The Best EMS in Westchester

Out of more than 70 volunteer and commercial emergency medical service providers in the county, the Tarrytown Volunteer Ambulance Corps is the best in Westchester.

The award for Best EMS Provider is being handed down by the Westchester Regional EMS Council (WREMSCO), the body that sets regional protocols and aids in county training and EMS interaction. The annual awards have been a tradition since Westchester's council became independent from others in the state eight years ago.

Chris Kalish, the chairman of public information and education for WREMSCO, said the Tarrytown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, also know as TVAC, has quietly been building up its reputation in the county for providing quality service and community outreach.

"There were several things within the application that drew Tarrytown's corps out from the rest of them," Kalish said. "They provide ambulance services without any tax revenue, they operate in a very busy transportation section of Westchester, and they do outreach such as  free training in first aid to groups like the Boy Scouts and the police department."

Kalish also noted TVAC's active Junior Corps program, which gives teens the experience and know-how to be responders once they turn 18. Kalish said Junior Corps activities were important to maintaining volunteers within the various EMS providers across the county. WREMSCO has even developed a youth award to honor outstanding Junior Corps volunteers.

Nomination applications for the awards are submitted anonymously by the region's EMS agencies and about 11 hospitals. WREMSCO reviews each application thoroughly, taking several hours to verify all the nomination claims, Kalish said.

For Mike Farley, Captain of TVAC, the news the that the corps would be recognized as the provider of the year was really a credit to all the volunteers and hard work the corps puts in every day.

TVAC has two full-time staff members on duty during the week, the rest of the nights and weekends are held down by about 60 volunteers and youth corps members. TVAC crews are on call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"It's really rewarding," Farley said. "It's sometimes hard, but if you're a certain personality and can deal with the kinds of things we deal with it's really rewarding."

TVAC, started in 1967, is a primarily volunteer-based group that runs independently from the local government and fire department. They are able to provide function with the help of the community (in the form of donations), and by charging for ambulance services.

"Back when we started we decided we would be totally self-funded," Farley said. In fact, if you are a Tarrytown resident, you may have recently received a mailing asking for your annual TVAC donation – roughly 10 percent of its operating budget comes from donations.

The donations TVAC gets this year will help with the purchase of a new $160,000 ambulance – the corps has a practice of rotating out their vehicles every five years.

Farley, who is in his second year as captain, said that TVAC annually deals with over 1,000 calls for service; from accidents on the Tappan Zee Bridge to allergic reactions and chemical spills. By far the most common incidents are medical emergencies at home such as heart attacks or physical trauma.

"It really runs the gamut from emotionally disturbed people to the occasional shooting," he said.

Because TVAC members have to be prepared for a variety of potential situations, they undergo months of training before being able to provide aid to those in need. TVAC volunteers are trained specifically to stabilize individuals, no matter what their emergency, and get them to the nearest hospital – usually Phelps Memorial or Westchester Medical Center.

"It's a rewarding thing when you get into it as long as you don't get squeamish," Farley said. "You have to deal with people often in the worst period of their life, and you have to do it with care and compassion."

TVAC, along with other 11 other outstanding medical service providers, will be honored on May 19 at the Westchester Marriott.  Visit TVAC for volunteering information.