Medical Sevices

Bedford Memorial Hospital offers a full range of healthcare services. Emergency transport to larger medical centers in Lynchburg, Roanoke and Charlottesville is provided by rescue squad ambulances and the Life Guard 10 medical helicopter. Other major medical facilities in the area include Centra Health, Bedford County Health Department, free medical & dental clinics, the Adult Day Care Center and the Bedford Dialysis Facility Physicians Center. Nine retirement and nursing homes operate in the area. The Bedford Community Health Foundation, an independent foundation, serves various medical needs of the Bedford community through an endowment fund.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Bedford County is responsible for overall coordination of Emergency Services, including coordination of Fire and EMS Training, Hazardous Materials response and mitigation and mass evacuation situations in the County. The Office of Emergency Services is the lead agency in response to natural and man-made disasters in the City.

EMS/Rescue

Twelve volunteer rescue squads serve the City and County and provide advanced life support, ambulance service and crash truck. The E-911 emergency call-in system accesses police, fire and rescue services.

Fire Suppression

Twelve volunteer fire departments (11 land based, 1 marine based) serve both the City and County with modern fire suppression equipment and well-trained personnel. Reciprocal agreements are in effect with neighboring fire-fighting units to lend assistance in the event of a major fire.

Law Enforcement

A 21-member police department serves the City of Bedford, while an elected sheriff and 67 deputies serve Bedford County. Ten Virginia State Police officers are also assigned to the area. Citizens are involved in crime fighting through participation in Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch and the DARE Program for children in grades 5-7. In addition there are school resource officers in each of the three high schools and middle schools, and three officers are assigned to fighting crime on the Internet.

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