CAVAC seeks volunteer members, recognizes National EMS Week

By KAtE Hill Staff Writer

The Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) is currently seeking additional volunteer members, especially nighttime drivers.

Established in 1974 and currently based at 106 Nelson St., the local ambulance service relies on volunteer drivers, crew coordinators, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and general members, as well as paid professional paramedics. A high school student corps also supports its operations.

In addition to providing emergency medical services (EMS), CAVAC also serves the community through the short-term loaning of medical equipment, such as crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs. Additionally, the organization has a New York State-certified child/baby car seat installer. The no-cost service can be arranged by calling 315-655-9798.

According to CAVAC driver and EMT Scott Whitmore, the agency has two identical ambulances and transports patients to the following hospitals: Crouse, Upstate, Community, St. Joseph’s, Hamilton, and Oneida.

Whitmore said CAVAC always has a primary ambulance with a driver and a paramedic on duty to respond to a first call. Ideally, there is also an EMT on the crew.

He added that the organization would ideally always have a backup driver and paramedic scheduled to be available to respond to a second emergency if the primary ambulance is already out on a call.

“They would need to come into [the] base at CAVAC, and there may or may not be a second call when the primary is out,” he said. “. . . A typical scenario would be the primary is out and the crew coordinators will attempt to find a backup driver and paramedic or an EMT to handle a potential second call.”

If a backup crew is not secured and a second call for service comes in, CAVAC must request aid from other agencies.

Whitmore noted that CAVAC also sometimes covers calls for other agencies with mutual aid agreements if they are unable to respond.

Submitted photoS the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) is currently seeking additional volunteer members, especially drivers available to work the 6 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 6 a.m. shifts.

Cazenovia Fire Department and a few other nearby volunteer fire agencies with EMT members often respond to medical calls in CAVAC’s district. However, their vehicles are not equipped for hospital transport. “. . . Over the course of the year, we may average around three calls a day,” said Whitmore. “As an example, we had no calls on May 3 and we had seven calls on May 4, so having backup was more important that day as the primary rig was out often.”

To assist crews when they are out on calls, residents are encouraged to ensure that their house addresses are visible from the street and to post their prescription medications on their refrigerator doors.

Currently, CAVAC has three paramedics who work most of its shifts, and some additional paramedics who may pick up one to two 12-hour shifts a week, according to

Whitmore.

Volunteer positions

CAVAC’s volunteer drivers are primarily responsible for driving the ambulance to the scene of an emergency, to the hospital, and then back to base. They are also responsible for helping the paramedic and/or EMT with equipment, lifting patients as needed, and cleaning and restocking

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