Embassy Bank has contributed $20,000 to Cetronia Ambulance Corps.

Embassy’s gift, made through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, will enable students in Lehigh County school districts to participate in Cetronia’s CPR and community health education programs.

“These programs will have a lasting impact on the community, as statistics show that using effective CPR immediately increases the chance of survival of a cardiac arrest victim. Many thanks to our partners at Embassy Bank for supporting Cetronia’s mission of improving community health. They are true lifesavers,” said Larry Wiersch, CEO of Cetronia Ambulance Corps.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps is a leading non-profit ambulance service based in South Whitehall Township, answering more than 60,000 calls for service a year and covering a primary 911 service area that encompasses 150 square miles and more than 100,000 residents.

Embassy Bank is celebrating its 17th year of serving the Lehigh Valley in 2018. It has grown from one location and 12 employees to eight locations and 80-plus employees in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Nazareth with a ninth location to open in Macungie in 2019.

According to a report released by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Embassy is the top locally-owned bank in the Lehigh Valley and ranks No. 6 overall with $882.4 million in deposits and 5.32 percent market share as of June 2017.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps’ youth programs offer a hands-on experience that is educational, fun and rewarding.

“We equip the youth of our community with the lifesaving skills needed to help someone before paramedics arrive,” said Wiersch.

Along with the CPR training, Cetronia offers other youth programs making use of the Embassy funding, including the Youth EMR-Teen Associate Program and the “Andy the Ambulance” educational program.

The EMR-Teen Associate Program is an educational program that gives teens real life, hands-on experience. Students, age 14-18, who pass the Emergency Medical Responder program are able to serve as a third person on Cetronia’s basic and advanced life support ambulances. The teen is able to help assist the crew administer pre-hospital emergency medical care.

“Andy the Ambulance” is a robotic replica of a Cetronia ambulance with the ability to interact with young children, educating them in: how and when to call 911, what to do in an emergency, and basic safety and first aid measures. “Andy” is ideal for day-care centers, pre-schools and elementary schools.

“The donation from Embassy will be used to help us purchase a simulator for our training mannequins. This simulator will give us more realistic medical scenarios, more fidelity, and vital signs and interpretations for the mannequins,” said Stephen Hall, Director of Education for Cetronia.

“We see all the work Cetronia is doing, how many lives they help save and how they are getting the youth of the community involved through these incredible programs. We are happy to join in their lifesaving efforts,” said David M. Lobach Jr., President and CEO of Embassy Bank.