Park Slope Volunteer Ambulance Corps

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The Park Slope Volunteer Ambulance Corps, or PSVAC, is a community organization that provides emergency medical response, rescue operations, patient assessment, treatment, and transport in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York.[1] Since 1992, members have responded to over ten thousand calls for help.[citation needed]

Mission[]

PSVAC's mission is to:[2]

  • Provide emergency medical response, rescue operations, patient assessment, treatment, and transport, regardless of ability to pay
  • Provide placement, educational and event services to members of the community

History[]

The Park Slope Volunteer Ambulance Corps was founded by members of the Park Slope community in 1992,[3] in response to a scarcity of EMS resources and increased call-times.

PSVAC has won recognition including numerous awards[4] and sponsorships.

Today, the Park Slope Volunteer Ambulance Corps has over 70 active members, including 20 crew chiefs. PSVAC has four ambulances, patrol bicycles and a first-response fly car. The Corps responds to thousands of calls every year, resulting in treating and/or transporting over seven hundred patients. By comparison, there are entire communities around the country whose annual response is less than 500 calls.

PSVAC is a participating member of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY)'s NYC 911 system.

Membership[]

The corps is composed of unpaid volunteers who donate their time and a wide range of skills and experience. Members who work on PSVAC's ambulances are all trained medical personnel, capable of handling a wide range of emergency situations.

Members come from all walks of life. Some are medical professionals, such as emergency medical technicians (EMT-Bs), paramedics, doctors, etc. Others work in finance, law enforcement, construction, education, business, or are self-employed.

Most members are New York State certified EMT-Bs and work on the ambulances. Other members serve as dispatchers, instructors, manage membership recruitment and perform other support functions.

References[]

  1. ^ New York State Department of Health -- Kings County EMS
  2. ^ www.psvac.org
  3. ^ New York Times: Volunteer Ambulance Corps Fills In the Gaps
  4. ^ PSVAC Awards

External links[]

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