PYAVAC Staff
and
Volunteer Opportunities

Download the Volunteers Needed flyer

All our Volunteers have taken various training courses. Our drivers have completed the Community First Aid and Safety Course, an emergency driving course, and are certified in CPR. Our other volunteers have passed either the New York State Certified First Responder (CFR) Course, the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course, or the Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate (EMT-I) course. Several have become Critical Care Technicians or Paramedics after about 1000 hours of course study and exams.

Remember... Penn Yan Ambulance provides all training necessary to be a volunteer. All we need from you is a desire to learn and help your community!


Certified First Responders (CFR): The Certified First Responder will complete a 40-60 hour course designed to prepare the participant for immediate life saving skills. A CFR may assist an EMT on the ambulance but may not provide emergency care on an ambulance by themselves per NYS law.


Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT): There are four levels of training beginning with Basic EMT class. The basic class consists of 100 hours of classroom and practical experience culminating in a NYS written and practical exam. Successful completion of the course and exams will result in a NYS EMT-B Certification

The EMT Intermediate is a step beyond the basic class in classroom and practical experience and includes the knowledge and skills necessary to intubate a patient and to start an intravenous line. The EMT-I Class is 130 hours. Successful completion of the course and exams will result in a NYS EMT-I certification.

The EMT Critical Care and EMT Paramedic courses are advanced level EMT training. They include heart monitoring as well as medication administration in addition to the skills mastered at the Intermediate level. The EMT-CC and EMT-P classes are 300 to 400 hours. Successful completion of the course and exams will result in a NYS EMT-CC or EMT-P certification.


Drivers: All PYAVAC drivers must have a valid drivers licence and are required to successfully complete the CPR for Professional Rescuer course and take the Emergency Vehicle Operators Course. An in-house evaluation is preformed before a Driver is allowed to respond in emergency mode and carry a patient in the ambulance.


Observer Program: If you're not sure if being an ambulance volunteer is for you, you may want to consider becoming an observer. After application approval, an observer is allowed to work with a veteran crew on a weekly basis. During shift time, the observer is instructed in the proper use of the ambulance equipment, emergency response and radio procedures. The observer rides along on all calls received during their shift time and assists the crew. the observer does not provide patient care but observers and assists as needed.

The observation time allows you to get "the feel" for Emergency Medical Services before committing to training.

Penn Yan Ambulance will provide all the training necessary when you decide to take the step into EMS. All you need is the will to learn, the desire to help your community and the commitment to acquire the necessary training.