Be a hero to someone in your community today.
Take up the challenge and become an EMT, a Driver or an Assistant.
Many people are unaware that Duanesburg’s fire and EMS response is primarily provided by volunteers. The Corps’ daytime response is staffed by career staff who work right alongside our volunteers. Year after year, men and women like you and your neighbors provide a valuable service to our community when needed most. If it were not for the sacrifices of these fine individuals many calls for help would go unanswered and many lives would be lost.
For nearly 50 years, the Corps has worked diligently to provide a professional EMS service to our community. Come join us now and help continue the tradition of neighbor helping neighbor.
Emergency Medical Technician’s
Every NYS EMT completes nearly 150 hours of classroom time, a clinical ride along, passes a practical skills examination and a written examination. At DVAC, the EMT completes a mentoring program that prepares the EMT to be able to handle and respond to any medical emergency or accidental injury, demonstrate leadership on responses and make a commitment to constantly being prepared and trained to be a strong provider and leader. DVAC’s EMTs are dedicated to constantly learning and growing as individuals and health care professionals.
Driver’s
The DVAC Driver has a New York State Driver’s License and completes a comprehensive training program designed to prepare even the non-medically trained individual to participate in a team response, handle the vehicle with a patient care team and a patient in the patient compartment and to communicate effectively with first response partners, advanced life support agencies and the Schenectady County Unified Communications Center. The Driver at DVAC is crucial to a successful response team and helps keep the response coordinated.
Assistant’s
While not every crew will have an Assistant, the person filling this role is essential to helping on any and every response. DVAC trains their Assistants to help provide assistance at the request of the EMT, support the driver in obtaining equipment and provide comfort to the patient and family members/friends on the scene. Assistants routinely provide outstanding service as part of a DVAC.
Junior Members are Welcome!
In addition to needing regular members, the Corps accepts Junior members at the age of sixteen. If you know a teen who would like to participate in a fun and rewarding program, please encourage that teen to apply now. Many Junior members go on to pursue rewarding full time careers with the training they receive as a member of the Corps.
What is expected of you?
As a new medical member of DVAC, you will be asked to complete a CPR Certification course. If you want to be an EMT, you will need to acquire New York State Certification or to maintain a current certification. (This is provided to the medical members at no cost). If you want to ride and provide aid but not be certified as an EMT, you will only need CPR certification and a knowledge of what supplies and equipment are available in the ambulance to be help the EMT when needed. Drivers will be required to complete our comprehensive driver training program to learn how to properly drive an ambulance under both emergency and non-emergency situations. Drivers will also be trained in how to communicate to Dispatch the needs of the Crew Chief. Drivers also need a full understanding of the medical equipment carried in the ambulance and how to deploy it to an emergency scene.
What is expected of Support members?
Support members are essential to supporting the medical operation of the Corps in achieving its mission. Support members are committed to attending at least 4 (four) Membership Meetings per year and dedicating at least 10 (ten) hours per calendar year assisting at DVAC functions (including, but not limited to, fundraisers and special events).
Each year, the Corps has hosted five fundraising dinners, two coin drops at the intersection of Routes 7 and 20, participated in Duanesburg Day, and marched in Memorial Day parades in both Duanesburg and Esperance. Support members are solicited to participate in these functions to help ensure successful events.
What do you get in return?
- Free Training
- Access to all Facilities
- Free Hall use once a year
- New York State EMS $200 tax credit (After 1 calendar year of Service)*
- Schenectady County Real property Tax exemption (After 5 years of service)*
- Other Incentives
- Respect and Appreciation
- The feeling that you get when you know that you were able to help someone in their greatest time of need, which will stay with you for the rest of your life.
If you would like to learn more please contact us here.
