Community Corner

Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps Answers Record 1,328 Calls in 2011

Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps answered 1,328 calls during 2011, compared to 1,296 calls in 2010.

The , an all volunteer organization, has had a record number of calls they've ever responded to -- 1,328 calls during 2011, Captain Richard Cariello said. 

Volunteers responded to 32 more calls in 2011 compared to the previous year's 1,296 calls. And those numbers have been going up every year, Cariello said, mainly because of the aging and growing population of Yorktown. 

"I don't think people realize how busy we are," he said. "I also think the town's population is growing, along with people getting older. More volunteers would take some of the burden off the present members who are doing all these calls."

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Cariello said the recent storms of 2011, including Hurricane Irene and the pre-Halloween snow storm, had no effect of their call volume, but rather there are more medical emergencies than before as the town grows.

Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps covers 36.2 square miles with a population of approximately 35,000. Volunteers respond to about one personal injury vehicle accident to every six calls for a medical emergency. On average, volunteers respond to about 3.6 calls a day.

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"The medical emergencies vary, but by way of example there are cardiac issues, falls, diabetic emergencies, strokes, etc." Cariello said. "We save the taxpayers lots of money since we are an all volunteer agency and get no financial support from the town."

The Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (YVAC) is always looking for new volunteers. Cariello said he expects their call volume to only increase as time goes on. 

"Obviously with our increased call volume we could use more volunteers to lighten the load of our members who answer calls in all types of weather and all times of the day," Cariello said. "We need people of all ages."

YVAC members are required to serve a minimum of 24 hours a month, which means they should be in the building or in uniform during that time. People interested should have the desire to volunteer even if they have no prior experience because training will be provided.

The Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps is a not for profit, Basic Life Support provider, which has been providing Emergency Medical Service to Yorktown since 1963. YVAC has the distinct honor of being the very first Ambulance Corps in Westchester County to provide 24-hour-7-day a week EMT-I (Intermediate) service.

High school students could also get involved and volunteer. The Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Youth Group serves as an auxiliary to the Corps. Those 14-18 year old students are trained in CPR, First Aid, with some as New York State Certified First Responders.

To read more about what Cariello calls "the best kept secret" in Yorktown, .

To become a member of the Yorktown Ambulance Volunteer Corps call Rich Cariello at 914-469-5197. You can also fill out an application in person at their headquarters on Loretta Street or fill out their online application by clicking here

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