Effective date: November 14, 2026

This Website Privacy Policy explains how Stratford Emergency Medical Service (Stratford EMS or SEMS), a department of the Town of Stratford, Connecticut, collects, uses and protects information when you visit www.stratfordems.org.

This website is not for emergencies. Our website, forms and email addresses are not monitored around the clock. For a medical emergency, always call 9-1-1.

Looking for your medical privacy rights? How we use and protect your health information as a patient is explained in our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

On this page: Information you give us • Information collected automatically • Cookies and analytics • How we use information • When information is shared • Public records • Security and retention • Your choices • Children • Other websites • Changes • Contact us

Information You Give Us

We collect personal information only when you choose to send it to us. For example:

  • Contact forms. When you use a form on our site, we receive the information you enter, such as your name, email address, phone number, subject and message.
  • Email and phone. When you email or call us, we receive your contact details and whatever you include in your message.
  • Employment, volunteer and training inquiries. If you ask about jobs, volunteering or SEMSTEC courses, we receive the details you provide so we can respond.

Please do not send medical details through the website or by regular email. Website forms and regular email are not a secure way to share health information. To request your records, use the EMS Records Request and Authorization Form described in our Notice of Privacy Practices, or call (203) 385-4060.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, our site and hosting systems automatically record some technical information when you visit, such as:

  • your IP address and general location (city or region, not your exact address);
  • your browser, device type and operating system;
  • the pages you view, how you reached our site, and the date and time of your visit.

We also use this technical information to protect the website, for example to detect and block repeated login attempts, spam and other harmful traffic.

Cookies and Analytics

Cookies are small files stored by your browser. We use them for:

  • Site statistics. We use Google Analytics (through Google Site Kit) and Jetpack Stats from WordPress.com to see how visitors use the site, such as which pages are popular. We review this information in summary form to improve the site. We do not use it to identify individual visitors.
  • Site features. Some features, such as image galleries, embedded maps and “like” buttons, may set cookies to work properly.
  • Staff sign-in. Authorized staff who sign in to manage the website use cookies that keep them signed in securely.

We do not use cookies to sell advertising or to build marketing profiles about you.

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • respond to your questions, requests and messages;
  • provide information about our services, community programs, training and employment opportunities;
  • keep the website secure and working properly;
  • understand how the site is used so we can improve it; and
  • meet our legal obligations as a municipal agency.

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information.

When Information Is Shared

We share website information only as needed to run the site, respond to you or meet legal requirements:

  • Service providers. Companies that host, secure and measure our website, such as our web hosting provider, WordPress.com/Jetpack and Google, process information on our behalf.
  • Town of Stratford. As a Town department, we may share your message with other Town offices when needed to answer your request.
  • Legal requirements. We may disclose information when required by law, court order or other legal process, or to protect the safety of the public or our members.

Public Records

Stratford EMS is a public agency. Messages and other information you send us may be public records under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act and may have to be released if requested, unless an exemption applies. Protected health information is handled under HIPAA and state law as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Security and Retention

We use reasonable safeguards to protect our website and the information sent through it. These include encrypted (HTTPS) connections, a website firewall, login protection and regular security monitoring. No website or internet transmission is completely secure, so please do not send sensitive information through our forms or by regular email.

We keep information only as long as we need it to respond to you or as required by Connecticut public records retention rules.

Your Choices

  • You can browse our site without giving us any personal information.
  • You can set your browser to block or delete cookies. Some site features may not work properly if you do.
  • You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
  • To ask about or correct information you have sent us, contact us using the details below.

Children

Our website is meant for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the website. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Our site links to other organizations, such as the Town of Stratford, our billing company, training partners and our social media pages. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites. Please review their privacy policies before sharing information with them.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy or our website, please contact:

Stratford EMS Privacy Officer
Stratford Emergency Medical Service
2712 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Phone: (203) 385-4060 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
Email: emsadmin@stratfordems.org

For a medical emergency, always call 9-1-1.