have been able to continue serving those in need.
YES – we are open
Tuesday, December 24 2024
We are hoping for a peaceful and quiet holiday week. We know of course, that many in our community will be facing hardship, hunger, cold temperatures and other difficulties. But that is not something we can solve. What we can do – what we are doing – is to provide a little bit of help when things get even worse. We will continue to do that – even during the holidays and around the clock when needed. We are open 24/7 – every day around the clock. Thank you to all volunteers, to our friends and sponsors, to everybody who is helping to make our community better every day. We appreciate each and everyone of you. 2025 will be an interesting year, hopefully we won’t have to face multiple disasters. Stay safe, take a moment to think about what is important to you, get rid of things that are interfering with your life and stay healthy and positive.
Food Drive In
Saturday, December 21 2024
We joined forces with the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico to support Roswell families during the holiday season. The food bank delivered five semi-trucks filled with essential items, including boxes of fresh vegetables, fruit, turkeys, and other food supplies, to help meet the needs of local residents. Thanks to all volunteers, Roadrunner, Food not Bombs and The Salvation Army Roswell – who loaded boxes and boxes of food into two lines of vehicles.
As cars lined up to receive the much-needed provisions, our team provided free pre-Christmas health checkups to everyone who came through. Many Roswell residents took advantage of this opportunity. We were at the Woolbowl providing services from 9am to about 4pm. Another 10 hours of community service provided – free of charge.
Promised and Delivered
Friday, December 13 2024
Andrea Martinez, a “Food Not Bombs” volunteer delivered meals to a setup at Pioneer Plaza when her car literally burst into flames. As we were on scene providing medical standby, we witnessed the whole event. Andrea is one of Roswell’s most engaged volunteers and she now had lost her own personal vehicle while providing help to the community. We decided there and then that we would donate $500 to her so that she can get another car. Our members unanimously approved this but we also put up a donation request on Facebook. Today we delivered a check in worth more than $1,000.00 to her. That’s how we think the community should work. Help those who are out there helping. Thank you to all who donated. If you want to donate to us (no fees), you can do that here.
Requesting Access To Dispatch
Monday, December 9 2024
The dispatch radio network allows first responders to quickly request help or additional resources. Today we asked the City of Roswell and the Chaves County Sheriff’s Department to give us access to this valuable tool. As we are providing the expensive digital radios ourselves, giving us access to the network is just a reconfiguration and doesn’t costs the city or county anything. We are blessed to have the support from many awesome not-for-profit organizations in the county (see image) – they know what we are doing makes a difference. Let’s hope the city and the county understand our need to have this resource available. Read our letter to the city – 4 pages PDF
Street Work
Saturday, December 7 2024
Food Not Bombs Roswell is offering food to anybody – no questions asked. Those volunteers provide incredible help to those who need assistance in our community. We are proud to help them by providing medical standby during their scheduled events. If you are hungry, need quick medical checkup or maybe just a hug – come to Pioneer Plaza. Every Thursday starting at 6pm or Sundays starting at 1pm – no questions asked. Everybody is part of our community, regardless of their current situation. Don’t be shy, we’re here to help.
Way To Go !
Thursday, November 21 2024
We’ve had a lot to process over the past 10 days. Our members and friends know exactly what I’m talking about. But let me assure you, Pecos Valley Public Services isn’t slowing down. It was Michaela and the equipment from Pecos Valley Public Services that made a real difference. Now, more than ever, we understand that our commitment, expertise, and resources are essential to supporting our community in times of need. And that’s exactly how we’ll keep moving forward.
In this spirit, we proudly congratulate Michaela for passing the challenging National Registry Exam and becoming a nationally registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician. Congratulations, Michaela—way to go!
Get Ready
Monday, November 11 2024
It’s official: The 2025 Bataan Memorial March will be held on March 22. 2025. Pecos Valley Public Services provided support for the event this year, next year we want to march it. As a team. We are conducting several trainings until than, so we know what we’re getting ourselves into. All training will be done at the Bitter Lake WFR (thanks to the support of the officers and managers) and we will provide energy drinks, fruit, water and a vehicle for those who want to call it a day prematurely. The distance is 14.2 miles (we are doing the honorary loop) . If you want to join us, you are more than welcome. But hurry – training starts soon and you don’t want to miss a single training session.
Contact us for details.
Standing Down
Sunday, October 27 2024
This has been a tough week. What started as a rain event became a disaster that required all hands on deck. We are still somewhat shocked seeing the impact of this storm and the flooding. While we were providing services at the shelter, we heard heartbreaking stories, folks who lost everything. Some of them may even lose their jobs as it is hard to manage life in a shelter with the demands of a regular job. What do we tell them? How can we help them? Though we tried our best to lighten the load and help with immediate needs, we are limited at what we can provide or how we can help. Long time support must come from somewhere else. So please – continue to support our neighbors. This disaster has not been resolved just because our streets are clean again. For now, we are standing relieved from our ongoing support at the shelter and are returning to regular operations. Let us know if we can help.
Roswell Flood
Wednesday, October 23 2024
Our commitment to the community is unwavering. Yes – we are tired and our resources are stretched thin. But compare this to the situation so many of our neighbors are stuck with? Over the last days, we provided medical support to countless individuals, we provided aid & comfort to the victim of a structure fire, we had to call up additional resources to search for an individual with possible medical problems who wandered of the shelter. We helped with the distribution of food, we listened to many, many of those heartbreaking stories. And the phone keeps ringing. At least now the city is providing transportation to those who want to get to the shelter to pick up supplies, take a shower or even stay a night or two – just to relax a little. Call (575) 629 6700 and the city will pick you up – free of charge. So – we keep going. We are #roswellstrong .
Roswell Flood
Monday, October 21 2024
As we continue to provide medical care to our neighbors displaced by the flood, we can’t help but reflect on that Saturday night. The roar of the rushing water, the swirling currents sweeping through city streets, desperate people stranded on foot and trapped in partially submerged vehicles. Our own agency vehicles creating wakes as they sped to the next rescue—it all feels almost surreal. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the first responders—police, mounted patrol, deputies, firefighters, and EMTs—who braved the storm with the mindset of “not on my watch.” To each and every one of you who answered the call: We saw you. Thank you. #RoswellStrong
Roswell Flood
Saturday, October 19 2024
Our volunteers were placed on standby around 8 PM on Saturday and were deployed into the city by 9 PM. Until approximately 2 AM, we assisted in rescuing multiple individuals from flooded vehicles and towed several cars from submerged roads. The storm was somewhat unexpected, as radar initially indicated that the severe weather would bypass us to the west and east. When the first rain began, it seemed manageable, but conditions escalated quickly as torrents of water flooded city streets. Unfortunately, we couldn’t retrieve our truck from its parking spot due to excessive mud, but our 4x4s and UTV handled the conditions well. One of the challenges we faced was that many modern vehicles have towing attachments located underneath, requiring our volunteers to wade deep into the water to secure the tow straps—an experience we hope not to repeat. As of Sunday morning, at the request of the American Red Cross, we are providing standby medical services for flood evacuees at the ENMSF shelter. We will continue on Monday as well. Here’s a map of the flooded areas in our city. Please – be safe.
Thank You BougeRV
Friday, October 18 2024
Our support truck often remains on standby or at a scene for hours. To minimize fuel consumption and emissions, we’ve already separated the truck’s engine batteries and added a 250 Ah lithium battery, allowing us to operate lights and equipment without running the engine or a generator. However, this battery only lasts so long, which led us to explore adding solar panels. While the panels are costly, we reached out to BougeRV, a leading manufacturer of RV solar technology, and they generously agreed to sponsor the panels for our truck. We’re incredibly grateful—thank you! We will mount those panels as soon as possible. So, the next time you see our truck parked, feel free to ask about our new solar-powered setup! And – you might also want to take a look at BougeRVs impressive product line up. They’re cool folks. Go – check them out.
Walk For Hope
Saturday, October 12 2024
Walk for Hope is the major fundraiser for the Chaves County Cancer Fund. The funds raised stay in Chaves County to help Chaves County residents battling cancer. It is the one night when cancer Survivors, their families and Support Team and their community come together to celebrate life. We laugh, we cry, we sing, we eat, we remember … in short, we celebrate the preciousness of life and punctuate our intention to live life to the hilt. Pecos Valley Public Services was proud to provide medical support for this great event. Please consider donating to this organization. Help them to help others in need.
About Us – Podcast
Wednesday, October 9 2024
And now to something completely different. Do you like podcasts? If so, this is for you. It is a 9 minute “deep dive” into Pecos Valley Public Services – what we do, why we do it and how it all started. If y’all like it, we may produce more (and than .. real podcasts) about things we learned, loved and .. well .. anyway – Enjoy
2024 Eastern NM State Fair
Sunday, October 6 2024
Our dedicated team of volunteers went above and beyond, contributing 135 hours of service during the 2024 ENMSF. We were proud to be there, providing support at the animal shows, livestock auction, senior events, kids’ fair, and, of course, supporting the availability of EMS during the evening hours while our community enjoyed the carnival. Thanks to the vigilance of the Roswell Police Department, Chaves County Sheriff’s Department, Roswell Fire Department, Dexter EMS and AMR, the event ran smoothly without any major incidents. Our volunteers were treated to delicious snacks, meals, and drinks courtesy of ENMSF and local vendors, while the beautiful weather added to the festivities. Now, we can take a moment to relax, clean and repair equipment, and prepare for whatever comes next. A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers, ENMSF personnel, and first responders for making this fair both safe and enjoyable.
EMS
Thursday, September 26 2024
We began as a dedicated Search & Rescue organization—volunteers equipped with professional-grade tools and training. Over time, we expanded our mission to serve the community and quickly recognized the immense need for help right here at home. In response, we shifted our focus, offering aid, comfort, first aid, and other vital services to our neighbors.
However, even these efforts didn’t feel like enough. We encouraged our volunteers to pursue medical training and education, realizing that our evolving mission required formal recognition. So, we stepped away from Search & Rescue and directed all our energy toward supporting our community. This led us to pursue the goal of becoming a state-licensed EMS agency.
Today, we are proud to announce that we are officially recognized as a State of New Mexico Emergency Medical Service (EMS). Thank you to our incredible volunteers for your unwavering dedication, even through the challenging moments. We couldn’t have done it without you! More..
Meet “the dude”
Wednesday, September 11 2024
This is “dude” – the dummy. It has been constructed from a defunct (more or less) life size CPR mannequin and a used diving suit, than filled with about 140 lbs of gravel.
The dude lives in our office and is being used to simulate rescue operations. Now – 140lbs doesn’t sound too heavy. But if you have to rope him up and carry him on a stretcher for a mile or two, you get the idea of weight. Especially if you also have to carry your backpack. The dude had to endure a variety of rescues and is holding up very well. This dummy is just one of the tools we use to train and improve our skills.
Advanced Wilderness Life Support
Monday, September 09 2024
This is an interesting program for anybody interested in Search & Rescue or Wilderness medicine. It’s not really a universal associates degree, but it offers a lot of insight into the special challenges out in our deserts and forests. Give it a look. The “Associate in Wilderness Medicine” is a certificate program established by the University of Utah School of Medicine to bring students to a high level of knowledge and competency in wilderness medicine. When completed, students will have a very broad and deep understanding of critical subjects in wilderness medicine. This will allow them to practice and teach others to stay safe and healthy as they explore this beautiful world. This certificate is recognized internationally as a prestigious certificate granted by a trusted medical school.
It’s Alive …
Wednesday, August 7th 2024
Introducing our new, free service: FindMe. Before you venture into the wilderness, register with us, and we send help if you encounter any trouble. Even without cell coverage, with dead batteries, or a broken phone, we’ve got you covered. How does it work? Simply mark your location on a map before you leave. If you don’t return by a specified time, we’ll be alerted and take the necessary actions to help you. Perfect for hunters, bikers, hikers, fishermen, and anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. Don’t rely solely on your phone—add an extra layer of protection with FindMe, completely free and with no strings attached. There’s no tracking or invasive monitoring. You can activate or deactivate our service anytime by sending a text or visiting our website. Bookmark the link to our FindMe service and get started today.
County 4-H and FFA fair
Sunday, July 14th 2024
What a fantastic yet challenging week! From Monday to Friday, we provided services at the Chaves County 4-H and FFA fair, and also sent out volunteers to assist with the regular Thursday “Food Not Bombs” setup. We met many wonderful people, tended to a few “boo-boos,” made new friends, and had a great time. The kids did an outstanding job with their animals and during the rodeo—congratulations to everyone for their hard work and dedication. The folks at the fair were very welcoming and supportive. We had all our equipment and vehicles parked and set up smoothly, and all our volunteers pitched in to help. Thank you for your help. Now, it’s time for us to take a breather. More images >>>>
Keep Equipment Maintained
Sunday, July 14th 2024
We pride ourselves to be ready to assist our community within an hour or less. As such we have to constantly check our vehicles, provide maintenance, keep batteries charged and gas tanks filled. This weekend, we concentrated on our Polaris Ranger. We will get our skid soon, also a light bar and flashers. A quick wash and lube. One of the rear tires lost pressure. We have to keep an eye on that. But the 6×6 is in good condition and ready to go out on a moments notice. You should see this machine in action. It’s awesome and it gets you almost anywhere.
Continuing The Support of The Community
Thursday, July 11th 2024
We shifted our support to Thursdays as this is the day “Food Not Bombs” Roswell provides their services to the community at Pioneer Plaza. They are a local all volunteer food rescue organization. A lot of food gets thrown away because it is left-over or close to the expiration date. These volunteers “rescue” the food and provided it to those who are in need or simply hungry. We made a lot of new friends and had a great time. Thank you for your work “Food Not Bombs” – your work is noticed and appreciated.
Happy Birthday America
Thursday, July 4th 2024
The HOME (Homeless Outreach Engagement) ended for now. We made a difference for many folks. But without additional funding, most of the participating agencies had to stop providing services. However -Pecos Valley Public Services is going to continue to provide aid and comfort to our clients at the regular schedule each Wednesday starting at 5:30pm.
We also request your help: Our Ruidoso Fire evacuee engagement drained a lot of our resources. Please check our AMAZON wishlist for small items you can donate to us . It would mean a great deal and help us a lot. Thank you.
A Better way to provide services
Monday, July 1st 2024
Our “ERT” (Emergency Response Vehicle) is often used to provide stand-by services during sporting events, homeless support or, recently, to provide services to the Ruidoso fire evacuees. We running fans, lights, a small fridge, charging stations and an Internet hot-spot. But that doesn’t work well with the lead-acid truck batteries. So we had to idle the truck most of the times. With the modifications made (including a 280Ah LiFePo4) we are now able to provide services for up to two days without the help of the truck’s engine. Next step: Add a solar panel.
Back To Normal – But Not Quite
Thursday, June 27th 2024
While the shelters in Roswell are mostly empty now, a lot of folks from Ruidoso have nothing to return to. Others are thinking about moving away. We stood down on Tuesday and are now busy repairing, re-stocking and cleaning. Though our resources have been severely depleted, we continue to provide services to our community – including our unhoused clients – like we did on Wednesday evening. Our Emergency Response Truck got fixed up thanks to the help from Javi Villalobos and his team who professionally repaired the blown power steering line and donated his time. Such a great community to live in. Thank you all.
Ruidoso Fire: Community support
Wednesday, June 19th 2024
UPDATE: Tuesday, June 25th , 3:51pm
After a final check of our shelters, we are officially standing down from operations. Over the last 8 days, we visited and monitored numerous shelters and locations, gaining valuable insights and witnessing many things – great and not so great. We are currently compiling a report, which will be released on our website. For now, we focus on cleaning, washing, repairing, restocking, and, importantly, sleeping. It has been an honor to serve alongside the incredible volunteers who donated, assisted, and supported the shelter operations. Many businesses and organizations also showed great kindness to both evacuees and volunteers. Thank you. Good luck to all Ruidosians. We were proud to provide aid and comfort to our neighbors “on the mountain.” Pecos Valley is standing down.
UPDATE: Monday, June 24th , 8:28pm
We’re standing down from Level III (full deployment) to level II (on call, part deployment).
In other words, most volunteers are relieved and can go back to normal. Our medical team will reduce the shelter visits to once a day, but we are still ready to deploy more volunteers if needed. Most evacuees have chosen to go home, but a few remain in the shelters. We will of course continue to provide services to them as needed. As a side note, our ERV truck has another problem – this time with its hydraulic (power steering pump). Good thing it worked all the way through the deployment. We put almost 200 Miles on it. Now we have to quickly find a shop to take care of this.
UPDATE: Sunday, June 23th , 08:10pm
Another long day. But the emotions are mostly positive. “We can go home” we hear all around. Some of the evacuees have lost everything, but friendships have been forged and help has been pledged. We too made a lot of friends (with people and animals) and are looking forward to meet them all again soon.
We were also very happy to see our friends from the Roswell Community Disaster Relief agency who provided breakfast and dinner. Thank you to all who are volunteering and donating. You rock!
UPDATE: Saturday, June 22th , 16:02pm
And just like that, we hat to perform outdoor emergency surgery – on one of our response vehicles. We relied heavily on this truck but it wouldn’t start anymore. The batteries completely dead. Thankfully one of our mechanics found the problem fast – an auxiliary battery was dead as a brick. Problem: Those batteries are hard to find. We phoned around in town and thankfully, NAPA had one (and only one) in stock. $250 bucks. Yikes! Maybe want to help offsetting the costs? We appreciate your donation.
UPDATE: Saturday, June 22th , 13:08pm
We have been visiting several shelters again and responded to a few requests for checkups. Overall, the shelter operations are running smoothly. Everyone is excited about the prospect of going home on Monday, although some are not quite ready yet. Individuals with medical conditions are especially wary due to potential pollutants in the air or water supply. Depending on the situation on Monday, we may downgrade from our level III patrols to level II, providing “on call” services to the shelters. However, this will depend on how many evacuees choose to return home or stay at the shelters. Despite running low on medical supplies, we will continue to provide services as long as necessary.
We also visited two animal evacuees at the fairground shelter. Many dogs were evacuated to this location, but these two stood out. They seem unfazed by the current events and are happily munching on the hay provided to them.
UPDATE: Friday, June 21th , 17:08pm
We are now at the 5th day of deployment and it shows. We are slowly running out of supplies, we are out of uniforms (they need a wash) and our families are getting grumpy. Even the cots in the shelter start to look inviting. But the evacuees continue to rely on our help. They had hoped for better news from the community event yesterday. We went to the Red Cross shelter to get guidance because a patient required a prescription medicine, but they don’t provide any services to evacuees who are not in one of their managed shelters. They didn’t even provide directions to other possible solutions. But the friendly folks at Casa helped out and we were able to put the gentleman in touch with the right resources.
We deployed to the Fairgrounds shelter and had resources at the convention center. We also visited the The Gonzales HOPE Center . They too are doing a great job accepting, managing and distributing donations.
We will continue to provide assistance to all facilities working with or for the evacuees. Please call our number 505-600-3068 (24/7) or dial 2-1-1 for assistance.
UPDATE: Thursday, June 20th , 17:27pm
Another long day. The Red Cross took over the ENMUR shelter relieving us from our responsibilities there. Though we would have liked to keep access to some of the folks we were monitoring, that’s not the way it works.
We continued to provide aide and medical support to shelters and evacuees in cars and motor homes, delivered supplies and helped anywhere our help was requested.
In between, Michaela was invited to report to Governor Grisham about the activities of Pecos Valley Public Services during the current incident and the Governor thanked her and all of the Pecos Valley Public Services volunteers for all of the hard work.
We are monitoring the community event currently running on Facebook. Please stay save. If you want to request our support please call 2-1-1 or the number on our website.
UPDATE: Wednesday, June 19th , 22:42pm
We’re standing down for today. We hit 100 volunteer hours over the last three days and recorded 250 Miles driven. Our volunteers assisted with supplies, transport and medical services. It’s good to see how the city pulls together to help our neighbors from Ruidoso. We will be back on in the shelters and on the street tomorrow. I hope all those TV crews focus a bit more on the incredible work and the help and support provided by volunteers from all (different) walks of life. We met doctors, city workers, vet technicians, bankers, security guards, and many, many other people pitching in without hesitation. Even more people donated countless bottles of water, food, per food, clothing and other necessities. Roswell can be proud of its citizens.
UPDATE: Wednesday, June 19th , 12:52pm
We have our volunteers out in the streets and in the shelters. It is amazing to see the volunteering spirit in our city. Lots and lots of folks pitching in donating water, food and other items, helping with shelter management and other tasks. A big shout-out to the Chaves County Sheriffs Department, Roswell Fire, RPD, the city employees and the volunteers from the Red Cross. I just learned that some of those volunteers came all the way from Tucson to support us. Wow – thank you for all your help. We have no new information in regard to the fires. Please call 2-1-1 for the latest official information. Don’t believe rumors. Don’t spread rumors.
We have been deployed since Monday afternoon in support of the Ruidoso wildfire situation. Our volunteers have been assisting with a variety of tasks: Our ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) was in action and supported and directed evacuees to shelters until 2 am in the morning on Monday night. We also accepted and collected many items from the great citizens of Roswell at the same time. On Tuesday, we supported the shelter operations with manpower and first-aid services, our medical support team circled all shelters all day and assisted many patients around the area. We are also monitoring the parking areas to support those who chose to camp out in their cars. We will continue to support the community and the evacuees as long as it is necessary. Thanks to Enrique and the Roswell Community Disaster Relief for their assistance. Who ever is in need of our services, please call 2-1-1 .
Exciting News: Big changes
Friday, June 14th 2024
Pecos Valley Public Services has been a State of New Mexico-recognized Search & Rescue organization since its humble beginnings in 2022. We established this organization to create a group that not only bears the name “Search & Rescue” but is also well-equipped, physically capable, well-trained, and highly motivated to accomplish its tasks.
Our directors have now voted to withdraw from New Mexico’s Search & Rescue framework. This opens many more opportunities to serve our community. Which was our primary focus all along. [Read More]
Volcanic Activity in New Mexico
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Underneath a section of New Mexico is one of the largest magma chambers on the planet. Containing more than 84 cubic miles or 350 cubic kilometers of material, it is located underneath the town of Socorro.
This large body of magma is actively growing, and is likely to one day form a new volcano with eruptions similar to those seen at the Zuni Bandera volcanic field. This video will discuss this large magma body, and mention its associated earthquakes. Watch video (5 minutes)
Nature is challenging
Friday,May 24, 2024
Providing help in the wilderness comes with many challenges. How do you manage the terrain? Maintain communications? Provide medical aid to patients far from ambulances and hospitals? Pecos Valley Public Services doesn’t rely solely on traditional methods. We train our volunteers in state-of-the-art tools and techniques such as computer-aided mapping, satellite communications and navigation, digital wireless data exchange and messaging, and visible and thermal drones. Despite all this technology, navigating deserts or mountains still requires physical fitness – that’s why we have a strict training schedule. We specialize in wilderness assistance and rescue, equipped with the tools, and volunteers to handle even the toughest challenges.
On The Road Again
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
As part of the HOME (Homeless Mobile Outreach) initiative, we are present on site at least once a week to offer basic medical first aid and associated services to the homeless population in our vicinity. This time, we brought our emergency response truck (ERT). Collaborating with partner agencies, we address urgent needs such as food, housing, communication, and occasionally other concerns. Together, we have achieved success and empowered numerous clients to regain stability in their lives. We are volunteers; there is no monetary compensation involved. Our motivation stems from the belief that assisting individuals in reclaiming control over their lives necessitates a comprehensive approach. We take pride and find fulfillment in being available whenever our assistance is sought.
2024 Sertoma Colt Classic
Saturday / Sunday, March 29-30, 2024
The 2024 Sertoma Colt Classic tournament had everything a great baseball battle needs. From the crack of the bat to the roar of the crowd, every moment in the tournament was filled with anticipation and excitement. The teams battled fiercely, each inning bringing forth new strategies, heart-stopping plays, and unforgettable moments that left spectators on the edge of their seats. But the Sertoma Colt Classic wasn’t just about the action on the diamond; it was also a celebration of camaraderie and community. We were happy and proud to support the tournament with first aid and support services.
Supporting the Baatan Memorial March
Friday, March 5, 2024
Pecos Valley Public Services is providing communication resources and volunteers to support the 2023 Bataan Memorial Death March.
During WW2 thousand of American and Filipino soldiers were captured and marched for days, approximately 65 miles through the scorching jungles of the Philippines. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of prisoner of war camps and the brutality of their Japanese captors. The Army ROTC Department at New Mexico State University began sponsoring the Bataan Memorial Death March in 1989. The memorial march was to mark a page in history that included many native sons and affected many families in the state. The POWs would not see freedom until 1945 when U.S.-Filipino forces recaptured the lost territory. Read more …
Donation Drive
Friday, March 1, 2024
There’s once thing for sure: Whenever we are threatened, we stick together. Texas or New Mexico – a wild fire is raging in our neighborhood. So when the call came, we stood up. This time, we were asked to support our friends, the Roswell Community Disaster Relief Services. They asked us to help with a donation drive in support of the first responders and the citizens affected by the Smokehouse Creek Fire. Thanks to the generous support of Roswellians, we were able to pack a large trailer within a few hours. It will reach the devastated area by tomorrow. Thank you Roswell for your support. Thank you volunteers for your help. New Mexico rocks 🙂
Stop The Bleed
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Stop the Bleed is a grassroots national awareness campaign and call-to-action. Stop the Bleed encourages bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. STOP THE BLEED® is one of our nation’s largest public health campaigns. Its goal is to save lives by training people across the country how to stop traumatic bleeding. Find out why it matters. All of our volunteers are certified to be able to help if needed. Today Greg, Connie and Rudy got their STOP THE BLEED® certificate. Would you be ready and able to help? Well be happy to train you – free of charge.
Be Ready – Safe A Life
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Currently, 90% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive CPR more than half of the time. What would you do if a friend, your child, your parent or colleague collapses in front of you? Would you be able and ready to help? Pecos Valley Public Services offers free CPR and AED training in our community. Get the training and help from a AHA instructor / EMT. Free of charge. All it takes is a little bit of your time.
Be Ready. Safe a life. Read More …
First Training 2024
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Pecos Valley Public Services – our “jump” team in action. During the first training in 2024 we simulated a mission in the Haystack Mountain OHV area. We deployed our emergency support truck for radio comms, medical support and rehab (with hot tea) and covered the search area with ground pounders and UTV assets. We continued with basic rope and compass training and ended the “mission” with a quick hands-on demonstration on how to use the LifePak 15 as an AED. Can you tell that it was cold? But we all had a lot of fun.